PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esa Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Tentheros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tikkanen comes to the cage accompanied by Bring The Pain. 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?

Tikkanen
vs
Tentheros

186 cm
29
209 lbs
20 - 6 - 1

186 cm
30
205 lbs
18 - 6 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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Fighters First Nutrition Amsterdam 160

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 20 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esa Tikkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Ken Tentheros!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkanen throws a front kick aimed at Tentheros's knee but Tentheros avoids it well.

Tikkanen darts in and clinches Tentheros up against the cage.
Tikkanen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Tikkanen misses with some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tikkanen.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Tentheros successfully pulls guard.
Tikkanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tikkanen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tentheros tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tikkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Tentheros is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tikkanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Tentheros looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen works over Tentheros with some ground and pound from guard.
Tentheros looking to control.
Tikkanen trying to control but Tentheros is working from the bottom.
Tikkanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tentheros preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tikkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Tentheros is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tentheros avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Tentheros has his foot on Tikkanen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tikkanen works his way back into a safe position though.
Tikkanen advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tentheros is trying to improve his position.
Tikkanen controlling the position.

Tikkanen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tentheros has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tikkanen looking to control but instead Tentheros has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tikkanen prevents Tentheros from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tentheros is in trouble now - Tikkanen has advanced to mount!
Tikkanen landing strikes from the mount.
Tikkanen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tentheros is looking to escape.
Tikkanen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tentheros is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Tentheros hang on?
Tentheros felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Tentheros is looking to get to half guard.
Tentheros tries to hold on but Tikkanen postures up.
Tentheros is looking to improve his position but Tikkanen isn't that keen on the idea.
Tikkanen tries to control but Tentheros wriggling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tentheros is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Tikkanen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tikkanen ducks under a wild hook from Tentheros.
Tentheros shoots in but Tikkanen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tikkanen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tentheros counters with a thumping low kick.
Tikkanen slips under a jab from Tentheros.
Tentheros throws a body kick that misses.
Tentheros jabs at Tikkanen's body.
Tentheros throws a leg kick which misses Tikkanen's front leg but catches the back leg as Tikkanen tries to avoid it.
Tentheros scores with a nice strike.
Tentheros lands a glancing blow to the side of Tikkanen's head.
Tikkanen misses with a leg kick
and Tentheros counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tikkanen lands a leg kick that knocks Tentheros off balance momentarily.
Tentheros throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tikkanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tentheros manages to avoid it.
Tikkanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tikkanen scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tentheros scores with a nice head shot.
Tikkanen throws a lazy right hand but Tentheros sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ken Tentheros seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tentheros shoots for a double leg takedown but Tikkanen sprawls well. He's pushed Tentheros's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tentheros fails to land with a series of punches.
Tentheros fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tikkanen tries to clinch there but Tentheros circles away.
Tikkanen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tentheros.
Tentheros cracks the inside of Tikkanen's front leg.
Tikkanen throws a right hand that Tentheros ducks under and follows up with a left that Tentheros also avoids with ease.
Tikkanen throws a leg kick

and Tentheros counters with a shoot takedown. Tikkanen fights it but they end up in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tikkanen looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tikkanen keeping moving, preventing Tentheros from controlling successfully.
Tentheros looking to sit in guard and control but Tikkanen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tentheros keeping moving, preventing Tikkanen from controlling successfully.
We've been hearing good reports from Tikkanen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Tentheros preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tikkanen landing some decent shots from guard.

Tentheros had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tikkanen defends it easily.
Tikkanen is looking to advance position but Tentheros has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tentheros prevents Tikkanen from getting the reversal.
Tentheros is stalling here but it's allowed Tikkanen to get half guard.
Tentheros wants to pass to mount but Tikkanen is defending the position.
Tikkanen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tentheros.
Tentheros is looking to take a break and control but Tikkanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tentheros throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tentheros throwing shots but Tikkanen is blocking nicely.

Tikkanen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tikkanen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tikkanen actively working from the bottom here.
Tentheros seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tentheros wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tikkanen keeps working.
Tikkanen wants to control but Tentheros is keeping busy.
Tentheros wants to pass the guard but Tikkanen is defending well.
Tikkanen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
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 is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tentheros defends well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tikkanen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ken Tentheros 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tikkanen lands with a hook. Tentheros tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tentheros throws a solid leg kick but Tikkanen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Tentheros.
Tikkanen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Tikkanen darts in and clinches Tentheros up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tentheros.
Tikkanen misses with a body punch.
Tentheros throws a punch but it's blocked by Tikkanen.
Tentheros blocks a body shot from Tikkanen.
Tentheros misses with a punch on the inside.
Tikkanen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tentheros lands with a short shot to the head.
Nice body punch from Tikkanen - that landed with a thud.

Tentheros manages to break the clinch.
Tikkanen lets loose with a powerful body kick. Tentheros will feel that in the morning.
Ken Tentheros seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tikkanen digs a good body shot into Tentheros's ribs.
Tikkanen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tentheros.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tentheros tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Tentheros takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tikkanen misses with a body kick.
Tikkanen fails with a takedown attempt.

Tikkanen closes the distance and clinches.
Tentheros throws a punch but it's blocked by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen blocks an uppercut.
Tikkanen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tentheros misses with a punch on the inside.
Tikkanen just leaning against Tentheros, taking a breather.
Tikkanen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tentheros backwards.
Tentheros can't find room to land a body shot as Tikkanen controls the action.
Tikkanen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tikkanen tries to work over Tentheros's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Tikkanen blocking some punches.

Tentheros breaks the clinch.
Tikkanen cracks the inside of Tentheros's front leg.
Tentheros throws a body kick that misses.
Tikkanen tries to move into range but Tentheros moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Tentheros misses the body punch

and Tikkanen moves into the clinch.
Tikkanen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tentheros backwards.
Tentheros blocks an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Tentheros's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tikkanen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tentheros is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tentheros scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Tentheros swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tentheros misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tentheros lands with a left to the head.
Tikkanen is trying to stall.

Tentheros has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tikkanen uses from the top position.
Tentheros wants to sweep here but Tikkanen controlling him for the moment.
Tikkanen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tikkanen wants to control from the top but Tentheros keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tentheros is trying to keep Tikkanen in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tentheros is on top in guard.
Tentheros postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tentheros trying to control the position from guard on top but Tikkanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Tentheros avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Tikkanen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tentheros defends it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tikkanen trying to keep a closed guard but Tentheros is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esa Tikkanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tikkanen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esa Tikkanen!
A very excited looking Esa Tikkanen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.