PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iiro Tolonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leeroy Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tolonen comes to the cage accompanied by Johnny Cash : The Man Comes Around. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Tolonen
vs
Russo

213 cm
41
285 lbs
54 - 24 - 0

225 cm
35
301 lbs
29 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 54 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iiro Tolonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leeroy Russo!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice defenses there by Tolonen.
Russo moves in looking to clinch but Tolonen pushes him off.
Russo defending well as Tolonen loads up on a big left hand.
Russo misses with a hook. Tolonen ducked under it nicely.
Russo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Russo connects with a body shot.
Russo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Russo checks the leg kick nicely there.
Russo scoring well with a low kick there.
Russo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tolonen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tolonen throws a hook to the side of Russo's head but Russo sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Russo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Russo just misses with a punch to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Tolonen.
Tolonen moves away from the strike by Russo.
Tolonen thows a body shot but no joy.
Tolonen throws a looping overhand right but Russo ducks down to avoid it.
A punch combination from Tolonen misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolonen misses the shot to the body.
Russo tries to clinch up but Tolonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Russo moves out of range of the body kick from Tolonen.
Tolonen throws a lazy uppercut
and Russo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tolonen. Russo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tolonen throws out a loose jab but Russo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Russo lands with an overhand left.
Russo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tolonen takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Russo sends Tolonen crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Russo is motioning to the referee to let Tolonen up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Russo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tolonen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Tolonen throws out a powerful jab.
Tolonen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tolonen tries to land a leg kick but Russo saw it coming and moves away.
Russo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Russo tries to clinch there but Tolonen circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo tests Tolonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Russo throws a head kick that misses.
Tolonen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Russo defending well as Tolonen loads up on a big left hand.
Russo throws a sloppy body shot

and Tolonen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tolonen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Russo is adopting a defensive guard.
Russo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tolonen!
Russo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Tolonen tries to hold on but Russo pushes him away.
Russo looking to control but Tolonen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Tolonen tries to reverse the position but Russo maintains control.
Russo avoids the attempt from Tolonen to control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tolonen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Russo on the side of the head.
Russo connects with a crisp jab.
Tolonen walks into a straight right hand from Russo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tolonen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Russo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A good leg kick by Russo.
Tolonen feints and then cracks Russo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Russo down.
Russo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A jab from Russo does it's job there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tolonen avoids the body shot from Russo.
Tolonen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tolonen throws a body punch but Russo moves out of range.
Russo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tolonen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tolonen. Russo shrugs it off though.
A lazy left from Russo finds it's target.
Russo ducks under a wild hook from Tolonen.
Russo tries to close the distance and clinch but Tolonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tolonen misses with an uppercut. Russo saw that one coming.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tolonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Russo is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolonen slips under a jab from Russo.
Russo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tolonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick and Tolonen moves out of range easily.
Russo tries to clinch up but Tolonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Leeroy Russo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tolonen misses with a wild body shot.
Russo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Russo does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Tolonen throws a head kick but Russo moves out of range.
Tolonen throws a looping overhand right but Russo ducks down to avoid it.
Russo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tolonen.
Russo ducks under a wild hook from Tolonen.
Tolonen looks to land a left hand but Russo moved out of range nicely.
Russo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tolonen misses with a straight left.
Tolonen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A cross from Russo lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen misses with a low kick.
Tolonen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
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!
Tolonen lands a nice hook to Russo's body. Russo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tolonen throws a hook but Russo blocks it.
Russo swings widly with a right hand

and Tolonen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Russo's guard now.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Russo controls Tolonen momentarily but Tolonen frees himself.
Russo is controlling Tolonen's posture.
Tolonen is looking to work some ground and pound but Russo has wrist control.
Russo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Russo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Leeroy Russo wasn't active enough on the ground.
Good standup being displayed there by Russo as he connects with a hook.
Tolonen misses the shot to the body.
Russo misses with a low kick.
Tolonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Russo manages to avoid it.
Russo slips a straight right by Tolonen.
Russo throws a leg kick
and Tolonen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Russo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Russo shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Russo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tolonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Russo looks to score with a jab to the body but Tolonen is just out of range.
Russo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Tolonen throws out a loose jab but Russo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tolonen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tolonen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tolonen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Russo misses with a body kick.
Russo misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Tolonen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Russo won't be happy with that.
Tolonen is looking to take a break and control but Russo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Russo is holding Tolonen down, trying to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leeroy Russo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

A big right from Tolonen misses.
Tolonen circles away from the clinch attempt

so Tolonen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Russo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Russo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tolonen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Iiro Tolonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tolonen content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tolonen looking to sit in guard and control but Russo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Russo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Iiro Tolonen just wasn't active enough.
Russo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Russo misses with a looping left.
Tolonen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Russo scores with a hook to the body. Tolonen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice defenses there by Russo.
Tolonen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Russo throws a leg kick

and Tolonen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Russo won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo wants to control but Tolonen postures up.
Russo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tolonen's best efforts.
Russo is trying to get back to full guard.
Russo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tolonen is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen working the head and body with strikes.
Tolonen wants to control but Russo is keeping him busy.
Russo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Tolonen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Russo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tolonen is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Leeroy Russo.
Tolonen cracks the inside of Russo's front leg.
Tolonen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tolonen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Russo blocks a jab.

Russo rushes Tolonen and presses him up against the cage.
Russo lands an elbow inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tolonen tries to land knees in the clinch but Russo avoids the damage to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tolonen avoids the elbow strike from Russo, against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Russo avoiding damage as Tolonen throws knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tolonen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Russo has him pressed against the cage.
Tolonen is trying to break free.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Russo just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tolonen's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Iiro Tolonen did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Russo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Tolonen checks a leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Russo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tolonen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tolonen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tolonen misses with a hook
and Russo counters with a good low kick that Tolonen was not able to check.
Tolonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tolonen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Russo counters by moving into the clinch.
Tolonen dodges an elbow strike from Russo.
Tolonen tries to circle away but Russo has him pinned against the cage.
Tolonen lands a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Russo scores with a shoulder strike.
Tolonen lands a hook that snaps the head of Russo backwards.
Russo tries a knee to the head but Tolonen blocks it.
Tolonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tolonen tries to break the clinch but Russo is controlling the position.
Tolonen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Russo is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Russo tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Tolonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Russo's face.
Tolonen misses with a knee to the head.
Tolonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Russo's face.
Tolonen has a couple of punches blocked by Russo.
Tolonen tries a knee to the head but Russo blocks it.
Tolonen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Russo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tolonen's efforts to push away.
Russo lands with a left to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Tolonen fails to land.
Tolonen lands a left hand.
Tolonen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Russo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Russo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Russo avoiding damage as Tolonen throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Russo missing with knees to the body.

Tolonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tolonen throws a low kick but Russo avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo is looking to clinch but Tolonen is avoiding it.
Russo jabs at Tolonen's body.
Russo fails in his attempt to clinch.
Russo misses with an uppercut. Tolonen saw that one coming.
Tolonen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tolonen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Russo.
Tolonen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tolonen checks a leg kick.
Russo looks to score with a jab to the body but Tolonen is just out of range.
Russo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Russo gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Russo tries to clinch up.
Russo is looking to chop away at Tolonen's legs.
Russo falls off balance throwing a combination

and Tolonen counters with a shoot takedown. Russo fights it but they end up in guard.
Tolonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tolonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Russo is keeping the position for now.
Russo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Russo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen wants to control from the top but Russo keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Leeroy Russo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Russo tries to clinch there but Tolonen circles away.
That kick from Tolonen tenderised Russo's leg. Russo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tolonen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Russo. That did some damage!
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!
Tolonen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Good leg kick by Russo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Russo thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tolonen throws a big shot that misses.
Tolonen slips a jab from Russo.
Russo ducks right into an uppercut from Tolonen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iiro Tolonen had his way with Leeroy Russo in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Russo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Leeroy Russo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Russo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Russo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tolonen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Russo lands a nice shot to the body.

Russo clinches with his opponent.
Iiro Tolonen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Russo blocks a body shot from Tolonen.
Tolonen connects with a knee to the head.
Tolonen throws a knee to the head but misses.
A right handed body shot lands from Russo.
Russo lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tolonen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Russo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Tolonen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo lands an elbow that stopped Tolonen in his tracks for a moment.
Tolonen misses with a body punch.

Tolonen breaks the clinch.
Russo keeps Tolonen at a distance using the push kick.
Donk. Russo catches Tolonen right on the button with a cross.
Russo scores with a nice head shot.
Russo works the jab nicely.

Tolonen is rocked!
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!
The fight stays on the outside here - Russo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Oh Tolonen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Russo blocks a leg kick.
Russo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Russo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tolonen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tolonen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Tolonen seems to have got his legs back now.

Russo clinches with his opponent.
Russo is leaning against Tolonen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tolonen blocks an elbow strike from Russo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen trying to land knees to the body.
Tolonen is trying to force a seperation but Russo has the dominant position.
Tolonen avoiding damage as Russo throws knees to the body.
Tolonen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Russo.
Russo connects with a knee to the head.
Good body shot from Russo.
Tolonen misses with a body punch.
Russo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tolonen's efforts to push away.
Russo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tolonen backwards.
Russo working aggressively here.
Tolonen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Russo stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Russo lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Russo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tolonen blocks it with crossed arms.
Russo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tolonen's efforts to push away.
Tolonen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tolonen.
Russo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tolonen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Russo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tolonen.
Tolonen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Russo throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Tolonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Russo uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Russo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Russo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tolonen backwards.
Tolonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Russo misses with a knee strike.
Russo scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but Russo blocks with his arms.
Russo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tolonen tries a knee to the head but Russo blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Tolonen fails to land.
Tolonen misses with a knee strike.
Russo lands an elbow that stopped Tolonen in his tracks for a moment.
Russo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Russo lands a vicious elbow to the side of Tolonen's head that scrambles his senses and sends him wobbling down to the canvas! Russo tries to finish him with strikes but Tolonen still seems able to defend himself so Russo steps back and lets Tolonen get back to his feet - he wants no part of the ground game.

It looks like Iiro Tolonen has been cut.
A solid body kick from Russo.
Russo throws a wild body kick that Tolonen sees coming a mile off.
Tolonen tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Russo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Russo moves into the clinch successfully.
Tolonen letting Russo take a breather here.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but Russo blocks with his arms.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leeroy Russo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Russo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 47:48
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 47:48
Judge James Glass scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leeroy Russo!
Leeroy Russo gave a mention to Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).