PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esa Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Combat Jack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by l. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tikkanen
vs
Jack

186 cm
38
208 lbs
37 - 22 - 1

186 cm
35
215 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Powerful

Bos Energy MMA159.4

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Esa Tikkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Combat Jack!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkanen slips under a jab from Jack.
Jack lands a head kick. Tikkanen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Jack misses with a head kick.
Jack swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Tikkanen to counter with a crisp jab.
Tikkanen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Jack connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jack takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Jack scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jack takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
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!
Jack misses with a few strikes there.
Tikkanen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jack looks to land a body kick but Tikkanen moved away.
Jack throws a half hearted mid kick.
Jack throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tikkanen slips under a jab from Jack.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jack.
Jack steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Tikkanen. That one must have hurt.
Tikkanen misses with an uppercut. Jack saw that one coming.
Tikkanen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jack walks into a jab.
Tikkanen lands with a cross.
Jack takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Tikkanen feints and then cracks Jack's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Jack down.
Tikkanen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Jack tries to move into range but Tikkanen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Jack uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tikkanen.
Jack now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Jack tries a head kick but it misses.
Jack takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tikkanen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jack.
Tikkanen ducks under a wild hook from Jack.
Tikkanen throws a head kick but Jack moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jack moves out of range of the body kick from Tikkanen.
Jack misses with a hook. Tikkanen ducked under it nicely.
Jack thuds a left hand into Tikkanen's body.
Jack has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tikkanen.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tikkanen.
Jack throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tikkanen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tikkanen.
Jack misses with a wild body shot.
As Jack backs away, Tikkanen returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Tikkanen is looking to score with low kicks.
Jack appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Jack lands with a straight right. Tikkanen didn't see that one coming.
Tikkanen lands a right hook to the body.
Tikkanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jack avoids the body shot from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Jack on the side of the head.
Jack doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jack takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Tikkanen throws a leg kick which misses Jack's front leg but catches the back leg as Jack tries to avoid it.
Tikkanen lands a nice shot that snaps Jack's head back.
Tikkanen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jack.
Jack moves forwards but Tikkanen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Jack throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tikkanen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jack takes one to the chin there.
Jack fails to land with a series of punches.
Tikkanen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jack.
Tikkanen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jack's sensitive parts.
Tikkanen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jack at a distance.
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!
Jack tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tikkanen was well out of range. Poor timing from Jack.
Tikkanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jack keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tikkanen tries to score with a low kick but Jack moves his leg out of the way.
Jack looks to throw the jab but Tikkanen is out of range.
Tikkanen sizes up Jack with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Tikkanen thuds a left hand into Jack's body.
A shot to the body from Tikkanen misses
and Tikkanen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jack misses with a head kick.
Tikkanen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jack checks it well.
Nice defenses there by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen motions for Jack to come forward. Tikkanen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tikkanen is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Tikkanen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jacks jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jack uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A punch combination from Jack misses.
It looked like Tikkanen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Jack throws a head kick but Tikkanen moves out of range.
Tikkanen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Jack.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Tikkanen dominated that round.
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.

Tikkanen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Esa Tikkanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Tikkanen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jack misses with a body shot
and Tikkanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jack misses with a straight right.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Jack might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Tikkanen has got the better of the exchanges.
Jack throws a body punch but Tikkanen moves out of range.
Jack misses the body punch
and Tikkanen counters with a slapping leg kick.
Tikkanen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Jack throws a one two combo.

It looks like Esa Tikkanen has been cut.
Tikkanen scoring well with a low kick there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jack. Tikkanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jack will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice body kick from Tikkanen.
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!
Tikkanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jack.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Jack misses
and Jack takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jack throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tikkanen throws a nice outside leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tikkanen. That's going to slow Jack down.
Tikkanen scores with a body shot.
Tikkanen throws a leg kick but Jack sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Jack throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Combat Jack is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jack tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tikkanen was well out of range. Poor timing from Jack.
A little feinted left hand from Tikkanen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tikkanen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Jack looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tikkanen tried to counter with a leg kick but Jack avoided it.
Jack misses with a body shot
and Tikkanen counters with a thumping low kick.
Jab, jab by Tikkanen - just one landing.
Tikkanen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Jack is able to avoid easily.
Tikkanen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Jack checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tikkanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jack moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jack looks to score with a jab to the body but Tikkanen is just out of range.
Tikkanen throws a head kick that misses.
Jack is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tikkanen rather than just go for the knockout.
Tikkanen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Jack under the eye.
Jack's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tikkanen scores with a shot to the body.
Tikkanen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jack can do to turn this around?
Tikkanen misses with an uppercut. Jack saw that one coming.
Jack moves out of range of the body kick from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tikkanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jack misses with a leg kick
letting Tikkanen counter with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jack. Tikkanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jack uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tikkanen.
Jack shapes to counter with a head kick.
Tikkanen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tikkanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The fighters circling - Tikkanen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen staying out of range there.
Tikkanen takes a swing at Jack's ribcage but misses.
Tikkanen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Tikkanen blocks a head kick by Jack.

Tikkanen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Tikkanen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Jack manages to get to full guard.

Tikkanen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen looking to pass the guard.
Tikkanen trying to control but Jack is working from the bottom.
Jack wants to sweep here but Tikkanen controlling him for the moment.
Tikkanen passes into half guard.
Jack has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tikkanen is working away from the top position though.

Jack is defending against the submission attempts here by Tikkanen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Tikkanen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Esa Tikkanen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tikkanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Tikkanen lands with a right hand.
A jab from Jack misses.
Jack blocks a head kick by Tikkanen.
Jack moves out of range of the body kick from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jack misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tikkanen.
Jack takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Tikkanen lands a leg kick that knocks Jack off balance momentarily.
No joy there for Jack, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tikkanen throws a leg kick that misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tikkanen.
A good leg kick by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen scores with the left hand. Jack knows he should have avoided that one.
Tikkanen thows a leg kick but Jack checks it

so Jack counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack wants to pass the guard but Tikkanen is keeping the position.
Tikkanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tikkanen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tikkanen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tikkanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
My spies in Heart Cave (8 elites, 4 double-elites, 1 triple) inform me that Jack has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Tikkanen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two 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.
Jack slips nicely into half guard.
Esa Tikkanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jack content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tikkanen is looking to improve his position.
Tikkanen is working hard here to advance position.
Jack trying to mount his opponent but Tikkanen defends it.
Tikkanen is trying is best to control the position here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jack is trying to control the action in half guard but Tikkanen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tikkanen thumps Jack with a low kick.
Tikkanen is looking to slow Jack down with leg kicks.
Jack slips under a jab.
Jack looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Jack has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Jack connects with a body shot that sends Tikkanen's belly button to the back.
That kick from Tikkanen tenderised Jack's leg. Jack is trying to keep his angry face on.
Jack takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tikkanen lands with a nice body punch.
Combat Jack is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tikkanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jack.
Tikkanen checks the leg kick.
Tikkanen throws a leg kick but Jack sees it coming and moves out of range.
Jack changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen cracks Jack with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A jab from Tikkanen does it's job there.
Good shot there by Jack.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jack on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jack connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tikkanen momentarily.
Jack throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tikkanen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jack displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tikkanen throws out the jab.
Tikkanen avoids the head kick by Jack.
Combat Jack has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jack blocks a leg kick.
Jack works Tikkanen's body with a nice hook.
A head kick misses from Jack.
Some wild striking there from Jack.

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 Esa Tikkanen.
Well Tikkanen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esa Tikkanen!
Esa Tikkanen bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.