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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evgeniy Malkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esa Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tikkanen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bring The Pain kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!
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| 191 cm
23
210 lbs
6 - 1 - 0 |
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186 cm
26
209 lbs
16 - 3 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Evgeniy Malkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
16 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esa Tikkanen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkanen wants to clinch up but Malkin keeps it at a distance.
Tikkanen connects with a leg kick. Malkin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Malkin throws a chopping leg kick but Tikkanen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Malkin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tikkanen tries a low kick but Malkin avoids it.
Tikkanen takes one to the side of the head.
Tikkanen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Malkin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ground and pound from Tikkanen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Malkin is trying to improve his position.
Tikkanen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Malkin to see if he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Malkin tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tikkanen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Malkin is working hard here to advance position.
Tikkanen controls the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Malkin can't do much from the bottom here.
Malkin is trying to get back to half guard.
Tikkanen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Tikkanen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Malkin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Malkin is looking to reverse the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tikkanen.
Malkin is being controlled here.
Tikkanen wants to control but Malkin is keeping him busy.
Malkin is being controlled here.
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!
Malkin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Malkin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The ground and pound from Tikkanen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Tikkanen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Malkin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tikkanen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen working the ground and pound.
Tikkanen working the head with strikes.
Malkin is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tikkanen working the ground and pound.
Tikkanen working away.
Tikkanen working the head and body with strikes.
Malkin is looking for a sweep.
Malkin is not content to let Tikkanen control the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malkin is letting Tikkanen control him for a moment.
Malkin is trying to improve his position.
A lull in the action here.
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!
Malkin is looking to regain half guard here but Tikkanen keeps moving and retains side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tikkanen scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Esa Tikkanen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Tikkanen tries a low kick but Malkin avoids it.
Malkin throws a sloppy head kick and Tikkanen moves out of range easily.
Malkin turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Malkin throws a hook to the side of Tikkanen's head but Tikkanen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tikkanen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Malkin looks for the body kick but Tikkanen saw that one coming.
Malkin lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tikkanen's sensitive parts.
Tikkanen misses with a body kick.
Tikkanen moves in looking to clinch but Malkin pushes him off.
Malkin lets loose with a powerful body kick. Tikkanen will feel that in the morning.
Malkin misses with a head kick.
Tikkanen catches Malkin with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tikkanen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Evgeniy Malkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Tikkanen misses.
Malkin misses with a looping right.
Tikkanen has a takedown stuffed.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkin scores with a hook to the body. Tikkanen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Malkin slips a straight right by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen darts in and clinches Malkin up against the cage.
Malkin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tikkanen throws a head punch that misses.
Malkin tries to work over Tikkanen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Malkin lands a hook that snaps the head of Tikkanen backwards.
Malkin can't find room to land a body shot as Tikkanen controls the action.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Malkin up against the cage.
Malkin has had enough of the clinch but Tikkanen keeps him there for the moment.
Tikkanen slowing the pace effectively.
Malkin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tikkanens head.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malkin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tikkanen.
Malkin misses with the head strike.
Tikkanen digs a right hand into Malkin's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Malkin's gas tank.
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!
Tikkanen stalling in the clinch but Malkin improves position.
Tikkanen takes a shot to the head.
Tikkanen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tikkanen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tikkanen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Malkin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Evgeniy Malkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esa Tikkanen.
Malkin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tikkanen backwards.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Tikkanen throws a punch but it's blocked by Malkin.
Tikkanen is working Malkin over against the cage.
Tikkanen misses with a punch on the inside.
Tikkanen tries to stall but Malkin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tikkanen blocks an uppercut.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Malkin.
Tikkanen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Tikkanen as Malkin tries to tie him up.
Tikkanen blocks an uppercut.
Tikkanen is trying to trip Malkin. He has hold of a leg but Malkin is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Tikkanen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Tikkanen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tikkanen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tikkanen won't allow Malkin to sweep him here.
Tikkanen tries to free his leg and advance position but Malkin is retaining full guard.
Tikkanen trying to control but Malkin is working from the bottom.
Tikkanen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Malkin's head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Malkin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tikkanen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Malkin's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Esa Tikkanen 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
Malkin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Malkin pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tikkanen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Malkin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Tikkanen checks it well.
A low kick from Malkin misses
and Tikkanen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tikkanen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tikkanen tries to throw a body punch but Malkin avoids it by throwing Tikkanen back against the cage.
Tikkanen tries a body shot but Malkin blocks it.
Malkin looking to stall.
Tikkanen has picked Malkin up - he's going for a ride! Tikkanen dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Still in half guard, Tikkanen seems content to control.
Malkin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tikkanen is working away from the top position though.
Malkin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tikkanen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Malkin wants to improve his position but Tikkanen is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Malkin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tikkanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tikkanen landing some decent shots from guard.
Tikkanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Evgeniy Malkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Esa Tikkanen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tikkanen passes Malkin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tikkanen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malkin is pressing down on Tikkanen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tikkanen throwing strikes but missing.
Tikkanen throws a big right hand that misses.
Malkin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tikkanen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Malkin is keeping the position for now.
Tikkanen preventing the sweep.
Tikkanen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Malkin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tikkanen is aware though and is defending well.
Tikkanen works over Malkin with some ground and pound from guard.
Tikkanen throws a strike but Malkin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tikkanen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that's the end of the fight!
Esa Tikkanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tikkanen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esa Tikkanen!
An out of breath Esa Tikkanen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
81% |
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