PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Otis Bowman (ranked 6247 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tafari Mokonen (ranked 5347 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Bowman
vs
Mokonen

191 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Otis Bowman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tafari Mokonen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mokonen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bowman to the mat! Bowman manages to get full guard.
Bowman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mokonen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mokonen tries to free his leg and advance position but Bowman is retaining full guard.

Bowman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mokonen defends well.
Bowman wants to stand but Mokonen is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mokonen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Mokonen clinches with his opponent.
Mokonen controlling the action here for a moment.
Bowman tries to circle away but Mokonen has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Mokonen is trying to trip Bowman. He has hold of a leg but Bowman is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mokonen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Bowman keeping moving, preventing Mokonen from controlling successfully.
Mokonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mokonen pushing down on Bowman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Mokonen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bowman sees it coming and defends easily.
Mokonen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Bowman is not content to let Mokonen control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mokonen controlling the action here.

Mokonen decides to stand and escape the position.
Mokonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Bowman is just out of range.

Mokonen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bowman is trying to break free.
Mokonen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

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.

Mokonen manages to pull guard.
Mokonen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mokonen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bowman working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Mokonen is trying to push Bowman away but Bowman has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bowman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bowman lands an uppercut.

Mokonen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bowman is wriggling around but Mokonen manages to pass to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tafari Mokonen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mokonen misses with an uppercut
and Bowman counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Bowman darts in and clinches Mokonen up against the cage.
Mokonen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bowman is keeping busy.
Bowman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bowman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Mokonen decides to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mokonen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Mokonen pushes Bowman off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mokonen clinches.

Mokonen has clasped his hands together around Bowman's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Mokonen is looking to take a break and control but Bowman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bowman wants to control but Mokonen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mokonen controlling from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bowman can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mokonen controlling from side mount.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bowman checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mokonen moves into the clinch successfully.

Bowman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick by Mokonen misses

and Bowman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bowman.

Mokonen pushes Bowman off and gets back to his feet.
A punch combination from Mokonen misses.

Bowman instigates a clinch.

Bowman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mokonen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bowman tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mokonen struggling to keep hold of the position.
Mokonen lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Mokonen keeps control of the position easily here as Bowman tries to buck him off.
Tafari Mokonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tafari Mokonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bowman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mokonen drives through with a takedown into Bowman's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mokonen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Mokonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bowman is keeping the position for now.
Bowman has control of Mokonen's left arm, preventing Mokonen from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mokonen's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mokonen wants to control from the top but Bowman keeps moving.
Mokonen tries to free his leg and advance position but Bowman is retaining full guard.
Mokonen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

Mokonen darts in and clinches Bowman up against the cage.

Mokonen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mokonen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Mokonen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bowman is one step ahead there.
Mokonen pulls Bowman in close to his closed guard and prevents Bowman from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mokonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bowman defends well.
Mokonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mokonen trying to keep a closed guard but Bowman is proving a slippery customer.
Bowman throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bowman is in close to Mokonen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mokonen seems keen to control Bowman's posture.

Mokonen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bowman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mokonen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mokonen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bowman throwing strikes but missing.

Mokonen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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.
Bowman trying to control but Mokonen is working from the bottom.

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

Mokonen moves into the clinch.
Bowman is trying to force a seperation but Mokonen has the dominant position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bowman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Otis Bowman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tafari Mokonen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Bowman is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mokonen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bowman to the mat. Bowman regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tafari Mokonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Mokonen 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tafari Mokonen!