PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maki Tantor (ranked 1160 p4p, 169 weight class) and Andy McCallum (ranked 1420 p4p, 202 weight class). McCallum has chosen Dixie as his entrance music. 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.

Tantor
vs
McCallum

182 cm
20
180 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maki Tantor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andy McCallum!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

McCallum throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tantor was covering up waiting for the punch and McCallum finishes the takedown easily into guard.
McCallum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tantor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tantor has McCallum pulled in close to control his posture.
McCallum wants to control from the top but Tantor keeps moving.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tantor holds on and takes a little breather.
McCallum missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCallum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McCallum trying to control the position from guard on top but Tantor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCallum loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw McCallum working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor seems keen to control McCallum's posture.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Tantor keeping moving, preventing McCallum from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tantor looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tantor's corner calls for a 1-2. Tantor obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McCallum ducks under a wild hook from Tantor.
The fighters circling - Tantor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tantor throws out a loose jab but McCallum uses good head movement to avoid it.

McCallum shoots in and gets a takedown into Tantor's guard.
McCallum is fighting to break Tantor's control of his arms but Tantor is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McCallum working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McCallum throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McCallum accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McCallum postures up in Tantor's guard and throws a big left but Tantor blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCallum postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McCallum throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McCallum connects with a couple of short punches.
McCallum stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tantor swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tantor keeping moving, preventing McCallum from controlling successfully.
McCallum chips away with some ground and pound.
Tantor is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
McCallum in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tantor avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McCallum throws a big elbow that misses.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCallum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McCallum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tantor is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McCallum fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tantor manages to avoid it.
McCallum is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McCallum moves out of range of the body kick from Tantor.
McCallum throws a right hand that Tantor ducks under and follows up with a left that Tantor also avoids with ease.
McCallum misses with a straight right.
Tantor throws out a loose jab but McCallum uses good head movement to avoid it.

McCallum closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
McCallum connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Tantor some visible discomfort.
McCallum working the head with strikes.
McCallum sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tantor is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
McCallum throws an elbow but Tantor slips to the side and avoids it well.
McCallum landing a few strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McCallum lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Tantor down.
McCallum has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
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!
McCallum sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tantor is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
McCallum trying to control the action but Tantor is working from the bottom.
Tantor managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by McCallum.
Check out the look on McCallum's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
McCallum creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
McCallum throws a strike aimed at the side of Tantor's head but Tantor avoids it well.
McCallum creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Tantor sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Tantor avoids any damage from the ground and pound of McCallum.
Tantor managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by McCallum.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy McCallum dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McCallum takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tantor misses with a head kick.
McCallum connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Tantor tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tantor seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Tantor scores with a leg kick.
Tantor ducks right into an uppercut from McCallum.
McCallum takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

McCallum shoots in and gets a takedown into Tantor's guard.
McCallum sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tantor's guard.
McCallum throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
McCallum throwing shots but Tantor is blocking nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McCallum missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tantor trying to hold on to McCallum's head to control him but McCallum postures up.
McCallum is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Tantor reverses the position - he's now on top in McCallum's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McCallum swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as McCallum holds on and takes a little breather.
McCallum looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tantor is one step ahead there.
McCallum keeping moving, preventing Tantor from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McCallum wants to sweep here but Tantor controlling him for the moment.
McCallum trying to control the position.
McCallum pulls Tantor in close to his closed guard and prevents Tantor from doing any damage or advancing position.
McCallum is looking to stand up but Tantor isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor preventing the sweep.
McCallum has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
McCallum throws a nice looking combination but Tantor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tantor scores with a shot to the body.
McCallum defending well as Tantor loads up on a big left hand.
McCallum cracks Tantor with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
McCallum checks a low kick from Tantor.
Andy McCallum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCallum misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tantor counters with a nice leg kick.
Maki Tantor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
McCallum swings for the body but Tantor moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor tries to work over McCallum's front leg with a kick but McCallum checks it.
Tantor slaps away a takedown attempt from McCallum, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tantor cracks McCallum with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A lazy left from Tantor finds it's target.

McCallum looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McCallum throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tantor works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McCallum working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tantor preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McCallum trying to control the position from guard on top but Tantor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCallum might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Tantor haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
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 Maki Tantor will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from McCallum misses.
Tantor lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Maki Tantor is winning the standup battle so far.
Tantor leaves McCallum with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
McCallum avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McCallum lands a nice shot to the body.
McCallum misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As McCallum looks to move away, Tantor throws a big counter combo but McCallum just gets out of the way.
McCallum avoids the body shot from Tantor.
Tantor looks to score with a jab to the body but McCallum is just out of range.
McCallum changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tantor throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting McCallum counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCallum lands a jab.
McCallum stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tantor.
McCallum scores with the left hand. Tantor knows he should have avoided that one.
McCallum takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCallum checks a low kick from Tantor.
McCallum tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tantor defends well and McCallum ends up having to push Tantor into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Maki Tantor has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy McCallum.
Tantor works McCallum's body with a nice hook.
Tantor throws the left hand but McCallum avoids the punch easily.
McCallum let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

McCallum shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than McCallum was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ground and pound from McCallum seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sloppy strikes there by McCallum.
McCallum connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Tantor some visible discomfort.
Tantor taking a bit of punishment here - McCallum scoring with strikes.
Tantor is trying to get back to half guard.
McCallum throws a strike aimed at the side of Tantor's head but Tantor avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McCallum working the ground and pound but Tantor is defending the strikes.
McCallum looks up at the clock and then as Tantor takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, McCallum smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
McCallum lands a few punches from side control.
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!
McCallum sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tantor is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The ground and pound from McCallum seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
McCallum throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Tantor works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Tantor trying to control from the bottom.
McCallum scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
McCallum is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCallum passes the guard and advances to mount!
McCallum misses with a head shot.
McCallum throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tantor because McCallum loaded up on that one.
Tantor in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Tantor is rocked!
McCallum loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Tantor scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from McCallum land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. McCallum stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Andy McCallum!
Andy McCallum decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.