PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michal Iksinski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teppo Tahkojuusto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iksinski comes to the cage accompanied by Skyrim Theme. Tahkojuusto is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: AC/DC : T.N.T. Teppo Tahkojuusto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Iksinski
vs
Tahkojuusto

189 cm
19
178 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
34
186 lbs
12 - 17 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Condemned

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michal Iksinski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 17 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Teppo Tahkojuusto!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tahkojuusto tries to bum rush Iksinski with a series of wild strikes but Iksinski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Iksinski throws a hook to the side of Tahkojuusto's head but Tahkojuusto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Iksinski jabs at Tahkojuusto's body.
An inside leg kick lands from Tahkojuusto.
Tahkojuusto shoots for a double leg takedown but Iksinski sprawls well. He's pushed Tahkojuusto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tahkojuusto throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Iksinski on the side of the head.
Iksinski fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Iksinski misses with a straight right.
Tahkojuusto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tahkojuusto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Iksinski takes a swing at Tahkojuusto's ribcage but misses.
Iksinski throws a series of punches but Tahkojuusto avoids them all with ease.
Iksinski throws the left hand but Tahkojuusto avoids the punch easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Iksinski misses the jab.

Tahkojuusto closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Iksinski's guard.
Iksinski wants to get back to his feet but Tahkojuusto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Iksinski is trying to keep Tahkojuusto in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iksinski is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tahkojuusto is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Tahkojuusto passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Iksinski is not content to let Tahkojuusto control the position.

Tahkojuusto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
A control attempt from Iksinski but he's now mounted!
Tahkojuusto pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iksinski wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Iksinski trying to control the action but Tahkojuusto just sinks the hooks in.
Tahkojuusto keeps control of the position easily here as Iksinski tries to buck him off.
Well, with Tahkojuusto on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Iksinski is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Iksinski is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Iksinski is really stuck here.
Iksinski turns into Tahkojuusto and is now in his guard.
Tahkojuusto wants to stand and escape but Iksinski is having none of it.

Iksinski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tahkojuusto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Iksinski has managed to get both his arms back between Tahkojuusto's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tahkojuusto is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Iksinski frees his head nicely. Oh but Tahkojuusto has switched to an armbar! Iksinski is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Teppo Tahkojuusto!
In his post fight interview, Teppo Tahkojuusto started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.