PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Teppo Tahkojuusto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Silakka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tahkojuusto might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to AC/DC : T.N.T. Teppo Tahkojuusto has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tahkojuusto
vs
Silakka

185 cm
23
186 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

170 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Tahkojuusto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Silakka!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silakka will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tahkojuusto fails to land the takedown.
Tahkojuusto throws a head kick that misses.
Tahkojuusto throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Jussi Silakka has been cut.
Tahkojuusto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Silakka as he jumps to the side.
Silakka wants to clinch up but Tahkojuusto keeps it at a distance.
Silakka is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tahkojuusto throws a sloppy head kick and Silakka moves out of range easily.
Silakka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tahkojuusto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Teppo Tahkojuusto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tahkojuusto lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Silakka gets caught flat footed, as Tahkojuusto shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tahkojuusto postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Silakka throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Silakka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Silakka pushes Tahkojuusto off and scrambles back to his feet.
Tahkojuusto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Silakka pinned against the cage. Silakka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teppo Tahkojuusto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tahkojuusto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Silakka circles away.
Tahkojuusto shoots in and drives through. Silakka sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto lands a two punch combo.
Silakka tries to clinch up.
Tahkojuusto punishes Silakka's body with a nice straight punch.
Jussi Silakka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Silakka.
Silakka looks gassed!
Tahkojuusto doesn't manage to clinch there - Silakka circles away.
Silakka wants to clinch

and Tahkojuusto moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silakka tries to break the clinch but Tahkojuusto is controlling the position.
Tahkojuusto is looking to break free of the clinch but Silakka has double underhooks.

Silakka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tahkojuusto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silakka tries to avoid it but Tahkojuusto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silakka to the ground. Silakka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Silakka darts in trying to clinch

and Tahkojuusto counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tahkojuusto gets to his feet - Silakka follows without any prompting.

Tahkojuusto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tahkojuusto wants a takedown.

Tahkojuusto manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Silakka throwing strikes from guard but Tahkojuusto blocks nicely.

Tahkojuusto looking for a guillotine here but Silakka defends easily.
Tahkojuusto tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silakka gets to his feet. Tahkojuusto looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Tahkojuusto changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Silakka tries to avoid it but Tahkojuusto manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Silakka to the ground. Silakka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Silakka has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tahkojuusto jumps guard but Silakka stands there with Tahkojuusto around his waist. Tahkojuusto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Silakka managing to block the knees to the body from Tahkojuusto.
Silakka wants to break the clinch but can't.
Silakka can't break the clinch.
Tahkojuusto tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Silakka smiles and moves away.
Tahkojuusto checks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Tahkojuusto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jussi Silakka's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Silakka darts in trying to clinch

and Tahkojuusto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tahkojuusto content to control rather than advance.
Tahkojuusto is looking to take a break and control but Silakka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Tahkojuusto decides to return to a standing position.
Tahkojuusto throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tahkojuusto tries a head kick but it misses.
Silakka is breathing heavily.
Both fighters circling a little - Tahkojuusto finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tahkojuusto shoots in and bounces Silakka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tahkojuusto working some strikes from top position.
Tahkojuusto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Tahkojuusto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Silakka, who protects the arm well.
Tahkojuusto is working Silakka over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tahkojuusto landing a few strikes.
Silakka is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Tahkojuusto asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Silakka is not content to let Tahkojuusto control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

Tahkojuusto tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tahkojuusto has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Silakka should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Tahkojuusto scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Silakka to see if he's OK.
Silakka prevents Tahkojuusto from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tahkojuusto stands up and beckons Silakka to his feet.
Jab by Tahkojuusto.
Tahkojuusto tries to clinch but Silakka moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Silakka. No joy for Tahkojuusto on that attempt.
Silakka darts in trying to clinch

and Tahkojuusto counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Silakka's guard now.
Silakka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tahkojuusto is in close to Silakka's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Silakka pushes Tahkojuusto off and gets back to his feet.
Tahkojuusto tries for a takedown but Silakka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Silakka tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Tahkojuusto counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Silakka has had enough of the clinch but Tahkojuusto keeps him there for the moment.

Tahkojuusto breaks from the clinch.
A good leg kick by Tahkojuusto.
Tahkojuusto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Tahkojuusto dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jussi Silakka's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Silakka swats away the attempt to clinch by Tahkojuusto.
Tahkojuusto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Silakka looks to clinch

and Tahkojuusto moves into the clinch.

Tahkojuusto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tahkojuusto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tahkojuusto darts in and clinches Silakka up against the cage.
Silakka wants to break free but Tahkojuusto has control.
Tahkojuusto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Silakka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tahkojuusto has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Silakka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Tahkojuusto just misses with a elbow thrown towards Silakka's brow.

Tahkojuusto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silakka swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teppo Tahkojuusto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Silakka wants to clinch but Tahkojuusto slips to the side
and Tahkojuusto counters with a leg kick.
Tahkojuusto swats away the attempt to clinch by Silakka.
Tahkojuusto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Silakka is fending him off so far but Tahkojuusto persists. Nope, Silakka circles away and we're back to standing.
Silakka tries to clinch up but Tahkojuusto circles away and keeps his distance.
Tahkojuusto throws a jab but it's blocked by Silakka.
Some bone on bone action there as Tahkojuusto checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Tahkojuusto misses with the combination.

Tahkojuusto scores a takedown into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silakka is desperately trying to improve his position but Tahkojuusto has a good base and remains in mount.
Tahkojuusto takes Silakka's back, avoiding a couple of desperation strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tahkojuusto is looking to control Silakka but Silakka is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Tahkojuusto looking for the choke but no joy.
Teppo Tahkojuusto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Silakka is trying to stand back up.
Tahkojuusto wants to control but Silakka is keeping busy.
Tahkojuusto will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silakka is covering up but some of the strikes from Tahkojuusto are getting through and doing damage.
Silakka is really stuck here.
Tahkojuusto controls the position.
Silakka has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Jussi Silakka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tahkojuusto is landing with strikes from the back.

Tahkojuusto has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Silakka! Can he survive? No! He's out! Tahkojuusto gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Teppo Tahkojuusto!