PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Tapper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Kannas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tapper
vs
Kannas

199 cm
22
260 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

182 cm
26
240 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taisto Tapper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Antero Kannas!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tapper fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kannas looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kannas tried to score with a low kick but Tapper checks it.
Tapper has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Odins Body Workshop in the buildup to the fight.
Tapper slips a straight right by Kannas.
Kannas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tapper tries to clinch but Kannas moves out of range.
Kannas loads up on a big right hand but Tapper slips the punch.
Tapper tries to clinch up but Kannas circles away and keeps his distance.
Tapper slips a jab from Kannas.
Kannas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kannas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tapper lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kannas throws a right hand that misses
and Tapper counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Tapper scores with a jab.
Kannas misses with an uppercut. Tapper saw that one coming.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kannas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tapper.
No luck for Kannas with that takedown attempt.
Tapper is looking to wear down Kannas with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Tapper lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kannas doesn't seem phased though.
Taisto Tapper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tapper darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Tapper lands with a straight right. Kannas didn't see that one coming.
Kannas tries to move into range but Tapper moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kannas throws a hook but Tapper avoids it easily.
Tapper ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kannas moves away.
Kannas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tapper throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
It seemed like Kannas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tapper lands with a good body shot.
Tapper slips under a jab from Kannas.
Tapper dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kannas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tapper scores with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kannas gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tapper.
Tapper swings for the body but Kannas moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kannas! But no joy.
Tapper lands a nice hook to Kannas's body. Kannas takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tapper throws a one two combo.
Tapper is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kannas gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Tapper tests Kannas's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Taisto Tapper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tapper scores with a sloppy right hand. Kannas should have avoided that one.
Both fighters circling a little - Tapper finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kannas throws a hook but Tapper blocks it.
Tapper is looking to clinch but Kannas is avoiding it.
Kannas changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tapper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kannas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tapper connects with a nice looking jab.
Tapper scores with a decent looking hook.
Tapper connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kannas. Kannas circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kannas takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tapper lands with a nice combination. Kannas backs away looking to recover.
Tapper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kannas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tapper lands the left hand.
Kannas misses with a straight left.
Kannas moves in looking to clinch but Tapper pushes him off.
Tapper misses with a jab to the body
and Kannas connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tapper tries to clinch up.
Tapper is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kannas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kannas appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tapper scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tapper cracks a nice hook into Kannas's ribs.

Kannas clinches.
Tapper doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tapper lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kannas backwards.
Tapper stops a takedown attempt from Kannas.
Tapper's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tapper blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kannas is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Kannas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kannas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tapper blocking some punches.
Tapper stalling in the clinch but Kannas improves position.
Tapper tries a body shot but Kannas blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kannas takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tapper scores with a hook to the body. Kannas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tapper ducks under a wild hook from Kannas.
Tapper is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kannas takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nice defenses there by Tapper.
Tapper tries to clinch but Kannas moves out of range.
Tapper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kannas.
Kannas bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kannas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tapper.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tapper scores with a jab to the body.
Tapper uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tapper throws a low kick but Kannas avoids it.
A right-left combo lands from Tapper.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kannas cracks the inside of Tapper's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tapper lands an overhand right.
Tapper throws a sloppy head kick
and Kannas counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kannas lands the left hand.
Tapper throws a head kick but Kannas moves out of range.
Tapper scores with a leg kick.
Tapper doesn't manage to clinch there - Kannas circles away.
Decent striking displayed by Tapper there.
Tapper catches Kannas with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tapper dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kannas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tapper defends it nicely.
Tapper throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kannas takes one on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tapper digs a good hook to Kannas's body.
Tapper pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tapper's corner calls for a 1-2. Tapper obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tapper looks to land a left hand but Kannas moved out of range nicely.
Kannas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kannas has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tapper scores with a punch to the head.

Kannas has Tapper up against the cage in a clinch.
Tapper misses with a hook from the clinch.
Good body shot from Kannas.
Kannas scores with a shot to the side of Tapper's head.
Kannas lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tapper tries to throw a body punch but Kannas avoids it by throwing Tapper back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kannas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kannas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kannas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Tapper fails to land.
Tapper lands a hook that snaps the head of Kannas backwards.
Kannas lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kannas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kannas misses with the head strike.
Kannas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tapper tries to work over Kannas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tapper is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kannas can do to turn this around?
Kannas blocks a body shot from Tapper.
Tapper lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tapper stalling in the clinch but Kannas improves position.
Tapper tries a body shot but Kannas blocks it.
Tapper tries to work over Kannas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A body shot lands from Tapper.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tapper struggles to land a body shot inside as Kannas controls his hands.
Tapper misses with a punch to the body.
Tapper misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The referee calls for Tapper to work.
A short body shot lands from Kannas as the two fighters clinch.
Tapper looking to stall.
Kannas gets through Tapper's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tapper scores with a nice hook to the head.
Antero Kannas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
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!
Kannas lands with a short shot to the head.
Kannas blocks a body shot from Tapper.
Tapper looking to slow down the pace here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tapper - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Tapper dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tapper lands with an overhand left.
Kannas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Tapper.
Tapper lands with a nice body punch.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tapper.
Tapper connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Tapper scores with a jab. Kannas acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kannas doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Tapper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kannas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kannas looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kannas on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Tapper wants to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kannas! But no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tapper uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kannas.
A quick step to the side and Tapper tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kannas darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tapper uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kannas.
Tapper throwing a counter right hand but Kannas manages to avoid it.
Nice uppercut there from Tapper.
Kannas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Tapper throws a body punch but Kannas moves out of range.
Tapper scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kannas in his tracks.
Tapper throws a hook but Kannas blocks it.
Tapper throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Kannas moves into the clinch.
Kannas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kannas working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kannas prevents a body shot from Tapper.
Kannas working aggressively here.
Tapper throws a head punch that misses.
Tapper fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kannas has a couple of punches blocked by Tapper.
Stalling in the clinch from Kannas.
Tapper tries to stall but Kannas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kannas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tapper being controlled against the cage.
Kannas blocking some punches.
Kannas misses with a hook from the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tapper - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kannas misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kannas trying to control the position but instead, Tapper has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kannas into the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Tapper.
Tapper blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tapper working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kannas lands an uppercut.
Antero Kannas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tapper tries to work over Kannas's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kannas throws a head punch that misses.
Tapper tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tapper misses with a body punch.
Tapper trying to stall but Kannas improves his position.
Kannas lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kannas lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kannas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tapper looking to stall.
Kannas slowing the pace effectively.
A right hook to the body lands for Kannas.
Kannas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kannas lands a right hand.
Kannas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tapper's elbow.
Tapper trying to stall but Kannas improves his position.
Kannas pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kannas has a couple of punches blocked by Tapper.
Tapper being controlled against the cage.
Taisto Tapper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tapper tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Taisto Tapper.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tapper, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Taisto Tapper!
Our winner, Taisto Tapper, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Antero Kannas spoke after the fight, saying 'It is what it is. I'll be back better than ever.'.