PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gary Tonon (ranked 408 p4p, 46 weight class) and Teemu Karjalainen (ranked 281 p4p, 33 weight class). Tonon comes to the cage accompanied by What About Now. Karjalainen has chosen Poisonblack - Sun Shines Black as his entrance music. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tonon
vs
Karjalainen

174 cm
34
158 lbs
24 - 18 - 0

171 cm
31
163 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 24 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gary Tonon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Teemu Karjalainen!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonon fails to land the takedown.
Karjalainen scores with a leg kick.
Tonon throws a head kick but Karjalainen moves out of range.
Karjalainen misses with a body kick.
Tonon is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Karjalainen.

Tonon clinches with his opponent.
Nice elbow from Karjalainen.
Karjalainen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Tonon is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Karjalainen can't fight it off and eventually Tonon manages to take the fight to the floor. Karjalainen looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tonon controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tonon throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karjalainen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tonon wants to control from the top but Karjalainen keeps moving.
Tonon connects with a couple of short punches.
Tonon trying to control the position from guard on top but Karjalainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karjalainen pulls Tonon in close to his closed guard and prevents Tonon from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tonon wants to pass the guard but Karjalainen is keeping the position.

That's two 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.

Tonon postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Karjalainen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tonon, into his guard.

Karjalainen controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karjalainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tonon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Karjalainen wants to control from the top but Tonon keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen preventing the sweep.
Karjalainen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Karjalainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tonon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Karjalainen wants to control from the top but Tonon keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tonon fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four 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.
Karjalainen missing with a left hand there. Tonon was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Karjalainen throws a lazy head kick
and Tonon counters with a two punch combo.
Tonon shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Tonon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tonon has his takedown stuffed
and Karjalainen counters with a right hand to the body.
Karjalainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tonon moves away.
Tonon takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Tonon on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karjalainen looks to throw the jab but Tonon is out of range.
Karjalainen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Tonon scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tonon checks a leg kick nicely.
Karjalainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Tonon.
Tonon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Karjalainen as he avoids it easily.

Karjalainen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tonon did well to prevent Karjalainen getting side control.

Tonon pushes Karjalainen off and gets back to his feet.
Karjalainen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tonon's calf.
Tonon seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Teemu Karjalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Karjalainen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gary Tonon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tonon tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Karjalainen swivels and escapes.
Tonon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Karjalainen avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Tonon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice jab there from Karjalainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tonon drives through with a takedown into Karjalainen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Karjalainen trying to control the position here.
Karjalainen keeping full guard, as Tonon tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonon trying to control the position from guard on top but Karjalainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karjalainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Karjalainen pulls Tonon in close to his closed guard and prevents Tonon from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tonon slips nicely into half guard.
Karjalainen wants to improve his position but Tonon is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonon trying to control from Karjalainen's half guard. Karjalainen has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Karjalainen looking for a sweep. Not yet Karjalainen, not yet.
Karjalainen trying to keep a closed guard but Tonon is proving a slippery customer.
Karjalainen wants to stand up but Tonon is controlling him.
Karjalainen controls Tonon momentarily but Tonon frees himself.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tonon dives in for a single leg takedown but Karjalainen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Karjalainen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Karjalainen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Karjalainen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tonon swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Karjalainen finds it's way through Tonon's defenses.
Tonon gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Karjalainen.
Tonon shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Karjalainen defends it nicely.
Karjalainen connects with a leg kick. Tonon looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karjalainen misses with a head kick.
Tonon appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Karjalainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Karjalainen feints and then cracks Tonon's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tonon down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teemu Karjalainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tonon closes the distance and clinches up with Karjalainen, looking for a takedown. Tonon pushes Karjalainen against the cage but Karjalainen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Karjalainen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tonon uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Karjalainen.
Karjalainen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Karjalainen moves into the clinch successfully.
Karjalainen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tonon tries to pull guard but Karjalainen won't allow it.
Tonon takes a shot to the head.
Karjalainen lands a nice shot to the body.
Tonon is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Tonon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tonon wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonon is trying to pull guard but Karjalainen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Karjalainen lands an elbow that stopped Tonon in his tracks for a moment.
Karjalainen swings wildly with an uppercut but Tonon uses good head movement to avoid it.
Karjalainen lands a knee to the body.
Tonon has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Karjalainen after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Karjalainen walks away with a smile on his face. Tonon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tonon drops his hands momentarily and Karjalainen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tonon on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Karjalainen lands with an overhand left.
Tonon is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Karjalainen has closed the distance and engaged Tonon in a clinch.
Karjalainen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tonon backwards.
Tonon tries to pull guard but Karjalainen holds him up against the cage and eventually Tonon drops back down to his feet.
Karjalainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Karjalainen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tonon tries to pull guard but Karjalainen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Karjalainen crunches a lovely knee into Tonon's ribcage.
Karjalainen effectively controlling the action here.
Karjalainen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tonon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Karjalainen to keep the fight standing.
Tonon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karjalainen manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Tonon drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Karjalainen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Karjalainen lands a shoulder strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Karjalainen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tonon is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Karjalainen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Tonon gets control of Karjalainen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tonon will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Karjalainen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonon wants to stand but Karjalainen is controlling the position.
Karjalainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Tonon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karjalainen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tonon wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Karjalainen stays in close to Tonon's body and controls the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A nice inside leg kick there by Karjalainen. That's going to slow Tonon down.
Karjalainen throws a shot to the body.
Karjalainen scores with a nice strike.
Tonon takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tonon is defended easily by Karjalainen.
Karjalainen thinks about the counter body kick.
Gary Tonon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Karjalainen, right into the meat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teemu Karjalainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Karjalainen 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teemu Karjalainen!
A very excited looking Teemu Karjalainen 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.