PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Juha Tappio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Carpio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tappio might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Kari Tapio - Juna kulkee vaan. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tappio
vs
Carpio

180 cm
29
165 lbs
13 - 11 - 1

185 cm
25
160 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Happy Pills (All 5 Supps @ 159Q Beginning 10/03)
Brute

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 13 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Tappio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Phil Carpio!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tappio lands a body shot.
Carpio avoids a punch combination nicely.
Carpio stuffs the takedown attempt from Tappio. Tappio gets slowly back to his feet.
Tappio looks to land a combination but Carpio avoids it well.
Tappio throws a body punch but Carpio moves out of range.
Carpio ducks under a wild hook from Tappio.
Carpio is looking to clinch but Tappio is avoiding it.
Tappio takes a kick to the side of the head.
Carpio connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Tappio steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Carpio.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Carpio rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tappio counters with a three punch combo that has Carpio backing up. Carpio nods at Tappio to acknowledge the strikes.
A punch combination from Tappio misses.
Juha Tappio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tappio throws a right and a left that Carpio avoids nicely.
Carpio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tappio.
Tappio will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carpio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tappio.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Tappio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Carpio misses with a hook. Tappio ducked under it nicely.
Tappio throws a right hand that Carpio ducks under and follows up with a left that Carpio also avoids with ease.

Tappio drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Carpio is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tappio is controlling him.
Tappio trying to control the position from guard on top but Carpio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tappio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carpio is keeping the position for now.
Tappio won't allow Carpio to get back to his feet.
Tappio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Carpio is keeping the position for now.
Tappio connects with a couple of short punches.
Carpio is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tappio is controlling him.
Tappio tries to free his leg and advance position but Carpio is retaining full guard.
Carpio keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.
Carpio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tappio engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Tappio has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Carpio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tappio won't allow Carpio to get back to his feet.
Tappio throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Carpio keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.
Tappio tries to free his leg and advance position but Carpio is retaining full guard.
Tappio scoring with some ground and pound.
Tappio working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tappio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tappio sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Carpio's guard.
Carpio moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tappio keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Carpio's head.
Tappio looking to sit in guard and control but Carpio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tappio not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tappio wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tappio trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Tappio dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Tappio. Those never looked like landing.
Carpio leaves Tappio with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Carpio throws a leg kick that misses.
Carpio looks to land a right hand but Tappio moved out of range.
Carpio misses with a series of wild punches.

Tappio drops Carpio with a nice combination! Tappio dives into Carpio's guard, looking to finish!

Carpio is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carpio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tappio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Carpio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Carpio wants to stand but Tappio is controlling the position.
Carpio keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tappio is looking to work some ground and pound but Carpio has wrist control.
Tappio trying to control but Carpio is working from the bottom.
Tappio controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tappio looking to sit in guard and control but Carpio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Carpio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tappio working a defensive guard but Carpio passes into half guard.
Carpio is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Carpio decides to stand up.
Tappio scores with a jab to the jaw.
Carpio looks to throw the jab but Tappio is out of range.
Tappio changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Carpio tries to avoid it but Tappio manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Carpio to the ground. Carpio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

A jab-cross combination lands for Tappio and sends Carpio crashing to the mat! Tappio follows him down to the mat - Carpio regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!
Carpio is still in real trouble! Can Tappio finish him?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Carpio wants to get back to his feet.

Tappio is working for a kimura but Carpio is defending it quite comfortably.
Still in half guard, Tappio seems content to control.
Carpio seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio with the ground and pound but Carpio uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Tappio throws a strike but Carpio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Carpio would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tappio wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tappio controls Carpio momentarily but Carpio frees himself.

Tappio is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Carpio gets to his feet - Tappio follows without any prompting.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Carpio swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Carpio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Juha Tappio is winning the standup battle so far.

Tappio throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Carpio was covering up waiting for the punch and Tappio finishes the takedown easily into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Tappio dominated that second round.
That's time! Tappio's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A good leg kick by Carpio.
Tappio throws a lazy uppercut
and Carpio counters with a stiff right hand.
Tappio has a takedown stuffed.
Tappio swings away with a body shot that misses
and Carpio counters with a head kick. That will keep Tappio thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Carpio wants to clinch up but Tappio keeps it at a distance.
Tappio misses with a few strikes there.
Tappio misses with a two punch combination.
Carpio moves into range and connects with a jab.
Juha Tappio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Carpio has managed to clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Carpio.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tappio takes a shot to the head.

Tappio jumps guard.

Tappio has his foot on Carpio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Carpio works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Carpio stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Carpio tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tappio is able to avoid easily.
Tappio jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Carpio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot lands for Carpio.
Tappio has a takedown stuffed.
Carpio tries to clinch but Tappio is having none of it.
Tappio swats away the attempt to clinch by Carpio.
Carpio pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tappio is out of range and Carpio settles back down.
Tappio listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappio shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Carpio pinned against the cage. Carpio gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Tappio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tappio shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Carpio but Carpio pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A chopping leg kick lands by Carpio.
Carpio scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tappio shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Carpio sprawls well. Carpio wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tappio gets slowly back to his feet.
Carpio throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Phil Carpio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tappio lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Carpio circles away quickly and effectively.
Tappio throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tappio tries to bum rush Carpio with a series of wild strikes but Carpio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tappio scores with a body shot.
Carpio tries to land a front kick but Tappio steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tappio on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A slow jab from Carpio misses its intended target.
Tappio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carpio.
Carpio closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tappio misses with a right hand
and Carpio counters with a thumping low kick.
Tappio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Carpio was well out of range. Poor timing from Tappio.
Tappio fails with the takedown.
A head kick misses from Carpio.
Phil Carpio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tappio throws a nice looking combination but Carpio bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Carpio moves into range and clinches up with Tappio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carpio misses with some punches.
Carpio has Tappio pushed against the cage.
Carpio is trying to stall.
Carpio throws an elbow but it misses.
Juha Tappio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A short right from Carpio on the inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Carpio.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tappio goes for a takedown in the clinch but Carpio prevents it.
Carpio struggles to land a body shot inside as Tappio controls his hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Carpio misses with a punch to the body.
Carpio is defending well against a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Carpio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tappio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juha Tappio!
A victorious Juha Tappio thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.