PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leon McKnight (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esko Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McKnight comes into the arena with Ukrainian Folk Music blaring out of the sound system. Leon McKnight has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McKnight
vs
Tikkanen

182 cm
25
187 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leon McKnight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esko Tikkanen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkanen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tikkanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McKnight throws a lazy uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
McKnight lands an overhand right.
McKnight is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but McKnight swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McKnight is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tikkanen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Leon McKnight has been cut.
Tikkanen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tikkanen ducks right into an uppercut from McKnight.

McKnight feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Tikkanen sprawling to the canvas! Tikkanen rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can McKnight finish him?!

Tikkanen is rocked!

It looks like Esko Tikkanen has been cut.

McKnight has managed to clinch.
Tikkanen is still on wobbly legs! Can McKnight finish him?

McKnight manages to break the clinch.

McKnight closes the distance and pushes Tikkanen back into the cage.

McKnight pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tikkanen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McKnight.
Tikkanen tries a head kick but it misses.
Tikkanen lands with a kick to the temple. McKnight shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Tikkanen seems to have recovered his senses.
Tikkanen throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
McKnight scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
McKnight throws a jab but it's blocked by Tikkanen.
McKnight blocks a head kick by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen slips under a jab.
Tikkanen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McKnight.
McKnight on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tikkanen. Tikkanen obviously looking to wear him down.
McKnight connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Tikkanen gets tackled into the cage by McKnight. McKnight maintains the clinch.
McKnight wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tikkanen has him pressed against the cage.

Tikkanen breaks the clinch.
Tikkanen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McKnight moves into range and connects with a jab.
McKnight stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen is looking to clinch but McKnight is avoiding it.
Nice straight punches there by Tikkanen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tikkanen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen lands a nice looking body shot.
McKnight throws a predictable looking body shot
and Tikkanen counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. McKnight is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Tikkanen tries to clinch
and McKnight counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tikkanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McKnight pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tikkanen ducks under a wild hook from McKnight.
Tikkanen slips under a jab.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tikkanen. That's going to slow McKnight down.
McKnight throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice cross by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McKnight manages to avoid it.
McKnight misses with a low kick as Tikkanen jumps back.
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch but McKnight swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tikkanen throws a head kick that McKnight semi-blocks.
Tikkanen takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKnight throws a hook but Tikkanen blocks it.

McKnight rushes Tikkanen and presses him up against the cage.
Tikkanen lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

McKnight breaks the clinch.
A jab from McKnight misses.
McKnight throws a hook but Tikkanen avoids it easily.
Tikkanen scoring well with a low kick there.
Tikkanen is looking to slow McKnight down with leg kicks.

Tikkanen moves into the clinch.

McKnight's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tikkanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tikkanen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tikkanen doesn't manage to clinch there - McKnight circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McKnight lands a lovely overhand right.
McKnight throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Leon McKnight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McKnight connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tikkanen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
McKnight throws a low kick, looking for Tikkanen's leg but Tikkanen calmly moves out of range.

McKnight moves into the clinch.
McKnight wants to get back to striking at distance but Tikkanen won't allow it.
Tikkanen lands an elbow that stopped McKnight in his tracks for a moment.

Leon McKnight's cut is getting worse.
Tikkanen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tikkanen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've been informed that Tikkanen has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

McKnight decides to pull guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
McKnight is pulling down on Tikkanen's head to control his posture.
Tikkanen wants to control from the top but McKnight keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leon McKnight dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tikkanen tries to clinch there but McKnight circles away.
McKnight misses with a series of wild punches.

Tikkanen tries to keep at a distance but McKnight has taken the fight into the clinch.
McKnight takes an elbow to the forehead.
Tikkanen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nice body punch from McKnight.
McKnight is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tikkanen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

McKnight breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

McKnight shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
McKnight trying to control the position from guard on top but Tikkanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McKnight trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Tikkanen, not yet.
Tikkanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McKnight trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tikkanen being controlled here, momentarily.
McKnight stands up over Tikkanen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
McKnight slips nicely into half guard.
Tikkanen won't allow McKnight to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McKnight is trying to control the action in half guard but Tikkanen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tikkanen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McKnight. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tikkanen is looking to escape.
Tikkanen wants to get back to full guard.
McKnight lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
McKnight working over Tikkanen with some ground and pound. Tikkanen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
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 has hold of McKnight's hands but McKnight slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
McKnight landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tikkanen is looking to control McKnight's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tikkanen avoid being mounted?
Tikkanen is breathing heavily.
McKnight controlling the action here.
Ground and pound from McKnight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKnight landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Leon McKnight overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McKnight missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tikkanen is refusing to be controlled, as McKnight sits in half guard.
McKnight is pressing down on Tikkanen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tikkanen is holding on for now.
Tikkanen taking some punishment here, with McKnight in his half guard.
McKnight working over Tikkanen with some ground and pound. Tikkanen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
McKnight missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McKnight seems to be looking for submissions.
Tikkanen tries to get to full guard but McKnight has control of the leg.
McKnight works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McKnight putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
McKnight postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Tikkanen badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of McKnight around the waist but McKnight pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! McKnight is the winner by TKO! McKnight jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Leon McKnight!
After winning the bout, Leon McKnight thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Esko Tikkanen was interviewed post fight and said 'Not my day, but next time the heads will fly!'.