PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tapani Kansalainen (ranked 1412 p4p, 1339 weight class) and Radio Active (ranked 198 p4p, 186 weight class). Active is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: For Heavy Metal we will die!. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kansalainen
vs
Active

169 cm
37
157
30 - 19 - 2

169 cm
34
160
19 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Heavy Metal Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 19 - 2, fighting out of London, Tapani Kansalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Radio Active!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kansalainen throws a head kick but Active moves out of range.
Active misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Active misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Active moves out of range of the body kick.
Active tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kansalainen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kansalainen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Active throws out the jab.
Kansalainen thinks about countering with a body kick.
Active takes a swing at Kansalainen's ribcage but misses.
Kansalainen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Active checks a leg kick.
Kansalainen throws a leg kick but Active sees it coming and moves out of range.
Active has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Kansalainen is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Kansalainen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Active fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kansalainen sprawls well initially but Active persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Kansalainen makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Active tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kansalainen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Active throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Active lands a body shot.
Kansalainen misses with a body kick.
Active avoids the head kick by Kansalainen.
Active swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kansalainen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Active swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Active looks to throw the jab but Kansalainen is out of range.
Tapani Kansalainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Active misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice cross by Active.
Active connects with a body shot that sends Kansalainen's belly button to the back.
Active misses with a takedown attempt - Kansalainen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kansalainen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A big right from Kansalainen misses.
Kansalainen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kansalainen 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 Active has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Active and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Active's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Active duly obliges.
Kansalainen scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kansalainen misses the shot to the body.
Active shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kansalainen as he avoids it easily.
Tapani Kansalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Radio Active.
Kansalainen defending well as Active loads up on a big left hand.
Kansalainen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Active.
Active misses the jab.
Tapani Kansalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen cracks Active with an open hand slap.
Kansalainen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kansalainen misses with a leg kick.
A big right from Active misses.
Kansalainen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Active tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kansalainen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Active.
Kansalainen misses with a straight left.
Active tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kansalainen defends well and Active ends up having to push Kansalainen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Active catches Kansalainen with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Active looks to land a left hand but Kansalainen moved out of range nicely.
A nice combination there by Active.
Kansalainen cracks Active with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kansalainen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
The fighters circling - Active throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Active throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Active looks to land a right hand but Kansalainen moved out of range.
Kansalainen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Active tries to clinch but Kansalainen moves out of range.
Active moves to clinch but Kansalainen breaks away
and Kansalainen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Active tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kansalainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Active.
A low kick lands for Kansalainen.
Kansalainen checks a low kick from Active.
Active misses with a wild body shot.
Kansalainen looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Kansalainen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kansalainen wants to land a leg kick but Active is out of range.
Kansalainen misses with a body kick.
Active moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Active shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kansalainen but Kansalainen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Active closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
No joy there for Active, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A looping hook to the body misses from Active. Kansalainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kansalainen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kansalainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Active manages to avoid it.
Kansalainen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Active connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kansalainen. Kansalainen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kansalainen throws a leg kick but Active moved away.
Kansalainen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Active.
Kansalainen is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Active takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
The fighters circling - Active throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slow jab from Active misses its intended target.
Kansalainen scores with a kick to the body.
Active takes one on the button.
Active tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kansalainen scores with a head kick.
Active misses with a wild body shot.

Active closes the distance and clinches.
Kansalainen misses with some punches.
Kansalainen lands with a right to the head.
Active misses with some punches.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Active.
Kansalainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Active.
Kansalainen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kansalainen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Active tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Active goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
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 Tapani Kansalainen will probably get the nod.
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.

Kansalainen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A good leg kick by Kansalainen.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kansalainen.
Active looks to land a left hand but Kansalainen moved out of range nicely.
Kansalainen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kansalainen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kansalainen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kansalainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Active.
Active looks to land a left hand but Kansalainen moved out of range nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Kansalainen. No joy for Active on that attempt.
Kansalainen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Active stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kansalainen.

Active has managed to clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kansalainen tries a body shot but Active blocks it.
Active fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Active tries to throw a body punch but Kansalainen avoids it by throwing Active back against the cage.
Kansalainen tries to pull guard but Active holds him up against the cage and eventually Kansalainen drops back down to his feet.
Active lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kansalainen backwards.
Kansalainen blocks an uppercut.
Kansalainen pushes Active back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kansalainen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Active breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Active checks a low kick from Kansalainen.
Active misses with a series of wild punches.
Active tried to score with a low kick but Kansalainen checks it.
Kansalainen lands a nice shot that snaps Active's head back.
Kansalainen throws a wild body kick that Active sees coming a mile off.
Active takes a swing at Kansalainen's ribcage but misses.
Kansalainen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Active swings for the body but Kansalainen moves out of range.
Active misses with a two punch combination.
Kansalainen throws a leg kick but Active sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kansalainen throws a wild body kick that Active sees coming a mile off.
Active blocks the body kick.
Active scores with a jab to the jaw.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kansalainen.
Active throws a nice inside leg kick.
Active swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen connects with an inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A swing and a miss from Active.
It looked like Kansalainen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Active.
Active swinging wildly here.
Kansalainen thumps Active with a low kick.
A big left from Kansalainen misses.
Active throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kansalainen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Some wild striking there from Active.
A jab from Kansalainen does it's job there.
Active checks a low kick from Kansalainen.
Active needs to keep his hands up - Kansalainen had a free shot at his head there.
Kansalainen thows a body kick. Active tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Active swings for the body but Kansalainen moves out of range.
Active scores with a jab.
Kansalainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kansalainen cracks Active with a good jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Active keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen staying out of range there.
Kansalainen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kansalainen misses with a wild body shot.
Active misses with a hook.
Kansalainen looks to land a left hand but Active moved out of range nicely.
A head kick misses from Kansalainen.
Active throws a jab but it's blocked by Kansalainen.
Active misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen with the inside leg kick.
Kansalainen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Active misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen scores with a kick to the midsection.
Active missing with a left hand there. Kansalainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A jab from Active finds it's way through Kansalainen's defenses.
A bone on bone clash there as Active blocks the leg kick.
Active misses with a body shot.
Kansalainen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Active.
Active slips a jab and a cross from Kansalainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kansalainen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Active ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kansalainen throws a front kick that sends Active stumbling back into the cage.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Active 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 Kansalainen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kansalainen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Active throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kansalainen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sloppy strikes from Kansalainen. Those never looked like landing.
Active changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Active throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kansalainen misses with a kick to the body.
Kansalainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Active is just out of range.
Kansalainen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Active counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Active has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Kansalainen.
The fighters circling - Active throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Active moves away from the strike by Kansalainen.
Nice shot by Active.
Kansalainen throws a big shot that misses.
Active's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Active throws a jab but it's blocked by Kansalainen.
Nice jab there from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Active's sensitive parts.
A looping hook to the body misses from Active. Kansalainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tapani Kansalainen dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Active takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Active throws a body shot but no joy.
Kansalainen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Tapani Kansalainen is winning the standup battle so far.
Active jabs Kansalainen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Active bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Active takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Sloppy strikes from Active. Those never looked like landing.
Kansalainen scores with a decent looking hook.
Active throws a jab but it's blocked by Kansalainen.
Active checks the leg kick.
Kansalainen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Active checks the leg kick nicely there.
Active tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Active shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Kansalainen makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Active stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen cracks Active with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kansalainen misses with a looping left.
Active ducks under a wild hook from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen connects with a looping right hand.
Active fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kansalainen half committed to a counter leg kick.
Active clobbers Kansalainen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kansalainen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kansalainen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Active drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kansalainen is not content to let Active control the position.
Active working the body and head with strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The ground and pound from Active seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Active trying to control the position but Kansalainen is working away.
Active working the ground and pound.
Radio Active has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tapani Kansalainen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tapani Kansalainen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Active prevents Kansalainen from escaping the position.
Active landing a few strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kansalainen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Active landing a few strikes.
Kansalainen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Active wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Active trying to control the position but Kansalainen is working away.
Active works to advance to full mount. Kansalainen defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Active tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Active throwing strikes here but Kansalainen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Active throwing strikes here but Kansalainen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Active throwing strikes here but Kansalainen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Active postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kansalainen looks a forlorn figure.
Active thowing shots but they're missing.
Active has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Active has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kansalainen's face.
Kansalainen tries to buck Active off but he can't manage it.
Active cracks Kansalainen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Active is landing with some decent strikes but Kansalainen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Active lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kansalainen hang on?
Active working the ground and pound effectively.
Active throws a wild left hand from mount and Kansalainen manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
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!

Active is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Active.
Kansalainen keeping moving, preventing Active from controlling successfully.
Active cracks Kansalainen with a solid left hand.
Active stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kansalainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Active in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Active lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kansalainen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Active.
Active lands a couple of digs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Radio Active comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kansalainen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tapani Kansalainen!
Tapani Kansalainen decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.