PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Reima Poika (ranked 1446 p4p, 1653 weight class) and Thip Top (ranked 172 p4p, 193 weight class). Top has chosen Self Destructor - Chevelle as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Poika
vs
Top

168 cm
25
157
10 - 8 - 1

175 cm
29
155
14 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 10 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Reima Poika!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thip Top!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Seu Braga and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poika misses with a body kick.
Top just misses with a punch to the body.
Top lets loose with a powerful body kick. Poika will feel that in the morning.
Poika looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Poika shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Top kicks off Poika and gets to his feet.

A big head kick from Poika and Top is sent sprawling to the canvas!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Top wants to sweep here but Poika controlling him for the moment.

Poika got a little sloppy there for a moment and Top has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Poika has managed to get both his arms back between Top's legs - danger averted.
Poika wants to control from the top but Top keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poika stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Top swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Top has his foot on Poika's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Poika works his way back into a safe position though.

Top looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Top controls Poika momentarily but Poika frees himself.
Poika postures up and lands a big shot to Top's brow.
Poika passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Top is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Top is not content to let Poika control the position.
Top struggling a bit here.
Top stops Poika from passing to mount.
Top struggling a bit here.
Top is trying to buck Poika off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poika wants to control but Top is keeping him busy.
Poika working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Poika wants to lay and pray for a moment but Top keeps working.
Top is trying to improve his position.
Top keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Top wants to control but Poika postures up.

Poika thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Top manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Top actively working from the bottom here.

Top looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Poika tries to pass the half guard into mount. Top knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Top tries to roll over but Poika keeps him under control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Poika connects with a nice short shot to Top's temple.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reima Poika dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Poika lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Poika thuds a left hand into Top's body.
Top motions for Poika to come forward. Top throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Top keeps Poika at a distance using the push kick.
Poika gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Poika checks the leg kick nicely there.
Good leg kick by Top.
Top throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Poika sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Top moves out of range of the body kick from Poika.
Poika is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Top can do to turn this around?
Top swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Poika takes a jab right on the kisser.
Poika misses with a looping left.
Top misses with a head kick.
Thip Top seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poika dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Top lands a glancing blow to the side of Poika's head.
Top takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Top throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poika throws a body kick that misses.
Top slips a jab and a cross from Poika.
Top misses with a kick to the body.
Poika misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Top.
Top throws out a leg kick but Poika moves out of range and Top only half commits.
Top dips to his left and cracks Poika with an uppercut!
Top is looking to slow Poika down with leg kicks.
Poika avoids the head kick by Top.
Poika takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Poika fails with the takedown.
Top let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Top lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Top misses with a head kick.
Top pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Thip Top seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Top lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poika throws a body kick that misses.
Poika explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Thip Top is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poika is looking to land body kicks.
Poika on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Top listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Poika moves out of range of the body kick from Top.
Poika lands a jab to Top's midsection.
Top avoids the body shot from Poika.
It seemed like Top was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Top's coach down at Finish the Fight was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Top's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Top has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Top lands with a cross.
Top misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Poika.
Poika connects with a nice looking jab.
Poika is looking to wear down Top with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Top throws a low kick, looking for Poika's leg but Poika calmly moves out of range.
Poika walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Top lands a nice hook to Poika's body. Poika takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Top pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Poika throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Top looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Poika feints and then cracks Top's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Top down.
Poika misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Top tries a head kick but it misses.
Poika moves out of range of the body kick.
Top throws a nice head kick!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Top.
Poika moves out of range as Top throws a body kick.
Top throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Poika drops down looking for a counter takedown but Top sprawls and moves away.
Poika throws a sloppy head kick and Top moves out of range easily.
Top 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.
Poika is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Poika on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Top. No joy for Poika on that attempt.
Poika stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Top.
Top throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Poika.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poika has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Top.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Top throws a push kick but Poika slaps the foot to one side.
Poika looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Top lands with a right hand.
Poika takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Poika throws a head kick that misses.
Top looks for the body kick but Poika saw that one coming.
Top misses with a body kick.
Top blocks a jab.
Nice body kick from Top.
Poika throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Top digs a good hook to Poika's body.
Top throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A chopping leg kick lands by Top.
Top lands a nice shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thip Top showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Top misses the shot to the body.
Top tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Top misses the jab.
Poika swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A swing and a miss from Top.
Poika scores with a kick to the midsection.
Poika misses with a body kick.
Top throws a body punch but Poika moves out of range.
Top throws a leg kick

so Poika counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Poika landing some decent shots from guard.
Poika is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poika pushes down on Top's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Poika working over Top with some ground and pound. Top looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Top actively working from the bottom here.

Poika is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Top doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Poika.
Top wants to control but Poika is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Poika is looking for a kimura but Top is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Poika to get the leverage.
The fighters are battling for position here. Top manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Poika preventing the sweep.
Top keeping moving, preventing Poika from controlling successfully.
Poika passes Top's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Top is staying active underneath Poika, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Top wants to control but Poika is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Poika trying to control the pace.
Poika seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Top does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Top looking for submissions off his back.
Top is not content to let Poika control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Poika looks for the body kick but Top saw that one coming.
Poika takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Poika blocks a head kick by Top.
Top throws a half hearted mid kick.
Top looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Poika throws a leg kick that misses.
Top throws out a counter right but Poika avoids it with no problem.
Top throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Top scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Top finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Top tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Top misses with a low kick.
Top steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Poika. That one must have hurt.
Top takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Top misses with a straight right.
Top fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Poika.
Poika fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Top avoids it really well and circles away.
Poika throws a head kick that misses.
Top works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poika tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Poika is looking to land body kicks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Top scores with a nice body kick.
Top misses with a body shot.
Poika throws a right hand that misses
and Top counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Top misses with a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thip Top.
I think Top 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thip Top!
A relieved looking Thip Top thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.