PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Papi Tantor (ranked 66 p4p, 8 weight class) and Pekka Toivonen (ranked 10 p4p, 3 weight class). Tantor's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Cyan Kicks - Wish You Well. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Pekka Toivonen was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Tantor
vs
Toivonen

198 cm
24
189
13 - 0 - 0

193 cm
34
189
34 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HARDCORE

Conviction
Savage Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Papi Tantor!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pekka Toivonen!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toivonen checks a low kick from Tantor.
Toivonen feints a counter leg kick.
Tantor will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Toivonen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Toivonen misses with a straight left.
Tantor avoids the body shot from Toivonen.
It looked like Tantor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
An inside leg kick lands from Tantor.
Tantor misses with a hook.
And Toivonen responds with a good body kick, but Tantor manages to step out the way in time.
Tantor misses with a body kick.
Toivonen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tantor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tantor scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Toivonen doesn't seem bothered though.
A nice leg kick from Toivonen, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tantor uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toivonen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tantor is looking to counter with a body kick.
Tantor throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tantor misses with a straight left.
Tantor lands with an uppercut that bounces Toivonen off the cage and back into range.
Tantor throws a hook but Toivonen blocks it.
Toivonen replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Tantor blocks it well.
Toivonen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tantor connects with the punch.

It looks like Pekka Toivonen has been cut.
Toivonen ducks under a wild hook from Tantor.
Toivonen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Tantor's sensitive parts.
Toivonen loads up on a big right hand but Tantor slips the punch.
Toivonen delivers a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tantor.
Toivonen checks a leg kick.
Tantor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Toivonen.
And Toivonen responds with a good body kick, but Tantor manages to step out the way in time.
Tantor misses with a leg kick.
Toivonen thows a body kick. Tantor tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Papi Tantor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Toivonen misses with a right hand
and Tantor counters with an outside leg kick.
Tantor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Toivonen moves away.
Tantor tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Toivonen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Toivonen misses with a straight left.
Nice defenses there by Toivonen.
Toivonen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Tantor throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor lands a jab.
Toivonen blocks a jab.
Toivonen wants to counter the offense by Tantor and move into the clinch position.
Toivonen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Toivonen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And Tantor counters with a quick kick to the body but Toivonen blocks it.
Good leg kick by Toivonen.
Tantor scores with a nice strike.
Toivonen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Toivonen throws a sloppy head kick and Tantor moves out of range easily.
Tantor avoids a kick to the body.
Toivonen throws a leg kick but Tantor sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Toivonen staying out of range there.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Toivonen! But no joy.
Tantor really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor misses with a wild body shot.
Tantor backing away here, and Toivonen unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Tantor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A lazy body kick from Tantor
and Toivonen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tantor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Toivonen feints a counter leg kick.
Tantor with a nice cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Toivonen throws a front kick that sends Tantor stumbling back into the cage.
Toivonen looks to land a right hand but Tantor moved out of range.
Tantor tries a low kick but Toivonen avoids it.
Tantor misses with a body shot.
Tantor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Toivonen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Papi Tantor will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pekka Toivonen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Toivonen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A lazy body kick from Tantor
letting Toivonen counter with a right hand.
Tantor just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Toivonen misses the target.
It looked like Tantor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tantor definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Tantor jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Toivonen looks for the body kick but Tantor saw that one coming.
Tantor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Tantor throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Toivonen misses
and Tantor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A low kick from Toivonen is predictable there
and Tantor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Toivonen throws a body kick that misses
and Tantor counters with a slapping leg kick.
Toivonen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor with the inside leg kick.
A low kick lands for Toivonen.
Tantor misses with a leg kick.
Toivonen tries to land a front kick but Tantor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Toivonen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
It looked like Tantor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tantor thuds his shin into the meat of Toivonen's side.
Toivonen tries to land a front kick but Tantor steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tantor tries a head kick but it misses.
A little jabbing left from Toivonen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tantor misses with a low kick as Toivonen jumps back.
Tantor blocks a leg kick.
Tantor throws a half hearted mid kick.
Toivonen tries a quick counter leg kick but Tantor is wise to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Toivonen finds it's target.
Tantor fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Toivonen on the side of the head.
Tantor explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Tantor blocks the body kick.
Tantor tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A swing and a miss from Tantor.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tantor tried to score with a low kick but Toivonen checks it.
Tantor throws a leg kick
and Tantor takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Papi Tantor is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick by Toivonen misses
and Tantor cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tantor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tantor throws a body punch but Toivonen moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Tantor lands a nice shot to the body.
Tantor throws a hook but Toivonen blocks it.
Tantor cracks Toivonen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tantor lands with a hook. Toivonen tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Tantor is looking to slow Toivonen down with leg kicks.
Toivonen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
An inside leg kick from Toivonen misses.
Tantor dips to his left and cracks Toivonen with an uppercut!
Toivonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tantor manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Toivonen stuns Tantor with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tantor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Toivonen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Toivonen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Toivonen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Toivonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tantor throws out a powerful jab.
Toivonen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tantor throws a body kick that misses.
Tantor is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Toivonen can do to turn this around?
Toivonen looks for the body kick but Tantor saw that one coming.
Tantor tries a low kick but Toivonen avoids it.
Toivonen appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Papi Tantor dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pekka Toivonen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Toivonen scores with a head kick.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Toivonen might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Tantor has got the better of the exchanges.
Toivonen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tantor swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tantor uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Toivonen has time to react.
Tantor throws a jab when Toivonen was well out of range.
Tantor avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Toivonen throws a leg kick but Tantor sees it coming and moves out of range.
A jab lands there for Toivonen.
A nice leg kick from Tantor, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toivonen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A solid body kick from Toivonen.
Some bone on bone action there as Tantor checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
An attempted straight right counter from Tantor misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Toivonen.
Tantor throws a half hearted mid kick.
A good leg kick by Toivonen.
Tantor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Toivonen in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Toivonen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Tantor connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Toivonen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Tantor with a nice calf kick.
Tantor throws a lazy body kick
and Toivonen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tantor's knee momentarily.
Tantor misses with a right hand
and Toivonen counters with a straight right hand.
Tantor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Toivonen.
Toivonen connects with a right hand. Tantor shakes it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tantor keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
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!
Tantor misses with an uppercut
and Toivonen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tantor lands with a nice body kick.
Toivonen throws a lazy right hand but Tantor sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Decent striking displayed by Tantor there.
Tantor scores with a body shot.
Tantor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Toivonen.
Toivonen throws a right and a left that Tantor avoids nicely.
Tantor lands a right hook to the body.
Toivonen looks to land a body kick but Tantor moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tantor blocks a leg kick.
The fighters circling - Tantor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Toivonen moves away from the strike by Tantor.
Toivonen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tantor misses with a left hand
and Toivonen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tantor's knee momentarily.
A good leg kick by Tantor.
Tantor slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
A head kick misses from Tantor.
Toivonen is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tantor lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Tantor connects with a looping right hand.
Toivonen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Tantor fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Toivonen checks a leg kick nicely.
Toivonen lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Tantor throws a right hand that misses
and Toivonen counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tantor misses with a jab to the body
and Toivonen counters with a body kick.
Tantor throws a body shot but no joy.
Toivonen feints a counter leg kick.
Tantor blocks a leg kick.
Tantor misses with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Papi Tantor clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Pekka Toivonen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Toivonen wants to clinch up but Tantor keeps it at a distance.
Toivonen thumps Tantor with a low kick.
Tantor will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A low kick lands for Toivonen.
Toivonen checks the leg kick.
Toivonen blocks a jab.
Toivonen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tantor scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A telegraphed right hand from Tantor misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tantor blocks the body kick.
Tantor tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Toivonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Tantor.
Tantor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Toivonen moves away.
Tantor misses with a looping left.
It seemed like Toivonen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toivonen throws a head kick but Tantor moves out of range.
Tantor lands a body shot.
Toivonen 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.
Tantor thuds his right hand into Toivonen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Toivonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tantor.
Toivonen throws a counter combo.
Tantor looks to land a right hand but Toivonen moved out of range.
Toivonen replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Tantor blocks it well.
Tantor's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Toivonen checks the leg kick.
Toivonen blocks the body kick.
Tantor throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Toivonen counters with a nice body kick.
Toivonen motions for Tantor to come forward. Toivonen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen misses with a body kick.
Tantor throws a quick counter kick to the body but Toivonen avoids it.
Tantor has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Toivonen.
Tantor motions for Toivonen to come forward. Tantor throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Toivonen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Toivonen connects with a solid leg kick.
Tantor throws a hook but Toivonen avoids it easily.
Toivonen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tantor scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tantor throws a leg kick but Toivonen checks it.
Toivonen misses with a looping right.
Tantor takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Toivonen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Toivonen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Tantor throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Toivonen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Toivonen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tantor avoids a kick to the body.
It appears Tantor was looking to counter with a kick there.
Toivonen slips under a jab from Tantor.
Toivonen misses with a low kick.
Tantor takes a swing at Toivonen's ribcage but misses.
Toivonen steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Tantor lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor lands a nice looking body kick.
Tantor throws a leg kick that misses.
Tantor walks into a left hand.
Toivonen moves out of range as Tantor strikes.
Toivonen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tantor cracks Toivonen with a right hand to the side of the head.
An inside leg kick lands from Toivonen.
Tantor with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Toivonen to score with a decent uppercut.
Tantor lands with a good body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tantor lands a really nice looking cross but Toivonen seems unphased.
Tantor throws a leg kick
and Toivonen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Papi Tantor had his way with Pekka Toivonen in that round.
The cut man is working on Pekka Toivonen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tantor looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Toivonen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Toivonen tries to work over Tantor's front leg with a kick but Tantor checks it.
Toivonen pushes Tantor away with a front kick.
Tantor is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Toivonen.
Toivonen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Toivonen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tantor pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tantor avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toivonen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Tantor's jab looks to have found its range, popping Toivonen under the eye.
Toivonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tantor throws a quick counter kick to the body but Toivonen avoids it.
Toivonen slips a straight right by Tantor.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor slips under a jab from Toivonen.
Toivonen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Toivonen throws a push kick but Tantor slaps the foot to one side.
Toivonen with a nice calf kick.
Toivonen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tantor.
Toivonen throws a hook to the side of Tantor's head but Tantor sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tantor throws a low kick but it's checked well by Toivonen.
Tantor lands a nice hook to Toivonen's body. Toivonen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tantor throws a front kick aimed at Toivonen's knee but Toivonen avoids it well.
Toivonen moves away from the strike by Tantor.
Toivonen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Pekka Toivonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen misses with a hook.
Tantor lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Good shot there by Tantor.
Toivonen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tantor.
Toivonen follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Toivonen looks to throw the jab but Tantor is out of range.
Tantor throwing a counter right hand but Toivonen manages to avoid it.
Toivonen cracks Tantor with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tantor fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Toivonen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tantor scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Tantor misses with a hook
and Toivonen counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor ducks right into an uppercut from Toivonen.
Toivonen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tantor.
Tantor lands with a straight right. Toivonen didn't see that one coming.
Tantor scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice shot lands for Tantor.
Tantor throws a series of strikes that have Toivonen backpedaling.
Tantor throws a lazy head kick
and Toivonen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Toivonen moves out of range of the strikes.
Toivonen moves out of range of the body kick from Tantor.
Tantor throws a shot from downtown. Toivonen moves away and avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen misses with a low kick.
Tantor takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Toivonen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Tantor throws a hook but Toivonen blocks it.
A jab from Toivonen misses.
Toivonen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Toivonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tantor manages to avoid it.
Tantor steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Toivonen. That one must have hurt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Toivonen lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Tantor has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Tantor and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Toivonen lands a leg kick that knocks Tantor off balance momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pekka Toivonen.
Well Tantor has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 50:45
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 50:45
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Papi Tantor!
Papi Tantor is the new middleweight champion!
Papi Tantor seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.