PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pascal Letaivu (ranked 1130 p4p, 129 weight class) and Jaako Turkinen (ranked 1645 p4p, 174 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.

Letaivu
vs
Turkinen

170 cm
26
146 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

178 cm
36
146 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pascal Letaivu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jaako Turkinen!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Turkinen.
Turkinen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Letaivu momentarily.
Turkinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Letaivu was well out of range. Poor timing from Turkinen.
Decent striking displayed by Letaivu there.

It looks like Jaako Turkinen has been cut.
Letaivu slips a jab from Turkinen.
Letaivu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Letaivu throws a body punch but Turkinen moves out of range.
Letaivu throws out a loose jab but Turkinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Turkinen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Letaivu.
Turkinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jaako Turkinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Letaivu swings for the body but Turkinen moves out of range.
Turkinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Letaivu has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Dark Corner in the buildup to the fight.
Letaivu lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Turkinen moves out of range as Letaivu strikes.
Turkinen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Turkinen throws a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Turkinen slips under a jab.
A swing and a miss from Turkinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turkinen missing with a left hand there. Letaivu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Turkinen lands with a cross.
Letaivu walks into a jab.
Turkinen throws a series of punches but Letaivu avoids them all with ease.
Letaivu takes a swing at Turkinen's ribcage but misses.
Letaivu on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Turkinen throws an off balance right hand
and Letaivu counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Turkinen misses with an uppercut. Letaivu saw that one coming.
Pascal Letaivu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Turkinen lands a jab to the head.
Turkinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Letaivu.
Turkinen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Letaivu.
Letaivu moves out of range of the strikes.
Turkinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Turkinen misses the shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Letaivu shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Turkinen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Letaivu swivels and escapes.
Letaivu throws a sloppy body shot
letting Turkinen counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turkinen misses with an uppercut.
It looked like Letaivu wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Turkinen misses with a body shot
and Turkinen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Turkinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Letaivu is just out of range.
Letaivu throws out a loose jab but Turkinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Turkinen misses.
Letaivu looks to land a combination. Turkinen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Letaivu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Turkinen.
Turkinen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Letaivu.
Turkinen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Letaivu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Turkinen moves away.
Turkinen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
The fighters circling - Turkinen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Letaivu tries to counter by clinching up but Turkinen breaks away and moves out of range.
Turkinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Letaivu was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Turkinen ducks under a wild hook from Letaivu.
Letaivu lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Letaivu lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A telegraphed right hand from Turkinen misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turkinen ducks under a wild hook from Letaivu.
A left lands for Turkinen.
Turkinen slips a jab from Letaivu.
Turkinen scores with a shot to the body.
Turkinen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Letaivu ducks under a wild hook from Turkinen.
Turkinen misses the shot to the body.
A combination from Turkinen does no damage.
Turkinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Letaivu sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Letaivu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Turkinen.
Letaivu cracks Turkinen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Turkinen connects with a looping right hand.
Turkinen staying out of range there.

Letaivu has managed to clinch.
Turkinen blocks a body shot from Letaivu.
Letaivu lands a hook that snaps the head of Turkinen backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Turkinen has a couple of punches blocked by Letaivu.
Letaivu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Turkinen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Letaivu lands a nice looking body shot.
Turkinen misses with a body shot.
Letaivu dodges the punch combination from Turkinen.
Turkinen shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Letaivu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fighters circling - Turkinen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Turkinen darts in looking for a takedown but Letaivu gets double underhooks and turns Turkinen into the cage.
Turkinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Turkinen misses with a wild body shot.
Letaivu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Turkinen's head backwards.
Letaivu ducks under a wild hook from Turkinen.
Turkinen dips to his left and cracks Letaivu with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jaako Turkinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jaako Turkinen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Letaivu misses with a wild body shot.
Turkinen scores with a jab. Letaivu acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Letaivu works the jab nicely.
Turkinen slips a straight right by Letaivu.
Letaivu looks to score with a jab to the body but Turkinen is just out of range.
Turkinen lands a nice shot to the body.
Letaivu takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Turkinen misses the shot to the body.
Letaivu throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Letaivu tries to bum rush Turkinen with a series of wild strikes but Turkinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Turkinen takes a swing at Letaivu's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turkinen throws a body punch but Letaivu moves out of range.
Turkinen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Letaivu's hands.
Turkinen cracks Letaivu with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Letaivu lands a slapping body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Letaivu throws a hook but Turkinen avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Letaivu bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Turkinen's head backwards.
Turkinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Letaivu was well out of range. Poor timing from Turkinen.
Turkinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Letaivu.
Letaivu throws a body punch but Turkinen moves out of range.
Letaivu with a nice cross.
Turkinen swings for the body but Letaivu moves out of range.
Turkinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Letaivu moves away.
Letaivu tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Turkinen manages to circle out of the way.
Donk. Letaivu catches Turkinen right on the button with a cross.
Turkinen cracks Letaivu with a right hand to the side of the head.
Letaivu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Letaivu moves out of range of the strikes.

Turkinen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Letaivu is trying to keep Turkinen in close.
Turkinen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turkinen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Letaivu is looking to regain half guard here but Turkinen keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Letaivu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Letaivu tries to bench press Turkinen off him but Turkinen keeps the position.

Turkinen stands up.
Letaivu takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Turkinen misses the shot to the body.
Turkinen looks to land a right hand but Letaivu moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turkinen on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A big right from Letaivu misses.
A little jabbing left from Turkinen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Turkinen slips a jab from Letaivu.
Letaivu lands with a good body shot.
Turkinen moves out of range of the strikes.
A countering left hand to the body from Turkinen misses.
Turkinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jaako Turkinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Turkinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Letaivu.
Letaivu tries to move into range but Turkinen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Turkinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Letaivu looks to score with a jab to the body but Turkinen is just out of range.
Letaivu looks to score with a jab to the body but Turkinen is just out of range.
Letaivu walks into a straight right hand from Turkinen.

Letaivu closes the distance and pushes Turkinen back into the cage.
Letaivu lands a nice uppercut.
A short left from Letaivu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Letaivu blocking some punches.
Turkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Turkinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Letaivu.
Letaivu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Turkinen misses with the head strike.
Letaivu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Letaivu misses with the head strike.
Turkinen presses Letaivu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Letaivu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Letaivu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Letaivu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Letaivu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Turkinen has a couple of punches blocked by Letaivu.
Letaivu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Turkinen backwards.
Turkinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Letaivu scores with a shot to the side of Turkinen's head.
Letaivu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Turkinen lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Pascal Letaivu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jaako Turkinen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Letaivu keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Turkinen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Letaivu. Turkinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Turkinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Turkinen throws a jab when Letaivu was well out of range.
Letaivu looks to score with a jab to the body but Turkinen is just out of range.
Turkinen missing with a left hand there. Letaivu was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Letaivu shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Turkinen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Letaivu counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Turkinen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Letaivu has time to react.
Nice sprawl there from Letaivu as Turkinen shoots in.
Turkinen looks to land a right hand but Letaivu moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Letaivu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Turkinen, pushing him back against the cage.
Turkinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Turkinen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Letaivu backwards.
Turkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Letaivu lands with a light punch inside.
Turkinen presses Letaivu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Letaivu works on Turkinen's body with a couple of short punches.
Turkinen tries to throw a body punch but Letaivu avoids it by throwing Turkinen back against the cage.
A short right from Turkinen on the inside.
Turkinen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Letaivu lands a nice uppercut.
Turkinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Letaivu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Letaivu digs a right hand underneath Turkinen's ribcage. Turkinen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A short right from Turkinen on the inside.
Letaivu throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Letaivu looking to stall.
Turkinen takes a shot to the head.
Letaivu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Letaivu is pushing Turkinen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Letaivu lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Letaivu.
Letaivu misses with a punch on the inside.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Turkinen.
Turkinen scores with a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Turkinen.
Turkinen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A short left from Turkinen.
Letaivu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Nice body punch from Turkinen - that landed with a thud.
Turkinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Letaivu's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Turkinen fails to land.
Turkinen working aggressively here.
Letaivu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pascal Letaivu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Turkinen working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Letaivu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Turkinen tries to throw a body punch but Letaivu avoids it by throwing Turkinen back against the cage.
Turkinen scores with a hook to the body.
Letaivu throws a head punch that misses.
Turkinen lands with a right to the head.
Turkinen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Turkinen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Letaivu backwards.
Turkinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Letaivu is working Turkinen over against the cage.
Turkinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Turkinen prevents a body shot from Letaivu.
Letaivu lands a hook that snaps the head of Turkinen backwards.
Letaivu misses with a hook to the ribs.
Letaivu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Turkinen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Letaivu misses with the head strike.
Letaivu lands a right hand.
Letaivu misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Letaivu has a couple of punches blocked by Turkinen.
Turkinen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Letaivu gets through Turkinen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Turkinen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Letaivu backwards.
Letaivu prevents a body shot from Turkinen.
A head punch on the inside from Turkinen fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Letaivu fails to land.
Turkinen tries to throw a body punch but Letaivu avoids it by throwing Turkinen back against the cage.
The referee calls for Letaivu to work.
Letaivu gets underhooks to prevent Turkinen's takedown attempt.
Turkinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Turkinen misses with a punch on the inside.
Turkinen lands an uppercut.
Turkinen misses with the head strike.
Turkinen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Letaivu backwards.
Letaivu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jaako Turkinen.
I think Turkinen 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaako Turkinen!
Jaako Turkinen really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that FORCEE logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.