PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tino Kallio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Casey Bowman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kallio comes into the arena with Atomic Rooster - Death Walks Behind You blaring out of the sound system. Bowman has chosen Dropkick Murphys - Warriors Code as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kallio
vs
Bowman

169 cm
30
176 lbs
11 - 9 - 1

180 cm
26
196 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Victory! Sports Nutrition

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 11 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Tino Kallio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Casey Bowman!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bowman tries to clinch up.

Kallio shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bowman napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kallio trying to control the position but Bowman is working away.
Kallio working the ground and pound but Bowman is defending the strikes.
Bowman takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kallio trying to control the action but Bowman is working from the bottom.
Kallio is really struggling to control Bowman but he's trying to hold on to the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kallio throwing strikes but Bowman manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Kallio tries to improve position but can't.
Kallio 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.
Kallio defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kallio is not content to let Bowman control the position.
An elbow from Bowman crashes against the mat.
Kallio can't do much from the bottom here.
Kallio sneaks back into half guard.
Kallio is refusing to be controlled, as Bowman sits in half guard.

Bowman is looking for a kimura but Kallio is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bowman to get the leverage.
Kallio is trying to get back to full guard.

Bowman is looking for a kimura but Kallio is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bowman to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Bowman stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Kallio avoids the head kick by Bowman.

Bowman moves into the clinch.
Kallio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bowman blocks it with crossed arms.

Bowman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kallio throws a push kick but Bowman slaps the foot to one side.
Kallio throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kallio lands a nice looking body shot.
Bowman closes the distance and clinches up with Kallio, looking for a takedown. Bowman pushes Kallio against the cage but Kallio circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kallio shoots in for a takedown but Bowman shows good takedown defense.
Bowman swats away the attempt to clinch by Kallio.
Kallio throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bowman looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bowman throws a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kallio shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kallio showed some decent athleticism there.

Kallio seems to be working for a kimura but Bowman defends the submission attempt.
Bowman is in trouble now - Kallio has advanced to mount!
Bowman is looking to improve his position but Kallio isn't that keen on the idea.
Kallio landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bowman sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Kallio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bowman defends it well.
Kallio trying to control the action but Bowman is working from the bottom.
Bowman tries to roll over but Kallio keeps him under control.
Bowman wants to get back to his feet.
Kallio perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kallio passes to full mount!
Kallio working Bowman over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tino Kallio will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kallio ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bowman tries to clinch but Kallio is having none of it.
We've been told by Kallio's head coaches at Island Warriors (For Sale - $10k profit per week) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bowman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bowman wants it to stay on the feet.
Tino Kallio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck for Kallio with that takedown attempt.
Bowman shoots in but Kallio avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A head kick from Bowman lands but Kallio takes it in his stride.
Bowman has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bowman misses with a left hand
and Kallio counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bowman dives in for a single leg takedown but Kallio sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kallio seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kallio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bowman throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kallio gets the takedown into side control.
Kallio working the strikes but Bowman uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Kallio with the ground and pound but Bowman uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Tino Kallio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kallio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bowman keeping moving, preventing Kallio from controlling successfully.
Kallio pushing down on Bowman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Kallio wants to work for an arm triangle but Bowman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bowman is refusing to be controlled, as Kallio sits in half guard.
Kallio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kallio is trying to control the action in half guard but Bowman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowman tries to roll over but Kallio keeps him under control.
Bowman wants to get back to his feet.
Kallio is keen to just control but Bowman is a slippery customer.
Bowman tries to roll over but Kallio keeps him under control.
Bowman is not content to let Kallio control the position.
Kallio drops an elbow to the side of Bowman's head.
Kallio content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kallio is keen to just control but Bowman is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowman on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kallio not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kallio trying to pass the guard but Bowman defending well.
Bowman keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Kallio is keen to just control but Bowman is a slippery customer.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kallio here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Bowman is trying to get back to full guard.
Kallio working over Bowman with some ground and pound. Bowman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kallio throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kallio is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kallio trying to control the position from guard on top but Bowman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kallio tries to free his leg and advance position but Bowman is retaining full guard.
Bowman keeping moving, preventing Kallio from controlling successfully.
Kallio throws a big right hand that misses.
Kallio trying to control but Bowman is working from the bottom.
Bowman looking for a sweep. Not yet Bowman, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kallio pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kallio shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Kallio there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tino Kallio dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Bowman.
Nice sprawl there from Bowman as Kallio shoots in.
Kallio throws a sloppy head kick

and Bowman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kallio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bowman pushing down on Kallio's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kallio is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bowman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bowman's back!
Kallio controlling well, preventing Bowman from escaping the position.
Kallio really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Bowman.
You can see the frustration on Bowman's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Bowman fending off the submission attempt from Kallio.

Kallio is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Bowman defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kallio throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Bowman turns into Kallio and is now in his guard.
Bowman throwing strikes from guard but Kallio blocks nicely.

Kallio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kallio is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bowman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Casey Bowman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bowman trying to control but Kallio is working from the bottom.
Bowman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kallio is trying to control the position but Bowman postures up.
Bowman connects with a couple of short punches.
Kallio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kallio is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bowman is trying to maintain the position but Kallio is very close to passing his half guard.
Tino Kallio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bowman tries to get to full guard but Kallio has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kallio winds up and cracks Bowman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kallio not doing much here.
Kallio's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kallio seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bowman for as long as he can get away with.
Bowman tries to get to full guard but Kallio has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kallio wants to free his trapped foot but Bowman is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kallio in particular looking to stall.
Kallio is keen to just control but Bowman is a slippery customer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Kallio is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bowman is just riding it out for now. Kallio eventually gives up the hold.
Kallio wants to control but Bowman is keeping him busy.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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 Tino Kallio.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kallio, 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tino Kallio!
A very excited looking Tino Kallio rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.
The defeated Casey Bowman had this to say: 'Thanks to DC Fighting, my team, my friends, my family and all supporters. I´ll be back...'.