PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mirko Cop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johannes Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cop
vs
Tikkanen

165 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
160 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Sub Zero - 156Q for $95!!

Takomo

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirko Cop!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Tikkanen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cop tries to close the distance and clinch but Tikkanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tikkanen shoots in but no luck this time.
Tikkanen shoots in but no luck this time.
Cop wants to clinch up but Tikkanen keeps it at a distance.
Jab from Cop.
Cop takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nice sprawl there from Cop as Tikkanen shoots in.
Mirko Cop has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Tikkanen.
Tikkanen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Cop doesn't manage to clinch there - Tikkanen circles away.
Cop fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tikkanen shoots in but no luck this time.
Tikkanen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Johannes Tikkanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tikkanen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cop is looking to clinch but Tikkanen is avoiding it.
Cop with a nice cross.
Tikkanen shoots in but Cop avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tikkanen looks gassed!
Cop tries to clinch but Tikkanen is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cop misses with a two punch combination.

Cop moves into range and clinches up with Tikkanen.
Cop pushes Tikkanen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cop stops a takedown attempt from Tikkanen.

Cop breaks the clinch.
Tikkanen lands with a hook. Cop tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tikkanen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cop as he avoids it easily.
Cop keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cop tries to close the distance and clinch but Tikkanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tikkanen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cop as he jumps to the side.
Cop tries to clinch up.
Cop fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cop tries to clinch up but Tikkanen circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cop tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tikkanen keeps the fight on the outside.

Cop clinches with his opponent.

Cop manages to break the clinch.
Cop tries to clinch up.
Cop moves out of range as Tikkanen strikes.
Cop tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cop tries to clinch but Tikkanen is having none of it.
Cop tries a head kick but it misses.
Cop fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cop tries to clinch up.

Cop has closed the distance and engaged Tikkanen in a clinch.
Cop could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Cop pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tikkanen fails to land the takedown.
Cop tries to clinch but Tikkanen is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen fails with the takedown.

Cop gets a clinch.

Cop pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cop fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tikkanen shoots in but no luck this time.
Cop moves in looking to clinch but Tikkanen pushes him off.

Cop gets a clinch.

Cop manages to break the clinch.
Cop wants to clinch.

Tikkanen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Cop on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cop tries to get out of the position.
Cop seems keen to control Tikkanen's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cop can't keep his opponent in guard - Tikkanen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tikkanen wants to control but Cop is keeping him busy.
Cop is trying to stand up here but Tikkanen is controlling him well.
Cop is refusing to be controlled, as Tikkanen sits in half guard.
Cop trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Cop dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Cop moves in looking to clinch but Tikkanen pushes him off.
Tikkanen shoots in looking for a takedown. Cop tries to sprawl out of it but Tikkanen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cop manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Cop tries to clinch up.
Mirko Cop is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tikkanen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cop's waist but Cop gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tikkanen off to one side.
Horrible takedown by Tikkanen or perhaps it was just good defense by Cop which made him look bad.
Mirko Cop has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Tikkanen.
Cop tries to clinch up but Tikkanen circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cop walks into a jab.
Cop tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tikkanen is breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cop tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Cop.
Cop tries to clinch up but Tikkanen circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No luck for Tikkanen with that takedown attempt.
Cop tests Tikkanen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
No luck for Tikkanen with that takedown attempt.
Cop tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cop tries to clinch there but Tikkanen circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen closes the distance and clinches up with Cop, looking for a takedown. Tikkanen pushes Cop against the cage but Cop circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Cop tries to close the distance and clinch but Tikkanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cop tries to clinch but Tikkanen moves out of range.
Cop tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tikkanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cop tries to close the distance and clinch but Tikkanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tikkanen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cop pinned against the cage. Cop gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tikkanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tikkanen avoids the head kick by Cop.
Cop fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tikkanen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cop wants to clinch up but Tikkanen keeps it at a distance.
Tikkanen tries for a takedown but Cop sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tikkanen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cop as he avoids it easily.
Cop fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cop tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tikkanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cop is looking to clinch.
Tikkanen fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Cop as Tikkanen shoots in.
Cop fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cop tries to clinch but Tikkanen moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cop doesn't manage to clinch there - Tikkanen circles away.

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.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Cop clinches with his opponent.

Cop breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tikkanen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cop is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cop wants to clinch up but Tikkanen keeps it at a distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tikkanen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cop's waist but Cop gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tikkanen off to one side.

Cop clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Cop dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tikkanen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cop is fending him off so far but Tikkanen persists. Nope, Cop circles away and we're back to standing.
Tikkanen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Cop fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tikkanen throws a jab but it's blocked by Cop.
Cop tries to close the distance and clinch but Tikkanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tikkanen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Cop takes the fight into the clinch.

Cop breaks the clinch.
Cop wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cop fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tikkanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cop tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Tikkanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Cop.

Cop closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tikkanen tries to score a body lock takedown but Cop shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mirko Cop has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Tikkanen.
Tikkanen has Cop pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cop manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Cop breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cop connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Cop connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Tikkanen momentarily.
Cop wants to clinch.
Cop wants to clinch up but Tikkanen keeps it at a distance.
Tikkanen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Cop pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cop fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tikkanen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cop swivels and escapes.
Mirko Cop is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cop tries to clinch up.
Cop lands a high kick!
Cop tries to clinch there but Tikkanen circles away.
Tikkanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Cop.
Tikkanen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cop pinned against the cage. Cop gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tikkanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cop tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tikkanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cop tries to clinch but Tikkanen is having none of it.

Cop moves into the clinch successfully.
Tikkanen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Cop gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Cop breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cop looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tikkanen misses the shot to the body.
Cop is looking to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Cop. No joy for Tikkanen on that attempt.
Tikkanen fails with the takedown.

Cop closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Cop breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mirko Cop is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cop lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tikkanen circles away quickly and effectively.
A telegraphed right hand from Tikkanen misses the target.
Cop tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tikkanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tikkanen shoots for a double leg takedown but Cop sprawls well. He's pushed Tikkanen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Cop lands a jab to Tikkanen's midsection.
Tikkanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tikkanen shoots for a double leg takedown but Cop sprawls well. He's pushed Tikkanen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tikkanen throws a jab when Cop was well out of range.
Tikkanen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Cop tries to clinch there but Tikkanen circles away.
Cop throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen misses the body punch

and Cop counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Johannes Tikkanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cop tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Cop breaks the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mirko Cop showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Cop, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Mirko Cop!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Mirko Cop!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Mirko Cop!

Mirko Cop wins by unanimous decision!