PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jarko Vatanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Colombo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Colombo has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Vatanen
vs
Colombo

190 cm
27
210 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

181 cm
47
201 lbs
35 - 61 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Excellent MT
Powerful

Conviction
Museum of Monsters & Madmen

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jarko Vatanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 61 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franco Colombo!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Chris Downing and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vatanen darts in and clinches Colombo up against the cage.
Colombo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Colombo being controlled against the cage.

Vatanen breaks from the clinch.

Vatanen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vatanen just leaning against Colombo, taking a breather.
Colombo trying to land knees to the body.
Colombo misses with an elbow strike.

Vatanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vatanen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown attempt by Vatanen or perhaps it was just good defense by Colombo, which made it look bad.
Colombo stuffs the takedown attempt from Vatanen. Vatanen gets slowly back to his feet.
Colombo misses with a head kick.

Vatanen drives through with a takedown into Colombo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Colombo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Colombo looks winded!
Vatanen wants to stand but Colombo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Vatanen passes Colombo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vatanen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

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.
Vatanen thows a huge punch but Colombo dodges it nicely.
Still in half guard, Vatanen seems content to control.
Vatanen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Colombo for as long as he can get away with.
Vatanen is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Colombo reverses the position - he's now on top in Vatanen's guard.
Vatanen controls Colombo momentarily but Colombo frees himself.
Colombo stops Vatanen from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colombo looking to pass the guard.
Vatanen wants to get back to his feet but Colombo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Vatanen has Colombo pulled in close to control his posture.

Vatanen working for submissions but it's allowed Colombo to get to half guard.
Vatanen wants to improve his position but Colombo is controlling well.
Vatanen is looking to escape.

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.
Vatanen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Colombo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Colombo's back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Vatanen punches the canvas rather than the man.
Colombo trying to control the position but Vatanen manages to sink in the hooks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vatanen biding his time, controlling Colombo.

Vatanen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarko Vatanen dominated that round.
That's time! Vatanen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Vatanen slips under a jab from Colombo.
Vatanen has his takedown stuffed
and Colombo counters with a straight right hand.
Vatanen jabs at Colombo's body.
Vatanen shoots in for a takedown but Colombo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Colombo throws a big counter head kick but Vatanen avoids it with no problem.

Vatanen moves into the clinch.
Vatanen scores with a shoulder strike.

Vatanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Vatanen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Vatanen wants to take a breather but Colombo is having none of it.
Colombo is looking to improve his position.
Vatanen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Colombo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatanen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Colombo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Vatanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vatanen content to control rather than advance.

Vatanen is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Colombo still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Colombo has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Vatanen is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen is trying to control Colombo's posture but Colombo avoids it.
Vatanen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Colombo on the ground.
Vatanen is trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vatanen manages to get back to half guard.
Vatanen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Vatanen tries to get out of the position.
Vatanen is trying to control but Colombo manages to pass to mount!
Vatanen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Vatanen squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Vatanen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen stays in close to Colombo's body and controls the position.
Vatanen throws a big elbow that misses.
Vatanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Colombo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vatanen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Vatanen works over Colombo with some ground and pound from guard.

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.
Vatanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Colombo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vatanen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Vatanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Colombo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vatanen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Colombo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarko Vatanen dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Vatanen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Vatanen trying to control the action but Colombo is working from the bottom.
The strikes coming from Vatanen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Vatanen decides to stand back up.

Vatanen has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vatanen pulls guard effortlessly.
Vatanen is trying to control the position but Colombo postures up.

Vatanen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Colombo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Colombo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Colombo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatanen controls Colombo momentarily but Colombo frees himself.
Vatanen has his hands on Colombo's head, controlling the position.
Vatanen is trying to control the position but Colombo postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vatanen pulls Colombo in close to his closed guard and prevents Colombo from doing any damage or advancing position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two 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.
Colombo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Colombo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Colombo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vatanen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Colombo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vatanen.
Vatanen scores with a three punch combo!

Colombo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Vatanen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Colombo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vatanen wants to stand but Colombo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jarko Vatanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Vatanen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Vatanen closes the distance and clinches up with Colombo, looking for a takedown. Vatanen pushes Colombo against the cage but Colombo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Colombo throws a shot from downtown. Vatanen moves away and avoids it.
It looked like Vatanen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vatanen staying out of range there.
Vatanen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Vatanen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Colombo to the mat! Colombo manages to get full guard.
Vatanen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Colombo's guard.
Jarko Vatanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Colombo keeping moving, preventing Vatanen from controlling successfully.
Vatanen won't allow Colombo to sweep him here.
Franco Colombo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vatanen wants to control from the top but Colombo keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vatanen wants to stand but Colombo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarko Vatanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vatanen, 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarko Vatanen!
A very excited looking Jarko Vatanen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.