PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tapani Kansalainen (ranked 180 p4p, 24 weight class) and Iker Ramirez (ranked 211 p4p, 28 weight class). Iker Ramirez will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kansalainen
vs
Ramirez

169 cm
25
150 lbs
13 - 3 - 2

180 cm
26
155 lbs
8 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tapani Kansalainen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iker Ramirez!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kansalainen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kansalainen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Ramirez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jab from Ramirez.
Kansalainen throws a lazy right hand but Ramirez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kansalainen throws a series of punches but Ramirez moves out of range.
A big left from Kansalainen misses.
Kansalainen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ramirez takes a swing at Kansalainen's ribcage but misses.
Ramirez lands with an uppercut that bounces Kansalainen off the cage and back into range.
Kansalainen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ramirez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kansalainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ramirez.
Kansalainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Ramirez.
A low kick from Ramirez is predictable there
and Kansalainen counters with a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kansalainen moves out of range of the strikes.
Ramirez connects with an inside leg kick.
Kansalainen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kansalainen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ramirez is able to avoid easily.
Ramirez tries to land a leg kick but Kansalainen saw it coming and moves away.
Ramirez slips under a jab.
Ramirez throws a leg kick which misses Kansalainen's front leg but catches the back leg as Kansalainen tries to avoid it.
Ramirez scores with the left hand. Kansalainen knows he should have avoided that one.
Kansalainen throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramirez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kansalainen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ramirez moves away from the strike by Kansalainen.
Kansalainen throws a head kick that misses.
Kansalainen is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Ramirez's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Ramirez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kansalainen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kansalainen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Ramirez's calf.
Kansalainen misses with a hook. Ramirez ducked under it nicely.
Ramirez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kansalainen slips a jab from Ramirez.
Ramirez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kansalainen checks it well.
Kansalainen misses with a looping right.
Kansalainen throws a jab when Ramirez was well out of range.
Kansalainen looks to land a right hand but Ramirez moved out of range.
Ramirez missing with a left hand there. Kansalainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ramirez misses with a leg kick
and Kansalainen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Ramirez misses.
Ramirez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ramirez throws the left hand but Kansalainen avoids the punch easily.
Ramirez avoids the body shot from Kansalainen.
Ramirez lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen throws a hook to the side of Ramirez's head but Ramirez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Iker Ramirez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kansalainen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kansalainen throws a looping overhand right but Ramirez ducks down to avoid it.
Kansalainen misses with a leg kick.
Kansalainen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kansalainen lands a jab to Ramirez's midsection.
Ramirez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kansalainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Ramirez.
Kansalainen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kansalainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ramirez misses with a low kick.
Kansalainen slips a jab from Ramirez.
Ramirez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ramirez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kansalainen lands a nice looking body shot.
Ramirez looks to throw the jab but Kansalainen is out of range.
Ramirez is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Ramirez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kansalainen.
Ramirez throws a sloppy head kick and Kansalainen moves out of range easily.
Kansalainen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kansalainen misses with a straight right.
Kansalainen throws a body shot but no joy.
Kansalainen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kansalainen throws a leg kick but Ramirez sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ramirez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ramirez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kansalainen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kansalainen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ramirez.
Ramirez lands a nice shot to the body.
Kansalainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ramirez connects with a crisp jab.
Kansalainen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ramirez blocks a jab.
A big left from Ramirez misses.
Kansalainen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ramirez fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kansalainen checks it well.
Kansalainen swinging wildly here.
Ramirez scores with a body shot.
Kansalainen misses with a straight left.
Kansalainen misses with a looping left.
Ramirez scores with a nice right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ramirez lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen throws a hook but Ramirez blocks it.
Kansalainen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ramirez throws out the jab.
Ramirez misses with a wild body shot.
Kansalainen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kansalainen takes a swing at Ramirez's ribcage but misses.
Kansalainen throws a looping overhand right but Ramirez ducks down to avoid it.
Kansalainen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ramirez finds it's way round the side to connect with Kansalainen's head.
Kansalainen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ramirez swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ramirez is looking to chop away at Kansalainen's legs.
Ramirez throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ramirez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kansalainen, right into the meat.
Kansalainen throws a jab when Ramirez was well out of range.
Ramirez moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ramirez chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ramirez needs to keep his hands up - Kansalainen had a free shot at his head there.
Kansalainen connects with a nice looking jab.
Ramirez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kansalainen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ramirez.
A quick step to the side and Kansalainen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ramirez scoring well with a low kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Iker Ramirez will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kansalainen tries to score with a low kick but Ramirez moves his leg out of the way.
Kansalainen throws a leg kick but Ramirez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kansalainen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ramirez throws the left hand but Kansalainen avoids the punch easily.
Kansalainen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kansalainen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ramirez.
Kansalainen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Ramirez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kansalainen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kansalainen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ramirez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kansalainen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ramirez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kansalainen looks to land a left hand but Ramirez moved out of range nicely.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ramirez darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ramirez lands a nice shot that snaps Kansalainen's head back.
Ramirez lands a jab to Kansalainen's midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kansalainen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
An inside leg kick lands from Ramirez.
Ramirez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kansalainen's calf.

Ramirez takes the fight into the clinch.
Kansalainen tries to pull guard but Ramirez holds him up against the cage and eventually Kansalainen drops back down to his feet.
Ramirez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ramirez breaks from the clinch.
Kansalainen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ramirez.
Ramirez moves away from the strike by Kansalainen.
Kansalainen tries to land a front kick but Ramirez steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ramirez only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Kansalainen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kansalainen misses with a wild body shot.
Ramirez scores with a sloppy right hand. Kansalainen should have avoided that one.
Ramirez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kansalainen manages to avoid it.
Ramirez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kansalainen misses the shot to the body.
Kansalainen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Kansalainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kansalainen throws a hook to the side of Ramirez's head but Ramirez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ramirez scores with a decent looking hook.
Kansalainen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Iker Ramirez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kansalainen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Kansalainen throws a leg kick which misses Ramirez's front leg but catches the back leg as Ramirez tries to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ramirez punishes Kansalainen's body with a nice straight punch.
Kansalainen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez misses with a hook. Kansalainen ducked under it nicely.
It looked like Kansalainen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ramirez.
Ramirez waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kansalainen.
Ramirez connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kansalainen. Kansalainen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ramirez connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ramirez catches Kansalainen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kansalainen scoring well with a low kick there.
Ramirez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kansalainen throws out the jab.
Ramirez needs to keep his hands up - Kansalainen had a free shot at his head there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ramirez. Kansalainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ramirez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ramirez lands with a right hand.
Kansalainen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ramirez.
Ramirez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kansalainen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kansalainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ramirez.
Ramirez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kansalainen throwing a counter right hand but Ramirez manages to avoid it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ramirez.
Kansalainen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ramirez.
Ramirez ducks under a wild hook from Kansalainen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
And Kansalainen counters with a quick kick to the body but Ramirez blocks it.
Ramirez throws a sloppy body shot
and Kansalainen counters with a nice uppercut.
Ramirez scores with a punch to the head.
Kansalainen dips to his left and cracks Ramirez with an uppercut!
Kansalainen throws a hook but Ramirez avoids it easily.
Ramirez scores with a nice right hand.
Kansalainen misses with an uppercut.
Kansalainen throws a leg kick but Ramirez sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kansalainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ramirez lands a head shot.
Kansalainen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kansalainen misses with a straight right.
Donk. Ramirez catches Kansalainen right on the button with a cross.
Ramirez tries to clinch up but Kansalainen circles away and keeps his distance.
Ramirez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kansalainen ducks under a wild hook from Ramirez.
Ramirez darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kansalainen jabs Ramirez right on the nose. Ramirez blinks but takes it well.
Kansalainen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ramirez. Ramirez obviously looking to wear him down.
Kansalainen connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez misses with a low kick.
Ramirez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kansalainen misses with a low kick.
Ramirez throws out a counter right but Kansalainen avoids it with no problem.
Kansalainen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Ramirez digs a good hook to Kansalainen's body.
Kansalainen takes a swing at Ramirez's ribcage but misses.
Ramirez throws the left hand but Kansalainen avoids the punch easily.
Ramirez just misses with a punch to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Ramirez blocks the leg kick.
Ramirez tries to clinch up.
Kansalainen tried to counter with a leg kick but Ramirez avoided it.
Ramirez moves out of range of the body kick.
Kansalainen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A telegraphed right hand from Ramirez misses the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kansalainen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kansalainen just misses with a punch to the body.
Ramirez slips under a jab.
Ramirez looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kansalainen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ramirez moves away from the strike by Kansalainen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iker Ramirez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ramirez misses with a low kick as Kansalainen jumps back.
A slow jab from Kansalainen misses its intended target.
Ramirez is looking to clinch but Kansalainen is avoiding it.
A jab from Ramirez does it's job there.
Ramirez looks to throw the jab but Kansalainen is out of range.
Kansalainen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Some bone on bone action there as Ramirez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kansalainen checks a low kick from Ramirez.
Ramirez blocks a low kick nicely.
Ramirez bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kansalainen's head backwards.
Kansalainen tries to score with a low kick but Ramirez moves his leg out of the way.
Kansalainen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kansalainen throws a big shot that misses.
Kansalainen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ramirez lands a leg kick that knocks Kansalainen off balance momentarily.
Ramirez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Donk. Ramirez catches Kansalainen right on the button with a cross.
Kansalainen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kansalainen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kansalainen punishes Ramirez's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ramirez connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramirez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kansalainen's calf.
Ramirez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kansalainen's sensitive parts.
Kansalainen jabs Ramirez to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kansalainen.
Nice uppercut lands for Kansalainen. That snapped Ramirez's head back.
Ramirez scores with a jab to the head.
Ramirez slips a jab from Kansalainen.
Ramirez scores with a jab to the head.
Ramirez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kansalainen.
Ramirez throws a good cross that connects.
Ramirez throws a lazy head kick
and Kansalainen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ramirez swings for the body but Kansalainen moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kansalainen misses the shot to the body.
Kansalainen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ramirez can pounce on him.
Ramirez moves forwards but Kansalainen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ramirez throws an off balance right hand
and Kansalainen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ramirez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ramirez throws out a counter right but Kansalainen avoids it with no problem.
Ramirez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ramirez misses with an uppercut.
Kansalainen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Kansalainen there.
A telegraphed right hand from Kansalainen misses the target.
Kansalainen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Ramirez's hands.
Ramirez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kansalainen.
Ramirez listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kansalainen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kansalainen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Ramirez lands a really nice looking cross but Kansalainen seems unphased.
Ramirez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kansalainen's head.
Ramirez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kansalainen misses with an uppercut.
Kansalainen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kansalainen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ramirez.
Ramirez scores with a jab to the head.
Ramirez with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ramirez blocks a leg kick.
Ramirez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kansalainen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ramirez misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen throws a hook but Ramirez avoids it easily.
Ramirez throws a looping overhand right but Kansalainen ducks down to avoid it.
Kansalainen 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.
A big left from Ramirez misses.
Kansalainen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kansalainen misses with a hook to the body
and Kansalainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kansalainen connects with a right hand. Ramirez shakes it off.
Ramirez misses the shot to the body.
Kansalainen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kansalainen.
Kansalainen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ramirez blocks a low kick nicely.
Ramirez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Nice straight punches there by Kansalainen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kansalainen.
Kansalainen throws a leg kick but Ramirez moved away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ramirez lands a jab to Kansalainen's midsection.
Ramirez throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kansalainen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kansalainen misses with a hook
enabling Ramirez to counter with a crisp jab.
Ramirez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kansalainen's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramirez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kansalainen's calf.
Kansalainen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ramirez throws a hook but Kansalainen blocks it.
Ramirez throws a poor cross that misses
and Kansalainen counters with a stiff right hand.

Ramirez is rocked!
Ramirez backs away from a small jab... but Kansalainen lunges forward with a huge superman punch! Ramirez crumples to the ground as his mouth piece is sent flying! Kansalainen with a spectacular finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Tapani Kansalainen!
Tapani Kansalainen retains his featherweight title!
Tapani Kansalainen was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.