PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Salo Gonalez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Tatli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gonalez
vs
Tatli

177 cm
27
159 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

181 cm
26
156 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Salo Gonalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Tatli!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Tatli.
Tatli misses the shot to the body.
Gonalez tries to clinch up but Tatli circles away and keeps his distance.
Tatli appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tatli misses with a body shot.
Salo Gonalez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gonalez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tatli pinned against the cage. Tatli gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice takedown defense from Tatli. No joy for Gonalez on that attempt.
Tatli slaps away a takedown attempt from Gonalez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tatli appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salo Gonalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonalez fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Tatli as Gonalez shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tatli throws a jab when Gonalez was well out of range.
Gonalez has been working on his balance at , so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Tatli.
Gonalez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tatli defends it nicely.
Gonalez tries to clinch but Tatli moves out of range.
Tatli let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Tatli shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gonalez sprawls well. Gonalez wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tatli gets slowly back to his feet.
Tatli moves out of range of the body kick.
No joy there for Gonalez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tatli closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Gonalez slips under a jab.
Tatli lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tatli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gonalez.
Tatli throws a body punch but Gonalez moves out of range.
Gonalez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tatli.
A shot to the body from Gonalez misses

and Tatli counters with a takedown into side control.
Gonalez tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tatli avoids the attempt from Gonalez to control.
Gonalez is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gonalez regains half guard.

Tatli seems to be working for a kimura but Gonalez defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gonalez keeps working.
Tatli missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gonalez wants to get back to his feet.
Gonalez is looking for a sweep. Tatli is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tatli throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tatli blocks the strikes from Gonalez.
Gonalez taking some punishment here, with Tatli in his half guard.

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.
Gonalez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Tatli is nestled in close to Gonalez, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tatli working over Gonalez with some ground and pound. Gonalez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tatli is trying to control the action in half guard but Gonalez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gonalez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Gonalez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tatli cracks Gonalez with a solid left hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tatli's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gonalez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tatli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gonalez throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Tatli escapes and throws Gonalez's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A telegraphed right hand from Tatli misses the target.
Gonalez misses with a kick to the body.
Tatli doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Gonalez shoots in for a double leg but Tatli sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tatli jabs Gonalez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tatli throws a nice looking combination but Gonalez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tatli misses with a hook to the body

and Gonalez counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gonalez.
Gonalez goes for a takedown attempt but Tatli pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tatli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonalez shoots for a double leg takedown but Tatli sprawls well. He's pushed Gonalez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salo Gonalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonalez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tatli is looking for the big counter here.
Gonalez wants to clinch up but Tatli keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Gonalez.
Gonalez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tatli is fending him off so far but Gonalez persists. Nope, Tatli circles away and we're back to standing.
Tatli feints the counter takedown.
Gonalez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A little jabbing left from Tatli on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tatli rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gonalez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gonalez throws a big shot that misses.
Robert Tatli seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gonalez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice defenses there by Gonalez.
Tatli has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tatli feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gonalezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Tatli throws a jab but it's blocked by Gonalez.
Tatli shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gonalez counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonalez avoids the body shot from Tatli.
Salo Gonalez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gonalez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tatli but Tatli pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tatli looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Tatli drives through with a takedown into Gonalez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Tatli landing with the ground and pound.
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!
Tatli wants to control from the top but Gonalez keeps moving.

Tatli is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatli throws an elbow that misses. Gonalez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tatli's guard. Nice move by Gonalez!

Gonalez trying to control but Tatli is working from the bottom.
Tatli working a defensive guard here.
Tatli wants to sweep but no luck.
Tatli is trying to control the position but Gonalez postures up.
Gonalez looking to sit in guard and control but Tatli gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tatli postures up in Gonalez's guard and throws a big left but Gonalez blocks it.
Gonalez seems keen to control Tatli's posture.
Tatli working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Gonalez's head.
Gonalez keeping moving, preventing Tatli from controlling successfully.
Tatli keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gonalez's head.
Tatli works over Gonalez with some ground and pound from guard.
Gonalez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tatli on the ground.
Gonalez keeping moving, preventing Tatli from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tatli throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gonalez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Robert Tatli has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tatli got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gonalez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tatli has managed to get both his arms back between Gonalez's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Tatli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gonalez throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Tatli to counter with a crisp jab.
Tatli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gonalez.
Tatli is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Gonalez rather than just go for the knockout.
Tatli darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gonalez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tatli swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gonalez tries to clinch there but Tatli circles away.
Tatli swings for the body but Gonalez moves out of range.
Gonalez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tatli defends well and Gonalez ends up having to push Tatli into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tatli. Gonalez does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tatli misses with a wild body shot.
Tatli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gonalez.
Gonalez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tatli swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gonalez tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonalez avoids the body shot from Tatli.
Gonalez connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tatli momentarily.
Tatli swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Gonalez closes the distance and pushes Tatli back into the cage.
Gonalez displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tatli up against the cage.

Tatli escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tatli misses with a shot to the body
and Gonalez counters with a series of strikes. Tatli will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tatli takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gonalez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tatli to keep the fight standing.
Gonalez is trying to break free.

Tatli escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tatli slaps away a takedown attempt from Gonalez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Salo Gonalez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tatli swings for the body but Gonalez moves out of range.
Gonalez throws a sloppy head kick and Tatli moves out of range easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Gonalez clinches up with Tatli and pushes him back against the cage.
Tatli tries to score a body lock takedown but Gonalez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tatli slowing the pace effectively.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gonalez.
Tatli displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gonalez up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Gonalez.
Tatli has Gonalez pressed against the cage.
Gonalez tries for a takedown but Tatli manages to get underhooks.

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.
Gonalez is trying to pull guard but Tatli turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Good body shot from Gonalez.
Gonalez is looking for a takedown.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Robert Tatli is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gonalez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tatli gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tatli breaks from the clinch.
Salo Gonalez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tatli throws a body shot but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Robert Tatli.
I've got Tatli winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Tatli!