PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Henry Townsend (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olli Takinainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Olli Takinainen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Townsend
vs
Takinainen

183 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

155 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Henry Townsend!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olli Takinainen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Takinainen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Takinainen seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Townsend really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Takinainen wants to take a breather but Townsend is having none of it.
Townsend keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Townsend is concentrating on defense, preventing Takinainen from advancing position.
Townsend trying to hold on to Takinainen's head to control him but Takinainen postures up.
Takinainen thows a huge punch but Townsend dodges it nicely.
Townsend wants to get back to full guard but Takinainen has passed into side control.
Takinainen tries to stand but Townsend is controlling his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Townsend wants to control but Takinainen postures up.
Townsend gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Townsend wants to control but Takinainen is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Townsend regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Takinainen.

Takinainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Takinainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Townsend looking for a guillotine here but Takinainen defends easily.

Townsend looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Takinainen wants to control from the top but Townsend keeps moving.

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.

Townsend working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Takinainen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Takinainen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Townsend seems keen to control Takinainen's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Townsend looking to control.
Takinainen throwing strikes from guard but Townsend blocks nicely.

Townsend is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Townsend keeping moving, preventing Takinainen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takinainen passes into half guard.
Townsend keeping hold of Takinainen's head, controlling as best he can.
Takinainen 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.
Townsend misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Takinainen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Takinainen is thwarting Townsend's attempts to control the position.

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

Takinainen has managed to clinch.
Townsend tries to pull guard but Takinainen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Townsend tries to pull guard but Takinainen holds him up against the cage and eventually Townsend drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Townsend can't break the clinch.

Takinainen is trying to trip Townsend. He has hold of a leg but Townsend is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Takinainen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Takinainen advances position into side control!
Takinainen trying to control the action but Townsend is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Takinainen has control of an arm but Townsend manages to advance to Takinainen's back!
Takinainen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Townsend's guard. Nice work there by Takinainen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takinainen wants to control from the top but Townsend keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olli Takinainen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Takinainen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Townsend to the mat! Townsend manages to get full guard.

Townsend manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Townsend drops down looking for an ankle pick but Takinainen pulls his leg out and moves away.
That kick from Takinainen tenderised Townsend's leg. Townsend is trying to keep his angry face on.

Takinainen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Townsend quickly recovers to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Townsend is trying to control but can't.
Takinainen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Townsend keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takinainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Townsend keeps working.
Townsend wants to control but Takinainen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Takinainen is trying to control the action in half guard but Townsend is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Takinainen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Townsend wants to get back to full guard but Takinainen has passed into side control.

Takinainen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Townsend knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Takinainen throws a strike aimed at the side of Townsend's head but Townsend avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Takinainen slows the pace down.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Townsend manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Townsend is nestled in close to Takinainen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Townsend working Takinainen over with strikes.
Townsend scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Townsend drops an elbow to the side of Takinainen's head.
Olli Takinainen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Townsend is thwarting Takinainen's attempts to control the position.
Townsend 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.
Takinainen is trying to stand.
Takinainen is breathing heavily.
Ground and pound from Townsend.
Townsend is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nice strikes from Townsend there.
Townsend lands with a punch from half guard.
Takinainen is trying to control but can't.
Townsend seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Townsend scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Townsend drops an elbow to the side of Takinainen's head.
Townsend lands with a punch from half guard.

Townsend is trying to work for a kimura but Takinainen is defending well.
Townsend prevents Takinainen from improving his position.
Townsend working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Takinainen is trying to get back to full guard.
Townsend prevents Takinainen from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Townsend dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Takinainen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Takinainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Townsend looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Takinainen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Townsend!
Townsend wants to control but Takinainen is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Townsend is looking to get to half guard.
Takinainen manages to capitalize on a mistake by Townsend to take his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Townsend trying to control the action but Takinainen just sinks the hooks in.
Townsend is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Townsend trying to control the position but Takinainen manages to sink in the hooks.

Takinainen tightening his grip on Townsend, looking for the choke.
Takinainen tries to keep control of the position but Townsend is staying busy.
Takinainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Townsend tries to roll but Takinainen sticks to his back.
Takinainen struggling to keep hold of the position.
Takinainen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Townsend trying to control the hands but Takinainen breaks the grip.

Takinainen looking to break Townsend's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Townsend remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Takinainen will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Townsend can't escape the position.
Townsend trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Takinainen wants to control but Townsend is keeping busy.
Townsend 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Townsend just trying to survive but Takinainen is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Takinainen keeps control of the position as Townsend tries to break free.
Takinainen gets his hands free as Townsend looks to control.

Takinainen is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Takinainen is looking for the choke from the back position but Townsend is controlling his hands well.
Takinainen has the hooks in. Townsend is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Will Takinainen go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Takinainen looking for the choke from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Townsend trying to control but not successfully.
A lull in the action here.
Townsend trying to control the action but Takinainen just sinks the hooks in.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Olli Takinainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Takinainen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olli Takinainen!