PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Feng Kang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holden Topokrs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kang
vs
Topokrs

189 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
26
225 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Feng Kang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Holden Topokrs!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kang is looking to clinch but Topokrs is avoiding it.
Feng Kang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Topokrs throws a shot from downtown. Kang moves away and avoids it.
Topokrs is looking to clinch but Kang is avoiding it.
Kang throws the left hand but Topokrs avoids the punch easily.
Topokrs takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Topokrs tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kang swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Topokrs shoots in looking for a takedown but Kang manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Topokrs's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Topokrs keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kang.
Kang fails in his attempt to clinch.
Topokrs throws a right and a left that both miss.
Topokrs staying out of range there.
Topokrs ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kang moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang lands with a straight right. Topokrs didn't see that one coming.
Kang connects with a good right hand that stumbles Topokrs. Topokrs circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kang throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Topokrs closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Topokrs tries for a kimura but Kang is defending well.
A lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Topokrs tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang seems a little lost for a moment, as Topokrs dominates the positioning.

Holden Topokrs has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Topokrs closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Topokrs working the ground and pound but Kang is defending the strikes.
Topokrs moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Kang tries to bench press Topokrs off him but Topokrs keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Holden Topokrs dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kang swats away the attempt to clinch by Topokrs.
A big left from Kang misses.
Nice sprawl there from Kang as Topokrs shoots in.
Kang misses with a straight right.
Topokrs slips under a jab.
Kang slaps away a takedown attempt from Topokrs, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The fighters circling - Kang throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kang listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Topokrs tries for a takedown but Kang sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Feng Kang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Holden Topokrs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang tries to clinch there but Topokrs circles away.
Kang takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Topokrs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kang as he avoids it easily.
Topokrs gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kang.
Kang misses the shot to the body.
Topokrs fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Topokrs walks into a jab.
Kang cracks a nice hook into Topokrs's ribs.
Kang throws a poor cross that misses

and Topokrs counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Topokrs seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Topokrs's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Holden Topokrs.
Topokrs misses with the combination.

Topokrs scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Topokrs content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Holden Topokrs.
Kang throws a combination. Topokrs tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Holden Topokrs has been cut.
Feng Kang is winning the standup battle so far.
Topokrs fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang misses with a wild combination.
Kang lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Topokrs uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kang.
Topokrs tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kang paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Topokrs slips a jab from Kang.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kang looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Feng Kang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Topokrs feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Topokrs throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kang works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Holden Topokrs will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Holden Topokrs's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Topokrs closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kang circles away.
Kang lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kang lands a jab to the head.
Topokrs uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kang.
Topokrs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kang as he jumps to the side.
Kang moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kang throws a right and a left that Topokrs avoids nicely.
Topokrs changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kang tries to avoid it but Topokrs manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kang to the ground. Kang escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Feng Kang has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Holden Topokrs.
Kang thuds a left hand into Topokrs's body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topokrs shoots for a double leg takedown but Kang sprawls well. He's pushed Topokrs's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Topokrs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kang as he jumps to the side.
Topokrs takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Topokrs is looking to clinch.
Kang misses with a two punch combination.
Topokrs takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Topokrs is looking to clinch but Kang is avoiding it.
Topokrs takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Topokrs closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Topokrs closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Topokrs not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Topokrs sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kang wants to improve his position but Topokrs is controlling well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Holden Topokrs hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kang works over Topokrs's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Topokrs bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Topokrs decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Topokrs looks for a takedown but Kang sprawls well.
Kang stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kang wants it to stay on the feet.
Topokrs shoots in looking for a takedown. Kang tries to sprawl out of it but Topokrs keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang wants to clinch.
Topokrs takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Topokrs has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kang finds it's way round the side to connect with Topokrs's head.
Feng Kang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kang with a jab.
Topokrs shoots in looking for a takedown. Kang tries to sprawl out of it but Topokrs keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kang manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Feng Kang showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Topokrs has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Holden Topokrs!