PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Byeongsuk Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teppo Tahkojuusto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kim comes to the cage accompanied by Choi Hong Man-Beauty and the Beast. Tahkojuusto has chosen AC/DC : T.N.T as his entrance music. Kim has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kim
vs
Tahkojuusto

190 cm
19
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
186 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Byeongsuk Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Tahkojuusto!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim fails to land with a series of punches.
Kim wants to land a leg kick but Tahkojuusto is out of range.
Tahkojuusto takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kim closes the distance and clinches up with Tahkojuusto, looking for a takedown. Kim pushes Tahkojuusto against the cage but Tahkojuusto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tahkojuusto dodges the punch combination from Kim.
Tahkojuusto is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kim rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tahkojuusto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Tahkojuusto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kim.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tahkojuusto.
A right-left combo lands from Kim.
Kim is breathing heavily.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tahkojuusto. Kim shrugs it off though.
Tahkojuusto tries for a takedown but Kim sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tahkojuusto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A bone on bone clash there as Tahkojuusto blocks the leg kick.

Tahkojuusto looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tahkojuusto is working Kim over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tahkojuusto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kim keeping moving, preventing Tahkojuusto from controlling successfully.
Tahkojuusto wants to get up but he can't break Kim's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tahkojuusto looking to pass the guard.
Tahkojuusto lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tahkojuusto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tahkojuusto wants to stand and escape but instead Kim has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Tahkojuusto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tahkojuusto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tahkojuusto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tahkojuusto looking to control but Kim passes into half guard.
Tahkojuusto regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kim passes into half guard.
Tahkojuusto trying to control here.
Tahkojuusto is looking to improve his position.
Kim is thwarting Tahkojuusto's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tahkojuusto wants to control the action here but instead Kim manages to pass to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tahkojuusto throwing hammer fists to the chest of Kim. What's that going to do exactly?
Tahkojuusto working to try and regain half guard.
Kim tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tahkojuusto swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
A nice elbow there by Kim.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Byeongsuk Kim will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kim throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tahkojuusto dodges the punch combination from Kim.
Tahkojuusto dodges the punch combination from Kim.
Tahkojuusto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kim misses with the combination.
Tahkojuusto tries to clinch up but Kim circles away and keeps his distance.

Tahkojuusto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Tahkojuusto working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kim avoids a series of strikes thrown by Tahkojuusto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto controlling the position easily from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tahkojuusto thowing shots but they're missing.
Kim is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Tahkojuusto is working for a guillotine from mount but Kim frees his head quite easily.
Kim tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kim holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Tahkojuusto tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Tahkojuusto looking to ground and pound but Kim is blocking nicely.
Kim is trying desperately to improve position.
Tahkojuusto landing punches.

Tahkojuusto looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kim really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim taking shots to the head.
Kim is desperately trying to improve his position but Tahkojuusto has a good base and remains in mount.

Tahkojuusto gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Byeongsuk Kim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tahkojuusto takes one to the chin there.
Kim will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kim cracks Tahkojuusto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kim fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kim thows a leg kick but Tahkojuusto checks it

and Tahkojuusto counters with a takedown into side control.
Tahkojuusto tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Tahkojuusto crashes against the mat.
Tahkojuusto with the ground and pound but Kim regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Kim is staying active underneath Tahkojuusto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tahkojuusto tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kim.
Tahkojuusto looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Tahkojuusto 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. This is the final round!

Kim stalks Tahkojuusto and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Tahkojuusto's face. Tahkojuusto staggers backwards, shaken.
A low kick from Kim misses
and Tahkojuusto counters with an outside leg kick.
Kim keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tahkojuusto.
Kim tests Tahkojuusto's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tahkojuusto wants to clinch.
Tahkojuusto takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Byeongsuk Kim seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tahkojuusto is looking to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kim.

Tahkojuusto pushes Kim up against the cage in a clinch.
Tahkojuusto tries to pull guard but Kim holds him up against the cage and eventually Tahkojuusto drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto misses with an elbow over the top.
A short body shot lands from Kim as the two fighters clinch.
Tahkojuusto misses with a knee to the head.
Kim lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tahkojuusto jumps guard but Kim stands there with Tahkojuusto around his waist. Tahkojuusto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tahkojuusto wants to break free but Kim has control.
Kim wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kim lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tahkojuusto tries to break the clinch but Kim is controlling the position.
Tahkojuusto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tahkojuusto is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kim prevents a takedown attempt there.
Byeongsuk Kim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Teppo Tahkojuusto.
Kim looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tahkojuusto tries to pull guard but Kim holds him up against the cage and eventually Tahkojuusto drops back down to his feet.
Kim leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Tahkojuusto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tahkojuusto takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kim bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tahkojuusto's head backwards.

Tahkojuusto is rocked!
Kim avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tahkojuusto is still on wobbly legs! Can Kim finish him?
Kim throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tahkojuusto makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Tahkojuusto seems to have recovered his senses.
Kim misses with a double jab.
Kim misses with a low kick.
Tahkojuusto lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kim will feel that in the morning.
Kim blocks a head kick by Tahkojuusto.
Kim fails to land with a series of punches.
Kim takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto shoots in for a double leg but Kim sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A jab from Kim does it's job there.
Kim scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A swing and a miss from Kim.
Tahkojuusto misses with a head kick.
Kim swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tahkojuusto.
Kim swinging wilding here.

Tahkojuusto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kim wants to control but Tahkojuusto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kim strikes from the bottom but Tahkojuusto uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Tahkojuusto cracks Kim with a big right hand but Kim just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tahkojuusto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kim has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tahkojuusto misses with the ground and pound.

Tahkojuusto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kim has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kim gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byeongsuk Kim showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kim has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!