PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nyyrikki Takaraivo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Calaway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Takaraivo
vs
Calaway

179 cm
26
220 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

218 cm
28
300 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Nyyrikki Takaraivo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Calaway!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takaraivo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Calaway has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Takaraivo lands with a kick to the temple. Calaway shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Mark Calaway has been cut.
Takaraivo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takaraivo misses with a wild body shot.
Takaraivo is looking to slow Calaway down with leg kicks.
Takaraivo throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Takaraivo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Calaway throws a right and a left that Takaraivo avoids nicely.

Takaraivo moves into the clinch successfully.

Takaraivo breaks the clinch.
Takaraivo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takaraivo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice inside leg kick there by Takaraivo. That's going to slow Calaway down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Takaraivo.
Calaway loads up on a big right hand but Takaraivo slips the punch.
Takaraivo throws a sloppy head kick and Calaway moves out of range easily.
Takaraivo throws a nice outside leg kick.

Takaraivo lands a big head kick that sends Calaway tumbling to the mat! Takaraivo takes a step backwards and waves Calaway back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Calaway is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calaway blocks a head kick by Takaraivo.
Calaway is still on wobbly legs! Can Takaraivo finish him?

Takaraivo gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Takaraivo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Calaway seems to have recovered his senses.
Takaraivo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Takaraivo lands a big head kick that sends Calaway tumbling to the mat! Takaraivo takes a step backwards and waves Calaway back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Takaraivo throws a sloppy head kick and Calaway moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calaway goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Nyyrikki Takaraivo has been cut.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Calaway crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Takaraivo - the referee stops the clock and Calaway gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Takaraivo. Calaway manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Calaway looks winded!
Takaraivo throws a wild body kick that Calaway sees coming a mile off.
Takaraivo misses with a head kick.
Takaraivo tries a head kick but it misses.

Takaraivo moves into the clinch.

Takaraivo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takaraivo fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Calaway.
Calaway connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Takaraivo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Takaraivo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Takaraivo manages to break the clinch.
Takaraivo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A head kick from Takaraivo lands but Calaway takes it in his stride.
Takaraivo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Takaraivo pushes Calaway away with a front kick.
Takaraivo moves out of range of the strikes.
Takaraivo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takaraivo misses with a two punch combination.
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!
Takaraivo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takaraivo slips under a jab.
Takaraivo tries a head kick but it misses.
Takaraivo throws a sloppy head kick and Calaway moves out of range easily.
We've been told by Takaraivo's head coaches at IMMA Gym of ASS that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Takaraivo rushes Calaway and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Calaway looking to stall.

Takaraivo breaks from the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Calaway avoids the head kick by Takaraivo.
Takaraivo thows a body kick. Calaway tries to catch it but that hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nyyrikki Takaraivo dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Takaraivo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Calaway circles away quickly and effectively.
Takaraivo has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Takaraivo delivers a nice body kick.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo is winning the standup battle so far.
Takaraivo misses with a jab to the body
and Calaway counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Takaraivo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Calaway, pushing him back against the cage.

Takaraivo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Calaway takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Takaraivo - that will leave a mark!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takaraivo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Takaraivo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Calaway is breathing heavily.
Calaway takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Takaraivo closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takaraivo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takaraivo lands a head kick!
Takaraivo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Calaway.
Takaraivo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Takaraivo thows a body kick. Calaway tries to catch it but that hurt him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takaraivo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Calaway moves away.
Takaraivo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takaraivo scores with a leg kick.
The fighters circle, before Takaraivo throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Calaway's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Takaraivo lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Nyyrikki Takaraivo!