PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bob Large (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viiksi Tolonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Large comes to the cage accompanied by Blue - U Make Me Wanna . Tolonen has chosen Kid Rock - American Bad Ass as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Large
vs
Tolonen

192 cm
28
225 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

188 cm
37
223 lbs
33 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bob Large!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Viiksi Tolonen!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tolonen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bob Large seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Large swings for the body but Tolonen moves out of range.
Large tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A slow jab from Large misses its intended target.
Tolonen thuds his shin into the meat of Large's side.
A bone on bone clash there as Large blocks the leg kick.
Large tries to clinch up.
Tolonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tolonen misses with a leg kick

and Large counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Large is trying to pull guard but Tolonen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Large ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Large no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tolonen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tolonen cracks Large with a solid left hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tolonen throws a big elbow that misses.
Tolonen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tolonen postures up in Large's guard and throws a big left but Large blocks it.
Large looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tolonen is one step ahead there.
Large is working hard here to advance position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tolonen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tolonen passes Large's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Large moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tolonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Large looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Large utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Large keeping full guard, as Tolonen tries to pass.
Tolonen landing with the ground and pound.

Large escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tolonen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Large throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tolonen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Large's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Large wants to control but Tolonen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tolonen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tolonen controlling the action here.
Large tries to roll over but Tolonen keeps him under control.
Large avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tolonen.
Tolonen thows a huge punch but Large dodges it nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Large is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tolonen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Large is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Large slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tolonen wants to control from the top but Large keeps moving.
Tolonen stands up over Large, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Large 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.
Tolonen trying to control but Large is working from the bottom.
Tolonen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tolonen stopping the sweep attempt from Large.
Tolonen throwing strikes from guard but Large blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Large avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Large keeping moving, preventing Tolonen from controlling successfully.
Tolonen working some strikes from top position.
Large bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tolonen's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Large trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tolonen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Large throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tolonen wants to sweep but no luck.
Tolonen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tolonen keeping moving, preventing Large from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Viiksi Tolonen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Large pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Large moves into the clinch.
Large is trying to pull guard but Tolonen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Tolonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Large is trying to pull guard but Tolonen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Large content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tolonen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Large lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A nice left hand lands by Tolonen.
Tolonen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tolonen.
Tolonen misses with the head strike.
Large is trying to pull guard but Tolonen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bob Large. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Large tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tolonen's elbow.

Tolonen breaks from the clinch.
Large misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tolonen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolonen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Large thuds his right hand into Tolonen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tolonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tolonen lands with a good body shot.
Tolonen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Large checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Large blocks the body kick.
Large moves out of range of the body kick.
Large tries to clinch up.
Large tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tolonen counters with a thumping low kick.
Large is looking to clinch but Tolonen is avoiding it.
Tolonen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Large moves out of range as Tolonen throws a body kick.
Tolonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Large takes one to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tolonen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Large tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tolonen just stands there and leans against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Large.
A nice left hand lands by Large.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Large scores with a hook to the body.
Large scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Tolonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Large misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tolonen.

Large rushes Tolonen and presses him up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tolonen.
Tolonen lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tolonen lands a shoulder strike.
Bob Large has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Large misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tolonen.
Large fails to pull guard.
Tolonen struggles to land a body shot inside as Large controls his hands.
Stalling in the clinch from Large.
Large struggles to land a body shot inside as Tolonen controls his hands.
Large blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Large fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Large fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tolonen lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Large fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tolonen.
Large misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tolonen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Large has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tolonen uses from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Large is on top in guard.
Large throwing strikes but missing.
Tolonen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Large trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Large is looking to work some ground and pound but Tolonen has wrist control.
Tolonen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Large's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Large working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tolonen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tolonen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Large looking for a sweep. Not yet Large, not yet.
Tolonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tolonen throws a big elbow that misses.
Large looking for a sweep. Not yet Large, not yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Large preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Viiksi Tolonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tolonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Large is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tolonen throws a big right hand that misses.
Large working a defensive guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Large tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tolonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Large swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tolonen throwing strikes from guard but Large blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Viiksi Tolonen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice straight punches there by Large. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Large.
Nice straight punches there by Tolonen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tolonen.

Large closes the distance and clinches.

Tolonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice shot lands for Large.
Large misses the shot to the body.
Tolonen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Large counters with a nice uppercut.
Tolonen lands a leg kick that knocks Large off balance momentarily.
Tolonen misses with an uppercut.
Tolonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Large.
Large takes one on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tolonen throws a low kick, looking for Large's leg but Large calmly moves out of range.
Tolonen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Large is able to avoid easily.
Large blocks a leg kick.
Tolonen tries to clinch but Large is having none of it.
Tolonen throws out a loose jab but Large uses good head movement to avoid it.
Large throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tolonen sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Large moves out of range as Tolonen throws a body kick.
Tolonen throws a head kick but Large moves out of range.
A punch combination from Tolonen misses.
Tolonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Tolonen looks for the body kick but Large saw that one coming.
Large tries to clinch but Tolonen is having none of it.
Tolonen swings for the body but Large moves out of range.
Large with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Large loads up on a big right hand but Tolonen slips the punch.

Large closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tolonen jumps guard but Large stands there with Tolonen around his waist. Tolonen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Large throws a punch but it's blocked by Tolonen.

Large jumps guard and drags Tolonen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Large tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Large trying to keep a closed guard but Tolonen is proving a slippery customer.
Large 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Large keeping moving, preventing Tolonen from controlling successfully.
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!
Large is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Large is trying to control. Tolonen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Large prevents Tolonen from improving his position.
Tolonen is controlling Large's trapped leg to prevent Large from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Large wants to free his trapped foot but Tolonen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Large missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bob Large has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Large is controlling the pace.
Large trying to mount his opponent but Tolonen defends it.
Large not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Large wants to control but Tolonen is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Large avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tolonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Large looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tolonen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Large checks it well.
Tolonen thuds his shin into the meat of Large's side.
Tolonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Large scores with a nice head shot.
Tolonen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tolonen throws a low kick, looking for Large's leg but Large calmly moves out of range.
Large misses with a wild body shot.
Viiksi Tolonen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Large checks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tolonen. Large does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tolonen tries a head kick but it misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Large scores with a spinning back kick!
Tolonen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tolonen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Large misses with a left hand
and Tolonen counters with a thumping low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Viiksi Tolonen.
I've got Tolonen 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viiksi Tolonen!
An out of breath Viiksi Tolonen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.