PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Salvatore Gattuso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juha Tappio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tappio comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Kari Tapio - Juna kulkee vaan kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Salvatore Gattuso had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Gattuso
vs
Tappio

179 cm
28
169 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

180 cm
29
165 lbs
12 - 11 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Salvatore Gattuso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Tappio!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gattuso connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Gattuso gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tappio with a flurry of punches that miss.

Gattuso looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tappio trying to control but Gattuso is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tappio postures up in Gattuso's guard and throws a big left but Gattuso blocks it.

Gattuso working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tappio doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tappio manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gattuso preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tappio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gattuso keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tappio wants to pass the guard but Gattuso is keeping the position.
Tappio passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Gattuso is looking for a sweep.
Tappio cracks Gattuso with a big elbow.
Gattuso wants to control but Tappio postures up.
Tappio landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Tappio tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Tappio trying to control the action but Gattuso is working from the bottom.
Tappio scores with punches from side control.
Gattuso tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tappio wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappio is putting a hurting on Gattuso here, landing some big shots from side control.

Tappio tries for a kimura but Gattuso is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tappio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gattuso keeps working.
Tappio working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Tappio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gattuso keeps working.
Tappio working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Gattuso is not content to let Tappio control the position.
Gattuso tries to improve position but can't.
Tappio looking to control but instead Gattuso has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Tappio looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gattuso is not content to let Tappio control the position.

Tappio wants to work for an arm triangle but Gattuso is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Tappio is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gattuso doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tappio.
Gattuso manages to get to full guard.

Gattuso escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tappio gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tappio keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gattuso's head.

Gattuso is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tappio is aware though and is defending well.
Tappio cracks Gattuso with a solid left hand.
Tappio postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gattuso keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.

Gattuso looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tappio scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tappio wants to pass the guard but Gattuso is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tappio is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gattuso has momentary wrist control but Tappio slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Tappio dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tappio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tappio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gattuso was well out of range. Poor timing from Tappio.
Gattuso avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tappio looks to score with a jab to the body but Gattuso is just out of range.
Tappio throws a series of punches but Gattuso moves out of range.

Gattuso rushes Tappio and presses him up against the cage.

Tappio has picked Gattuso up - he's going for a ride! Tappio dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Tappio slips a nice elbow through Gattuso's hands, connecting with Gattuso's forehead.
Gattuso is looking for a sweep. Tappio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Gattuso looking for submissions off his back.

Tappio seems to be looking for submissions.
Tappio trying to control from half guard but Gattuso is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tappio might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gattuso kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gattuso is trying to get back to full guard.
Gattuso works his way to full guard. Good work.

Gattuso working for a triangle but Tappio defends it easily.
Gattuso has momentary wrist control but Tappio slips an elbow through the middle.
Tappio trying to control but Gattuso is working from the bottom.
Gattuso has momentary wrist control but Tappio slips an elbow through the middle.
Juha Tappio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tappio wants to pass the guard but Gattuso is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gattuso is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tappio defends well.
Gattuso keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.
Gattuso looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tappio is working Gattuso over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tappio sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tappio landing some decent shots from guard.
Tappio is working Gattuso over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tappio trying to control the position from guard on top but Gattuso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gattuso working a defensive guard here.
Tappio has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tappio tries to free his leg and advance position but Gattuso is retaining full guard.
Tappio scoring with some ground and pound.
Tappio keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gattuso's head.
Tappio wants to control from the top but Gattuso keeps moving.
Tappio stands up over Gattuso, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gattuso looking for a sweep. Not yet Gattuso, not yet.
Tappio trying to control the position from guard on top but Gattuso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tappio lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tappio is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gattuso is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gattuso has escaped and now he's on top!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gattuso being controlled here momentarily.
Gattuso trying to control the position from guard on top but Tappio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tappio is trying to keep Gattuso in close.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tappio has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Tappio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gattuso wants to clinch but Tappio slips to the side
and Tappio counters with a series of strikes. Gattuso will be more careful next time no doubt.
Gattuso avoids the body shot from Tappio.
Tappio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gattuso.
Nice sprawl there from Tappio as Gattuso shoots in.
Gattuso works the jab nicely.
A jab lands there for Tappio.
Tappio throws a nice looking combination but Gattuso bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gattuso tries to clinch up but Tappio circles away and keeps his distance.
A nice combination there by Tappio.
Tappio connects with a good straight punch right through the guard and follows up with a right hook and a left hook! That last one sent Gattuso tumbling to the canvas! Tappio pours on the pressure with more strikes and the referee has no hesitation diving in to stop the fight! Gattuso was done - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Juha Tappio!
A very excited looking Juha Tappio made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.