PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raimo Tuomela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roni Rovio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tuomela
vs
Rovio

184 cm
22
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raimo Tuomela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roni Rovio!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rovio doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tuomela throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rovio needs to keep his hands up - Tuomela had a free shot at his head there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Tuomela lands with a shot to the body.
Rovio looks gassed!
Tuomela fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tuomela drops Rovio with a right and a left! Tuomela comes rushing in but Rovio regains his composure and manages to keep Tuomela in guard.

Rovio is rocked!
Rovio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tuomela is one step ahead there.
Rovio is still in real trouble! Can Tuomela finish him?
Tuomela passes Rovio's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Tuomela is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rovio is just riding it out for now. Tuomela eventually gives up the hold.
Rovio seems to have recovered his senses.
Rovio is looking to get back to full guard here but Tuomela has managed to pass to side control instead.
Tuomela prevents Rovio from getting the reversal.
Rovio is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rovio gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rovio tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rovio is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rovio gets back to full guard.
Tuomela passes Rovio's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rovio is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tuomela's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tuomela's back!
Tuomela might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tuomela rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rovio slips a nice elbow through Tuomela's hands, connecting with Tuomela's forehead.
Tuomela has hold of Rovio's hands but Rovio slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Rovio is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Tuomela is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Rovio pulls his head out easily.
Rovio thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rovio trying to control from Tuomela's half guard. Tuomela has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rovio wants to pass the guard but Tuomela is keeping the position.

Tuomela has an active guard here but Rovio has managed to pass into half guard.
Rovio is nestled in close to Tuomela, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rovio is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Rovio is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Tuomela has managed to free his arm - good work.

Tuomela actively working from the bottom here.
Tuomela wants to control but Rovio is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tuomela gets full guard.
Rovio tries to free his leg and advance position but Tuomela is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rovio postures up in Tuomela's guard and throws a big left but Tuomela blocks it.

Tuomela has his foot on Rovio's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rovio works his way back into a safe position though.
Rovio trying to control but Tuomela is working from the bottom.
Rovio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rovio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tuomela keeping moving, preventing Rovio from controlling successfully.

Tuomela has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rovio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rovio distracts Tuomela with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rovio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rovio wants to control from the top but Tuomela keeps moving.

Tuomela looking for a guillotine here but Rovio defends easily.
Rovio working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rovio works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tuomela is looking for a sweep. Rovio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rovio looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tuomela with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Tuomela looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rovio really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tuomela. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tuomela tries to roll over but Rovio keeps him under control.
Tuomela moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Rovio avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rovio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rovio landing some decent shots from guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Rovio lands a couple of digs.
Rovio cracks Tuomela with a solid left hand.
Rovio stands up over Tuomela, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rovio accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tuomela keeping moving, preventing Rovio from controlling successfully.
Rovio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rovio has a takedown stuffed.
Tuomela scores with a body shot.
A left and a right from Tuomela both land. Nice combination.
Tuomela scores with a hook to the body. Rovio takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Tuomela!
Tuomela throws out a loose jab but Rovio uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Rovio scores a takedown into full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rovio landing strikes from the mount and Tuomela is in trouble!
Rovio lands a big shot there that rocks Tuomela but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rovio cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Tuomela is rocked!
Rovio working the ground and pound effectively.
Oh Tuomela is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rovio landing punches.
Rovio loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Tuomela scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Rovio land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Rovio stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Roni Rovio!