PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tuomas Keto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and christoph gale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Keto
vs
gale

183 cm
18
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

195 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tuomas Keto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, christoph gale!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Keto gets a takedown into half guard.

Keto is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so gale is just riding it out for now. Keto eventually gives up the hold.
Keto is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for gale!

Keto looking to secure an arm triangle but gale defends it well.
Keto with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

Keto jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… gale is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by gale and Keto has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Keto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Keto is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but gale is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Keto is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
gale is looking to regain half guard here but Keto keeps moving and retains side control.
gale sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Keto is looking to advance position but gale won't allow it.
Keto content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
gale gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Keto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Keto passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
gale is trying to get back to half guard.
gale gets back to half guard.
gale won't allow Keto to pass to mount.
gale is looking for a sweep. Keto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Keto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

gale is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Keto pulls his head out easily.

gale looking for submissions off his back.
gale wants to get back to full guard.
gale is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Keto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Keto connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Keto swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and gale is now in Keto's guard. A big mistake from Keto there, giving up the dominant position!
gale postures up.

Keto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
gale wants to get up but he can't break Keto's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Keto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Keto is on top in guard.
Keto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. gale swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keto passes into half guard.
Keto moves nicely into side control.

Keto goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, gale has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Keto but great work by gale.
Keto sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
gale passes to full mount!
Keto is trying to reverse the position but instead gale has taken his back - oops!
Keto tries to break free.
Keto turns into gale and is now in his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuomas Keto dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Keto shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in gale's guard.
Keto working some strikes from top position.
Keto slips nicely into half guard.
Keto passes to side control.
gale is working to avoid the ground and pound but Keto connects with a decent elbow.
gale tries to improve position but can't.
gale gets back to half guard.
Keto is looking to take a break and control but gale is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Keto slows the pace down in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Keto is keen to just control but gale is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

gale is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Keto pulls his head out easily.
Keto wants to free his trapped foot but gale is holding on for dear life with his legs.
gale trying to hold on to Keto's head to control him but Keto postures up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Keto in particular looking to stall.

Keto is looking for a kimura but gale is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Keto to get the leverage.
Keto trying to control from gale's half guard. gale has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

gale is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Keto loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
gale 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.
Keto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

gale is looking for a triangle but Keto pushes his legs off easily.
Keto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
gale tries to bench press Keto off him but Keto keeps the position.
Check out the look on Keto's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Check out the look on Keto's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keto scoring with punches and elbows.
Keto advances to mount.

Keto is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But gale has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from gale!
Keto has momentary wrist control but gale slips an elbow through the middle.

Keto has his foot on gale's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. gale works his way back into a safe position though.

Keto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Keto is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Keto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
gale stopping the sweep attempt from Keto.
Keto controls gale momentarily but gale frees himself.
Keto looking to hit a scissor sweep but gale is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

gale moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuomas Keto dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

gale with a lazy takedown attempt

and Keto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Keto.

Keto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Keto slips nicely into half guard.
Keto wants to lay and pray for a moment but gale keeps working.

Keto is trying to work for a kimura but gale is defending well.
Keto scoring with strikes to the body and head.
gale won't allow Keto to pass to mount.
gale trying to control from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keto trying to mount his opponent but gale defends it.

Keto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. gale doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Keto.
Keto wants to lay and pray for a moment but gale keeps working.

Keto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. gale doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Keto.
Keto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

gale shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Keto is desperately trying to improve his position but gale has a good base and remains in mount.
Keto is bucking up trying to escape but gale cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Keto is working to get back to half guard.
Keto bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
gale manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Keto can't escape the position.
Keto gets back to half guard.
Keto trying to hold on to gale's head to control him but gale postures up.
Keto controlling the position well.
christoph gale has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keto is pressing down on gale's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tuomas Keto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Keto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
gale forces his way into half guard.
Keto trying to control but gale postures up.
Keto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
gale thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tuomas Keto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Keto, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tuomas Keto!