PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vilho Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and wesley snipes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanner's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Kemialliset Ystävät - Tässä Maassa Kun Näin Makailen. 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.

Tanner
vs
snipes

172 cm
22
156 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Takomo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vilho Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, wesley snipes!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

snipes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
snipes tries to move into full mount but can't pass Tanner's legs.
snipes lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Tanner is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked snipes off and has taken his back!

Tanner is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. snipes defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
snipes covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
snipes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
snipes rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Tanner trying to pass the guard but snipes defending well.
Tanner looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks snipes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
snipes taking some punishment here, with Tanner in his half guard.
Tanner winds up and cracks snipes with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
snipes pushes Tanner off looking to stand but Tanner dives back in and keeps control.
Tanner is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for snipes!

Tanner is working for a guillotine from mount but snipes frees his head quite easily.

Tanner is going olschool here, as he tries to force snipes to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so snipes shrugs it off.
Tanner is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
snipes tries to reverse the position but Tanner maintains control.
snipes bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
snipes controlling from the top position.
snipes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanner is keeping the position for now.

Tanner isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. snipes stacks Tanner on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by snipes!

snipes wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tanner, who protects the arm well.
Tanner is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but snipes is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner regains half guard.
Tanner tries to roll over but snipes keeps him under control.
Tanner is refusing to be controlled, as snipes sits in half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
snipes trying to control the pace.
snipes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tanner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tanner is trying to control but can't.
snipes is trying to control the action in half guard but Tanner is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tanner manages to get to full guard.

Tanner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tanner throws his legs up looking for a submission but snipes uses it to pass to side control.

snipes is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tanner is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
snipes cracks Tanner with a big right hand but Tanner just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Tanner gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Tanner blocking the ground and pound attempt from snipes.

snipes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tanner is looking for a sweep. snipes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of snipes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take snipes's back!
Tanner landing with strikes.
snipes covers up after that shot from Tanner.
snipes tries to break free.
Tanner 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.

Tanner looking to break snipes's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. snipes remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Tanner will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

snipes showing good submission defense here.
snipes tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
snipes is trying to escape the mount.
snipes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tanner lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vilho Tanner will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tanner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but snipes moves away.
Tanner misses with a body shot.
snipes slips under a jab from Tanner.
Tanner misses the shot to the body.

snipes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tanner gets full guard.
snipes lands a couple of digs.

Tanner is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

snipes gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

snipes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tanner struggling a bit here.
wesley snipes has got the better of the ground game so far.
snipes cracks Tanner with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Check out the look on snipes's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
snipes is looking to take a break and control but Tanner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Tanner gets back to half guard.
Tanner trying to control but snipes postures up.
Tanner wants to improve his position but snipes is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
snipes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tanner circles away.
Tanner swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tanner connects with a body shot.
Tanner misses with a looping left.
Tanner scores with a one two! snipes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
snipes shoots in and drives through. Tanner sprawls well.
snipes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tanner throws out the jab.

Tanner scores with a takedown into snipes's guard.
snipes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
snipes has momentary wrist control but Tanner slips an elbow through the middle.
snipes has his hands on Tanner's head, controlling the position.
snipes wants to sweep but no luck.
Tanner is pushing down on snipes's leg trying to pass to half guard. snipes is fighting to maintain full guard but Tanner has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tanner is looking to take a break and control but snipes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
snipes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tanner pushing down on snipes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Tanner seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner passes the guard and advances to mount!
snipes wants to control but Tanner is having none of it.

Tanner is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but snipes is surviving well by controlling Tanner's body position as best he can.

Tanner swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and snipes is now in Tanner's guard. A big mistake from Tanner there, giving up the dominant position!
snipes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tanner's head.
snipes won't allow Tanner to sweep him here.
Tanner is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner scores with a short punch from the bottom.
snipes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tanner keeping full guard, as snipes tries to pass.
Tanner is trying to control the position but snipes postures up.
snipes trying to control the position from guard on top but Tanner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

snipes scores a takedown into full mount!
Tanner tries to get back to half guard but can't.

snipes looking for a guillotine from mount but Tanner is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tanner sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Tanner with the active half guard here but snipes passes nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but wesley snipes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

snipes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tanner sprawls well initially but snipes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tanner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tanner has a hand on snipes's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. snipes takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Tanner throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Tanner is bucking up trying to escape but snipes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
snipes has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tanner's face.
Tanner is working to get back to half guard.
Tanner looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Tanner tries to roll but snipes sticks to his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
snipes gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

snipes looking for the RNC.
snipes tries to keep control of the position but Tanner is staying busy.
snipes doesn't have the hooks in and Tanner manages to turn into his guard.

snipes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tanner has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

snipes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tanner scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tanner trying to move into half guard but instead snipes has managed to sweep!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

snipes drops back looking for a leg! Tanner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tanner manages to kick snipes off! snipes jumps back into Tanner's guard.

Tanner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tanner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tanner keeping moving, preventing snipes from controlling successfully.
Tanner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in snipes's guard.
snipes looking for a sweep. Not yet snipes, not yet.
Tanner works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tanner misses with a head shot. snipes uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner throwing strikes but missing.
Tanner wants to pass the guard but snipes is keeping the position.
snipes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tanner's guard.
snipes throwing strikes from guard but Tanner blocks nicely.

Tanner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tanner wants to sweep but no luck.

snipes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
snipes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tanner's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
snipes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tanner makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tanner.
Tanner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tanner looking to control.

Tanner is looking for a triangle here but snipes uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Tanner is trying to improve his position.
snipes looks up at the clock and then as Tanner takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, snipes smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Tanner manages to work his way to half guard, despite snipes's best efforts.
snipes missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
wesley snipes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think snipes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... wesley snipes!