PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hiro Protagonist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Topi Takala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Protagonist comes to the cage accompanied by Teenage Bottlerocket - Bigger Than Kiss. Takala has chosen Volga as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Protagonist
vs
Takala

183 cm
35
195 lbs
32 - 12 - 1

198 cm
25
194 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Perkele!
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 32 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Hiro Protagonist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Topi Takala!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takala throws a hook but Protagonist avoids it easily.
A jab from Takala misses.
Takala with a jab.
Takala throws a front kick that sends Protagonist stumbling back into the cage.
Takala looks to score with a jab to the body but Protagonist is just out of range.
Protagonist stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Protagonist misses with a looping right.
Takala tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Takala throws a leg kick that is checked
and Protagonist counters with a one-two to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Protagonist throws out a leg kick but Takala moves out of range and Protagonist only half commits.
Takala uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Protagonist has time to react.
Takala throws a quick inside leg kick.
Protagonist misses the shot to the body.
Protagonist throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Protagonist bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Protagonist thows a leg kick but Takala checks it
and Takala makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Takala closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Protagonist misses with a right hand
and Takala counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Protagonist lands a nice hook to Takala's body. Takala takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Takala takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Takala throws a leg kick but Protagonist sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Good work by Takala as he checks the leg kick.
Protagonist works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Protagonist feints and then cracks Takala's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Takala down.
Protagonist throws a hook but Takala blocks it.
Protagonist swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Protagonist takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Protagonist connects with a body shot.
Protagonist fails to land with a series of punches.
Takala takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Protagonist throws out a loose jab but Takala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Takala jabs at Protagonist's body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Protagonist misses with a straight left.
Protagonist throws a shot from downtown. Takala moves away and avoids it.
A clash of legs there as Takala blocks the low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala throws a half hearted mid kick.
Protagonist is looking to slow Takala down with leg kicks.
Protagonist checks a leg kick.
Protagonist attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Takala uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Protagonist has time to react.
Takala punishes Protagonist's body with a nice straight punch.
Takala darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A lazy body kick from Protagonist
and Takala counters with a nice uppercut.
Protagonist throws a shot from downtown. Takala moves away and avoids it.
Protagonist looks for the body kick but Takala saw that one coming.
Protagonist jabs at Takala's body.
Takala has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Takala scoring well with a low kick there.
Takala is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Protagonist jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Takala lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd cheers as Protagonist lands an impressive looking overhand right. Takala doesn't seem phased though.
Takala moves out of range of the leg kick from Protagonist.
Takala ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Protagonist moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Protagonist throws a lazy uppercut
and Takala counters with a stiff right hand.
Protagonist attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hiro Protagonist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Protagonist misses the target.
Protagonist misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Takala counters with a straight right hand.
Takala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Protagonist.
Protagonist ducks under a wild hook from Takala.
Takala smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The fighters circling - Protagonist throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Protagonist walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Protagonist will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Nice defenses there by Takala.
Takala scores with a jab to the head.
A leg kick checked by Protagonist.
Takala misses with a body kick.
Protagonist avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takala throws a push kick but Protagonist slaps the foot to one side.
A slow jab from Protagonist misses its intended target.
Takala's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Protagonist connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Takala scrambles back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Protagonist lands a leg kick that knocks Takala off balance momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takala. Protagonist does a little dance to reset his feet.
Protagonist wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Takala is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Protagonist misses with a right hand
and Takala makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Takala moves out of range of the leg kick from Protagonist.
Protagonist misses with a hook to the body
and Takala counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Protagonist misses with an uppercut.
Protagonist throws a body kick that misses.
Takala misses with a wild body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takala throws a hook but Protagonist avoids it easily.
Takala moves out of range as Protagonist strikes.
Protagonist throws a lazy right hand but Takala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takala throws a leg kick but Protagonist sees it coming and checks it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiro Protagonist dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Protagonist misses with a jab to the body
and Takala counters with a nice kick to the body.
Protagonist misses with an uppercut
and Takala counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Protagonist throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Protagonist displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Takala throws out the jab.
Protagonist tests Takala's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Takala dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Protagonist. That did some damage!
Protagonist pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice straight punches there by Takala. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Takala.
Hiro Protagonist is winning the standup battle so far.
Takala closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Protagonist misses with a double jab.
Takala defending well as Protagonist loads up on a big left hand.
Protagonist moves out of range as Takala strikes.
Protagonist stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Takala.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters circle momentarily. Takala darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Takala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Protagonist tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Protagonist walks into a stiff left hand from Takala.
Protagonist lands a jab to the nose.
Protagonist uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Takala.
Takala takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Takala throws a series of punches but Protagonist avoids them all with ease.
Takala lands a right hook to the body.
Takala lands a nice shot to the body.
Takala throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Protagonist.
Protagonist lands a nice leg kick that just misses Takala's sensitive parts.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takala. That's going to slow Protagonist down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Protagonist feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Takala's calf.
Takala slips a jab and a cross from Protagonist.
An inside leg kick from Protagonist misses.
Protagonist pivots, looking for a leg kick but Takala is out of range and Protagonist settles back down.
Protagonist swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Takala counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Protagonist misses the target.
Takala cracks Protagonist with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Takala cracks the inside of Protagonist's front leg.
Protagonist throws a half hearted mid kick.
Protagonist misses the shot to the body.
Takala with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Protagonist ducks under a wild hook from Takala.
Protagonist with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Takala to score with a decent uppercut.
Protagonist misses with a body kick.
Takala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Protagonist finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Takala lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Protagonist avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Protagonist misses with an uppercut.
Takala moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Protagonist misses with an uppercut. Takala saw that one coming.
Nice straight punches there by Takala. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Takala.
A nice leg kick lands there from Protagonist.
Protagonist looks to score with a jab to the body but Takala is just out of range.
Protagonist gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Takala.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Protagonist blocks the body kick.
Protagonist moves out of range of the strikes.
Protagonist jabs Takala to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Protagonist misses with a body shot.
Protagonist fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Takala checks it well.
Protagonist takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Protagonist stalks Takala and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Takala's face. Takala staggers backwards, shaken.
Sloppy strikes from Protagonist. Those never looked like landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Good shot there by Protagonist.
Protagonist takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Protagonist looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Takala lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Protagonist has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Protagonist and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Protagonist throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takala walks into a stiff left hand from Protagonist.
A lazy left from Takala finds it's target.
Protagonist stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Takala.
Protagonist throws a wild body kick that Takala sees coming a mile off.
Takala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takala connects with a nice looking jab.
Takala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Protagonist uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takala.
A nice leg kick lands there from Takala.
Protagonist misses with a wild combination.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Protagonist moves out of range of the leg kick from Takala.
Takala looks to land a combination but Protagonist avoids it well.
Takala throws a head kick but Protagonist moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Topi Takala will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Takala thows a left - swing and a miss!
Protagonist connects with an inside leg kick.
Protagonist jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Protagonist throws the left hand but Takala avoids the punch easily.
Takala takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Protagonist misses with a two punch combination.
Protagonist looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Protagonist throws a lazy right hand but Takala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Takala loads up on a big right hand but Protagonist slips the punch.
Protagonist throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Takala misses with a body kick.
Protagonist lands a nice looking kick to the body. Takala takes a step back to recover.
Protagonist slips a jab and a cross from Takala.
A good leg kick by Protagonist.
Nice cross by Protagonist.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala with a nice cross.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Takala, right into the meat.
Takala scores with a nice head shot.
Takala fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Protagonist checks it well.
Protagonist uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Takala.
Protagonist tries a head kick but it misses.
An inside leg kick lands from Protagonist.
Takala with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Protagonist to score with a decent uppercut.
Protagonist throws a low kick but it's checked well by Takala.
A shot to the body from Protagonist misses
and Takala cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Takala looks to score with a jab to the body but Protagonist is just out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Takala, as that shot connected.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takala. Protagonist does a little dance to reset his feet.
Protagonist misses with a two punch combination.
Protagonist looks to land a left hand but Takala moved out of range nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Protagonist looks to land a right hand but Takala moved out of range.
Takala lands a glancing blow to the side of Protagonist's head.
Protagonist misses with a hook.
Protagonist throws an overhand right that lands on Takala's shoulder, as Takala tries to avoid the shot.
Takala throws a leg kick which misses Protagonist's front leg but catches the back leg as Protagonist tries to avoid it.
Protagonist tries to bum rush Takala with a series of wild strikes but Takala uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Takala misses with a two punch combination.
Protagonist ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Takala moves away.
A swing and a miss from Protagonist.
Takala lands a slapping body shot.
Takala lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Takala's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Protagonist lands a jab to Takala's midsection.
Takala tries to score with a low kick but Protagonist moves his leg out of the way.
A nice leg kick lands there from Takala.
Takala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Protagonist manages to avoid it.
Protagonist takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Protagonist thuds his right hand into Takala's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Takala takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A telegraphed right hand from Protagonist misses the target.
A cross from Protagonist lands.
Protagonist tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Takala is able to avoid easily.
Protagonist thows a body shot but no joy.
Takala smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Takala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Protagonist moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Takala throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Protagonist.
Takala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Protagonist!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Protagonist.
Takala scores with a punch to the head.
Takala bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Protagonist throws a chopping leg kick but Takala manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Takala takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A jab from Takala does it's job there.
Protagonist misses with a right hand
and Takala counters with an outside leg kick.
Protagonist just misses with a punch to the body.
Protagonist throws out a leg kick but Takala moves out of range and Protagonist only half commits.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Takala darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A solid body kick from Protagonist.
Takala throws a front kick aimed at Protagonist's knee but Protagonist avoids it well.
Takala moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiro Protagonist showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Protagonist has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiro Protagonist!
During a confident post fight interview, Hiro Protagonist thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.