PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Arvi Rausku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Almu Tantor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rausku's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Notkea Rotta - Taas Lähtee Taju . Almu Tantor told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Rausku
vs
Tantor

182 cm
30
190 lbs
12 - 16 - 1

190 cm
20
195 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Excellent boxer
Granite chin

World class boxer
Heavy handed

Happy Pills

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Arvi Rausku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Almu Tantor!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rausku lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rausku connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tantor. Tantor circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Tantor digs a good hook to Rausku's body.
A jab from Tantor finds it's way through Rausku's defenses.
Tantor throws the left hand but Rausku avoids the punch easily.
Tantor gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tantor ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rausku.
Tantor ducks under a wild hook from Rausku.
Rausku misses with a wild body shot.
Tantor throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tantor slips a jab and a cross from Rausku.
Rausku thows a body shot but no joy.
Tantor lands with a right hand.
Tantor throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tantor scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rausku in his tracks.
Tantor misses with a wild body shot.
Rausku takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tantor with a jab.
Rausku walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor takes a swing at Rausku's ribcage but misses.
Tantor misses the shot to the body.
Rausku pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tantor jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rausku throws a body punch but Tantor moves out of range.
Rausku throws a body punch but Tantor moves out of range.
Tantor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rausku takes a swing at Tantor's ribcage but misses.
Tantor slips under a jab from Rausku.
Rausku with a hook.
The fighters circling - Rausku throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rausku throws a jab but it's blocked by Tantor.
Rausku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tantor.
Rausku takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Rausku shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tantor looks to land a combination. Rausku sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rausku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Almu Tantor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tantor lands with a shot to the body.
Rausku is breathing heavily.
Rausku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor lands with a nice combination. Rausku backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Arvi Rausku has been cut.
Tantor moves out of range of the strikes.
Rausku takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Tantor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Rausku scores with a nice head shot.
Decent striking displayed by Tantor there.
Tantor works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rausku missing with a left hand there. Tantor was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rausku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tantor.
A telegraphed right hand from Rausku misses the target.
Tantor chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tantor is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Rausku rather than just go for the knockout.
Tantor connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rausku momentarily.
Rausku misses with a hook
and Tantor counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tantor is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Rausku had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Rausku scores with a hook to the body. Tantor takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tantor bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rausku's head.
Tantor avoids the body shot from Rausku.
Good exchange - Tantor coming out on top.
Rausku tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rausku throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tantor sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rausku takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rausku takes one to the side of the head.
Rausku throws a looping overhand right but Tantor ducks down to avoid it.
Rausku connects with a body shot.
Rausku lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tantor circles away quickly and effectively.
Good standup being displayed there by Tantor as he connects with a hook.
Rausku drops his hands momentarily and Tantor takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tantor slips a straight right by Rausku.
Rausku takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tantor uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tantor moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Rausku misses the target.
Tantor connects with a right hand. Rausku shakes it off.
Rausku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tantor manages to avoid it.
A big left from Rausku misses.
Tantor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rausku lands a nice looking body shot.
Rausku looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Tantor scores with a hook.
Tantor punishes Rausku's body with a nice straight punch.
Tantor takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rausku connects with a single shot there.
Tantor throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rausku misses with a lunging right hand
and Tantor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rausku.
Tantor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rausku at a distance.
Rausku takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tantor works Rausku's body with a nice hook.
Tantor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rausku's sensitive parts.
Rausku scores with the left hand. Tantor knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tantor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rausku.
Rausku misses with a wild body shot.
Tantor thows a body shot but no joy.
Rausku takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tantor cracks a nice hook into Rausku's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Almu Tantor dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arvi Rausku's cut.
That's time! Rausku's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rausku walks into a straight right hand from Tantor.
A lazy left from Tantor finds it's target.
Tantor moves out of range of the strikes.
Tantor throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tantor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rausku fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tantor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rausku displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tantor throws out the jab.
Rausku misses with a series of wild punches.
Rausku thows a body shot but no joy.
A shot to the body from Rausku misses
and Tantor makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Tantor throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rausku clobbers Tantor with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tantor scores with a one two! Rausku had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tantor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rausku.
Arvi Rausku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tantor scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Rausku ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tantor moves away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rausku tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tantor was well out of range. Poor timing from Rausku.
Rausku takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tantor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rausku looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tantor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rausku on the side of the head.
Nice cross by Tantor.
Rausku throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tantor's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rausku under the eye.
Tantor tests Rausku's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tantor changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tantor.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tantor.
Tantor has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tantor avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tantor displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rausku on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tantor lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rausku at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rausku misses with a double jab
and Tantor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Rausku misses with a body shot.
Rausku throws out a loose jab but Tantor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rausku is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tantor.
Tantor chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Danga de danga de dang - Tantor scores with a four punch combination!
Rausku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tantor.
Rausku looks to land a left hand but Tantor moved out of range nicely.
Rausku gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tantor.
Rausku has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tantor.
Rausku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tantor.
Tantor lands a body shot.
Rausku lands a slapping body shot.
Tantor thuds his right hand into Rausku's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tantor has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Tantor ducks under a wild hook from Rausku.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sloppy strikes from Tantor. Those never looked like landing.
Rausku takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rausku walks into a left hand.
Rausku ducks right into an uppercut from Tantor.
Nice shot by Tantor.
Rausku doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rausku takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tantor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Rausku's sensitive parts.
Rausku loads up on a big right hand but Tantor slips the punch.
Tantor moves out of range as Rausku strikes.
Rausku takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Decent striking displayed by Tantor there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rausku walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tantor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rausku.
Rausku takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tantor lands a nice hook to Rausku's body. Rausku takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rausku takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tantor scores with a punch to the head.
Rausku stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tantor.
Tantor connects with an inside leg kick.
Tantor jabs at Rausku's body.
Tantor scores with a hook to the body. Rausku takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tantor connects with a looping right hand.
Rausku gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tantor bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rausku's head.
Rausku walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tantor avoids the body shot from Rausku.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sloppy strikes from Rausku. Those never looked like landing.
Tantor scores with a sloppy right hand. Rausku should have avoided that one.
Tantor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rausku takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tantor getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Almu Tantor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Arvi Rausku's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rausku takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Rausku throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A thudding body kick lands there by Tantor!
Rausku takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tantor moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rausku misses with a wild body shot.

Tantor looks low and kicks high, catching Rausku right on the side of the head, sending him crashing to the canvas! Will he be able to beat the count? 3,4,5 - he's already back to his feet and ready to go! Let's see if he's still with it!

Rausku is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rausku throws a jab but it's blocked by Tantor.
That kick from Tantor tenderised Rausku's leg. Rausku is trying to keep his angry face on.
Decent striking displayed by Rausku there.
Tantor lands a leg kick that knocks Rausku off balance momentarily.
Rausku misses with a wild body shot.
Rausku throws a nice looking combination but Tantor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rausku is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rausku.
Tantor connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Rausku scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tantor scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor throws a quick inside leg kick.
A combination from Tantor does no damage.
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rausku.
Rausku walks into a jab.
Tantor lands a head shot.
Good exchange - Tantor coming out on top.
Tantor lands with an uppercut that bounces Rausku off the ropes and back into range.
Oh Rausku is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A left lands for Tantor.
Tantor goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tantor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tantor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rausku.
Tantor jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Tantor cracks the inside of Rausku's front leg.
Tantor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rausku ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Tantor lands a nice hook to Rausku's body. Rausku takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rausku walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Tantor looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tantor jabs Rausku to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rausku seems to have got his legs back now.
A big right from Rausku misses.
Tantor with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tantor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rausku on the side of the head.
Tantor avoids the body shot from Rausku.
Tantor jabs Rausku right on the nose. Rausku blinks but takes it well.
Rausku fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tantor swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Rausku.
Tantor throws a leg kick which misses Rausku's front leg but catches the back leg as Rausku tries to avoid it.
Rausku throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Good shot there by Tantor.
Tantor lands a leg kick that knocks Rausku off balance momentarily.
Tantor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rausku throws an off balance right hand
and Tantor counters with a stiff right hand.
Arvi Rausku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rausku takes a swing at Tantor's ribcage but misses.
Almu Tantor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tantor throws a series of punches but Rausku moves out of range.
Tantor clobbers Rausku with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rausku throws a big shot that misses.
Tantor moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Tantor throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rausku.
Rausku misses with a looping left.
Rausku has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tantor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rausku.
Rausku throws out a powerful jab.
Tantor jabs Rausku right on the nose. Rausku blinks but takes it well.
Tantor uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rausku.
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rausku.
Rausku throws a body punch but Tantor moves out of range.
A punch combination from Tantor misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tantor staying out of range there.
Rausku throws a lazy right hand but Tantor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tantor lands a lovely overhand right.
Rausku tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rausku pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tantor throws a good cross that connects.
Rausku throws out a loose jab but Tantor uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tantor works Rausku's body with a nice hook.
Tantor scores with the left hand. Rausku knows he should have avoided that one.
Rausku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rausku lands the left hand.
Rausku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The crowd cheers as Tantor lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rausku doesn't seem phased though.
Rausku waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tantor.
A shot to the body from Rausku misses
letting Tantor counter with a right hand.
Tantor scores with a hook to the body. Rausku takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
Almu Tantor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tantor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Almu Tantor!
During a confident post fight interview, Almu Tantor thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.