PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pantelija Topalovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arto Byyri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pantelija Topalovic had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Topalovic
vs
Byyri

185 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
40
255 lbs
18 - 22 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pantelija Topalovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 22 - 0, fighting out of London, Arto Byyri!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byyri throws a lazy right hand but Topalovic sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Topalovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Byyri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Topalovic slips a straight right by Byyri.
Good shot there by Byyri.

It looks like Pantelija Topalovic has been cut.
Byyri bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Topalovic's head backwards.
Arto Byyri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Byyri connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Topalovic's hands.
Topalovic fails with a takedown attempt.
Topalovic with a poor takedown
and Byyri counters with a nice uppercut.
Byyri slaps away a takedown attempt from Topalovic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pantelija Topalovic. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byyri scores with a nice strike.
Byyri lands a two punch combo.
Byyri lunges at Topalovic with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Topalovic's hand.

Topalovic is rocked!
Byyri has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Good standup being displayed there by Byyri as he connects with a hook.
Oh Topalovic is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Byyri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Topalovic seems to have got his legs back now.
Byyri keeps the fight on the outside.
Topalovic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Topalovic gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Topalovic clinches.
Byyri wants to get back to striking at distance but Topalovic won't allow it.
Byyri prevents a body shot from Topalovic.
Byyri tries to circle away but Topalovic has him pinned against the cage.
Byyri wants to break the clinch but can't.
Byyri gets underhooks to prevent Topalovic's takedown attempt.
Topalovic keeps control of Byyri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Topalovic is looking for a takedown.
Topalovic keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Byyri's efforts to push away.
Topalovic gets through Byyri's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Byyri stalling the fight.
Topalovic pressing his opponent against the cage.
Topalovic tries for a takedown but Byyri manages to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Topalovic manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Byyri jumps guard but Topalovic turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Topalovic goes for a takedown attempt but Byyri pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Topalovic looking to score a takedown here. Byyri is defending well but Topalovic drives through and ends up in Byyri's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Byyri has his hands on Topalovic's head, controlling the position.
Byyri wants to get back to his feet but Topalovic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topalovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Topalovic throwing strikes from guard but Byyri blocks nicely.
Byyri keeping moving, preventing Topalovic from controlling successfully.
Byyri utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Topalovic with a flurry of punches that miss.
Byyri looking for a sweep. Not yet Byyri, not yet.
Topalovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Byyri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Topalovic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topalovic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Byyri avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Byyri is looking to stand up but Topalovic isn't so interested in that idea.
Topalovic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Byyri looking for a sweep. Not yet Byyri, not yet.
Topalovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Byyri really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Topalovic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Topalovic wants to control from the top but Byyri keeps moving.
Topalovic looking to sit in guard and control but Byyri gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Byyri wants to stand but Topalovic is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arto Byyri dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pantelija Topalovic's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Topalovic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Byyri scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Some wild striking there from Byyri.
Byyri with a nice cross.
Byyri throws a big shot that misses.
Topalovic gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Byyri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Byyri cracks Topalovic with a good jab.
Byyri throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Byyri lands a really nice looking cross but Topalovic seems unphased.
Byyri lands the left hand.
Byyri looks to score with a jab to the body but Topalovic is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byyri fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Topalovic on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Topalovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Byyri paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Topalovic looks to clinch
and Byyri counters with a left and a right that stings Topalovic.
Topalovic gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Pantelija Topalovic's cut is getting worse.
Topalovic wants to clinch
and Byyri counters with a nice uppercut.
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!
Topalovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Byyri sizes up Topalovic with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Arto Byyri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Byyri connects with a jab.
A jab from Byyri finds it's way through Topalovic's defenses.
Topalovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Byyri lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Byyri cracks Topalovic with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byyri circles away from the clinch attempt.
A punch lands to the side of Topalovic 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Topalovic uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Byyri.

Topalovic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Topalovic prevents the takedown attempt.
Byyri wants to break the clinch but can't.

Byyri breaks from the clinch.
Topalovic wants to clinch.

Topalovic shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Byyri avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Topalovic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topalovic throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Topalovic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Topalovic thows a huge punch but Byyri dodges it nicely.
Topalovic thows a huge punch but Byyri dodges it nicely.
Topalovic moves into full mount! Byyri won't be happy about that!
Topalovic wants to control the pace but Byyri is squirming around nicely.
BOOM! Topalovic connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Topalovic unloads with some shots from mount but Byyri bucks and avoids them well.

Topalovic goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Byyri turns into him and now he's in Topalovic's guard.
Topalovic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Byyri is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Topalovic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Topalovic lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Byyri!
Byyri is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Byyri is bucking up trying to escape but Topalovic cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arto Byyri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pantelija Topalovic's cut.
That's time! Topalovic's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Topalovic drives through and clinches with Byyri against the cage.
Topalovic tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Topalovic slows down the pace here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Byyri - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Byyri drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A bit of stalling here from Byyri.
Topalovic has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Byyri is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Byyri's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Byyri misses with a double jab.
Topalovic takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topalovic fails in his attempt to clinch.
Topalovic has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Byyri circles away from the clinch attempt.
Byyri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Topalovic avoids a punch combination nicely.
Arto Byyri seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Topalovic moves away from the strike by Byyri.
Topalovic tries to clinch up but Byyri circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Byyri misses.

Topalovic has closed the distance and engaged Byyri in a clinch.
Byyri wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Topalovic has him pressed against the cage.
Byyri tries to circle away but Topalovic has him pinned against the cage.
Topalovic looking to stall.
Pantelija Topalovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Topalovic has picked Byyri up - he's going for a ride! Topalovic dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Topalovic trying to mount his opponent but Byyri defends it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Byyri can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Byyri blocking the ground and pound attempt from Topalovic.
Topalovic frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Topalovic punching from mount but Byyri doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Topalovic jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Byyri is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Byyri and Topalovic has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Topalovic has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Topalovic throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Byyri works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topalovic thows a huge punch but Byyri dodges it nicely.
Byyri trying to control from the bottom.
Pantelija Topalovic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Byyri keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Byyri wants to get back to his feet.
Topalovic not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Topalovic drops an elbow to the side of Byyri's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topalovic wants to free his trapped foot but Byyri is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Topalovic trying to control from half guard but Byyri is working away.
Byyri won't allow Topalovic to pass to mount.
Byyri holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Byyri keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Topalovic throwing shots but Byyri is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Topalovic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Byyri makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Byyri.
Arto Byyri is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Topalovic loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pantelija Topalovic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Byyri 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arto Byyri!