PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harry Callahan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomi Ekbom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Callahan
vs
Ekbom

188 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

187 cm
22
184 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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, Harry Callahan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tomi Ekbom!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ekbom ducks under a wild hook from Callahan.
Callahan looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Ekbom has a takedown stuffed.

Callahan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Callahan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ekbom.
Ekbom wants to pass the guard but Callahan is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Callahan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ekbom.

Ekbom drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ekbom jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ekbom lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ekbom slips nicely into half guard.
Ekbom working over Callahan with some ground and pound. Callahan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ekbom working Callahan over with strikes.
Ekbom has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ekbom trying to pass the guard but Callahan defending well.

Ekbom is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekbom moves nicely into side control.
Ekbom tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ekbom lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Callahan down.
Ekbom is putting a hurting on Callahan here, landing some big shots from side control.

Ekbom stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Ekbom is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ekbom gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ekbom wants a takedown.
Ekbom prevents Callahan from breaking the clinch.

Ekbom escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ekbom tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Callahan swivels and escapes.
Harry Callahan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomi Ekbom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekbom lands a nice shot to the body.
No joy there for Ekbom, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Harry Callahan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Some wild striking there from Callahan.
Ekbom shoots in but Callahan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ekbom closes this distance looking for a takedown but Callahan circles away.
Ekbom throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Callahan digs a good hook to Ekbom's body.
Ekbom shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Callahan as he avoids it easily.
Callahan throws a right and a left that Ekbom avoids nicely.
Ekbom slips a jab from Callahan.

Ekbom drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Callahan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ekbom stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Callahan swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekbom slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ekbom misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Callahan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ekbom on the ground.
Callahan is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ekbom wants to control but Callahan is keeping him busy.
Check out the look on Ekbom's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Callahan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ekbom asserts his dominance and retains side control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
No luck for Ekbom with that takedown attempt.

That's four 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.

Ekbom scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ekbom is nestled in close to Callahan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ekbom thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Callahan's head.

Callahan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Ekbom seems to be looking for submissions.
Ekbom passes to side control.

Ekbom thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Callahan wants to control but Ekbom postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Ekbom dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Callahan falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ekbom counters with a shoot takedown. Callahan fights it but they end up in guard.
Ekbom lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ekbom passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Ekbom tries for a kimura but Callahan is defending well.
Callahan tries to bench press Ekbom off him but Ekbom keeps the position.
Callahan wants to get back to his feet but Ekbom drags him back down.
Ekbom cracks Callahan with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ekbom working the ground and pound.
Callahan is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ekbom is controlling him well.
You can see the frustration on Callahan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Ekbom is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Callahan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Callahan takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ekbom wants to control but Callahan is keeping him busy.

Ekbom is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Callahan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Callahan is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Ekbom asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Ekbom working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Ekbom looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Ekbom stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Callahan as he connects with a hook.
Ekbom tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Ekbom misses.
Callahan fails to land with a series of punches.
Callahan dodges the punch combination from Ekbom.
Callahan connects with a body shot.
Ekbom misses with a few strikes there.
Ekbom shoots in but no luck this time.

Ekbom darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ekbom landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Callahan is looking to escape.
Ekbom wants to pass the guard but Callahan is defending well.

Ekbom is looking for a kimura but Callahan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ekbom to get the leverage.
Ekbom trying to pass the guard but Callahan defending well.
Callahan is looking to escape.
Callahan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ekbom missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Ekbom throws a nice looking combination but Callahan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ekbom tries to clinch but Callahan moves out of range.
Callahan scores with a jab to the head.
Ekbom slips a jab and a cross from Callahan.
Ekbom tries to close the distance and clinch up but Callahan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ekbom avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Ekbom closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ekbom lands in his opponent's guard.
Ekbom trying to control the position from guard on top but Callahan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ekbom is working Callahan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ekbom is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Callahan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ekbom gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Callahan looking for a guillotine here but Ekbom defends easily.

Callahan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Ekbom showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Callahan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ekbom counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Callahan!
Callahan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ekbom landing punches.
Ekbom fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Callahan tries to reverse the position but Ekbom maintains control.

Ekbom is working for a guillotine from mount but Callahan frees his head quite easily.
Ekbom has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ekbom has hold of Callahan's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Callahan manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Callahan really wants to buck Ekbom off and get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ekbom lands a heavy elbow.
Callahan is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Ekbom wants to finish this one by submission but Callahan is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ekbom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ekbom looking for a guillotine from mount but Callahan is having none of it.

Ekbom is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Callahan is surviving well by controlling Ekbom's body position as best he can.
Ekbom pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Callahan tries to lock up and control but Ekbom gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Ekbom is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Callahan is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tomi Ekbom!