PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thresh Whiteman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ahti Kaleva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaleva is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Jääkärimarssi. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Whiteman
vs
Kaleva

190 cm
26
275 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
27
255 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Mohito Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thresh Whiteman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ahti Kaleva!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kaleva is defended easily by Whiteman.
Whiteman swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kaleva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whiteman tries to avoid it but Kaleva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whiteman to the ground. Whiteman escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kaleva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thresh Whiteman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ahti Kaleva.

Kaleva shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Whiteman's guard.
Whiteman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kaleva wants to control from the top but Whiteman keeps moving.
Kaleva looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whiteman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kaleva slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kaleva landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaleva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kaleva lands a couple of digs.
Kaleva has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Nyrkkipaja. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Kaleva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Whiteman wants to sweep here but Kaleva controlling him for the moment.
Whiteman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kaleva on the ground.
Kaleva scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Whiteman keeping moving, preventing Kaleva from controlling successfully.
Kaleva scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaleva slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kaleva trying to control the position from guard on top but Whiteman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaleva content to stall in guard here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Whiteman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kaleva.
Kaleva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Whiteman as he jumps to the side.
Whiteman is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whiteman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kaleva, pushing him back against the cage.
Kaleva avoids the elbow strike from Whiteman, against the cage.
Whiteman lands an elbow that stopped Kaleva in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Ahti Kaleva has been cut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Whiteman obliges.
Kaleva looks winded!
Whiteman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Whiteman lands an elbow inside that Kaleva shrugs off.
Whiteman lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Whiteman is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Whiteman unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Whiteman lands a damaging elbow.

That has opened up Ahti Kaleva's cut even more.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Whiteman.
Whiteman is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Whiteman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kaleva's face.

The cut above Ahti Kaleva's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Knees to the body from Whiteman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whiteman lands an elbow that stopped Kaleva in his tracks for a moment.

Ahti Kaleva's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Whiteman lands a damaging elbow.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ahti Kaleva's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Thresh Whiteman!
Thresh Whiteman retains his super heavyweight title!