PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Desi Kraag (ranked 2178 p4p, 1524 weight class) and Tali Ihantala (ranked 78 p4p, 28 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kraag
vs
Ihantala

193 cm
39
270
19 - 24 - 0

203 cm
28
253
5 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Desi Kraag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tali Ihantala!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ihantala wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ihantala lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Kraag thuds a left hand into Ihantala's body.
Ihantala lands a head kick. Kraag smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kraag looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Ihantala throws a jab when Kraag was well out of range.
Kraag throws a right hand that misses
and Ihantala connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kraag misses with a wild body shot.
Kraag tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ihantala was well out of range. Poor timing from Kraag.
Ihantala looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kraag throws a hook but Ihantala blocks it.
Kraag cracks a nice hook into Ihantala's ribs.
Ihantala throws a head kick but Kraag moves out of range.
Ihantala on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kraag misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ihantala counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kraag throws a body punch but Ihantala moves out of range.
Ihantala's coach down at ubergym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ihantala's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Ihantala 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ihantala chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ihantala comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A jab from Kraag finds it's way through Ihantala's defenses.
Kraag misses with a body shot.
Kraag misses with a shot to the body
and Ihantala counters with an outside leg kick.
Kraag misses the shot to the body.
Ihantala throws a low kick but Kraag avoids it.
Kraag lands a nice hook to Ihantala's body. Ihantala takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kraag throws a sloppy body shot
and Ihantala cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kraag is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ihantala.
Kraag is looking to wear down Ihantala with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Ihantala moves away from the strike by Kraag.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kraag uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ihantala.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kraag misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ihantala.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kraag. Ihantala does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kraag swings for the body but Ihantala moves out of range.
Kraag tries to move into range but Ihantala moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kraag misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ihantala.
Kraag misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ihantala counters with a crisp right that sends Kraag to the canvas! Ihantala follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tali Ihantala!
Tali Ihantala 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.