PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tank Mcewen (ranked 4820 p4p, 4819 weight class) and Timo Lepisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mcewen
vs
Lepisto

150 cm
18
211
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
18
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tank Mcewen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Timo Lepisto!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Franklyn Lucas and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lepisto misses with a leg kick

and Mcewen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Lepisto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mcewen stalling.

Lepisto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Lepisto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mcewen decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mcewen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Lepisto was covering up waiting for the punch and Mcewen finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Mcewen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lepisto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mcewen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mcewen sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Lepisto throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mcewen uses it to pass to side control.
Mcewen just content to control the position.

Mcewen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lepisto to his feet.
Mcewen swats away the attempt to clinch by Lepisto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lepisto goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Lepisto lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Mcewen checks a leg kick.
Lepisto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lepisto tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Mcewen is able to avoid easily.
Lepisto thows a leg kick but Mcewen checks it
and Mcewen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mcewen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Mcewen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mcewen working over Lepisto with some ground and pound. Lepisto looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Lepisto wants to get back to full guard.
Mcewen lands strikes from half guard.
Mcewen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Mcewen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Lepisto manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcewen looks up at the clock and then as Lepisto takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Mcewen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Mcewen gets to mount! Lepisto was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Lepisto is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lepisto tries to improve his position but instead Mcewen has taken his back!
Mcewen trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Lepisto doesn't escape.

Mcewen working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Lepisto is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Mcewen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mcewen loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Lepisto hold on?
You can see the frustration on Lepisto's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Lepisto is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Lepisto tries to roll but Mcewen sticks to his back.
Lepisto covers up after that shot from Mcewen.
Lepisto is in bad spot here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lepisto keeps trying to improve his position.
Mcewen slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Mcewen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tank Mcewen dominated that round.
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.

Good work by Mcewen as he checks the leg kick.

Mcewen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lepisto's guard.
Mcewen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Mcewen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Mcewen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Mcewen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mcewen is working Lepisto over with some ground and pound from side control.
Mcewen staying calm.
Lepisto looking for a sweep but Mcewen has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lepisto wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Good control from Mcewen.
Lepisto tries to roll but Mcewen sticks to his back.
Lepisto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mcewen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mcewen has good solid back control here.
Mcewen lands punches and elbows.
Lepisto is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Mcewen.
Mcewen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Lepisto for as long as he can get away with.

Lepisto defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mcewen's arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mcewen looking for the choke but no joy.
Lepisto is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Mcewen controlling from the back.
I really don't envy Lepisto right now.
Mcewen trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Lepisto doesn't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mcewen keeps control of the position as Lepisto tries to break free.

Mcewen working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Lepisto is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Mcewen has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Lepisto taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Tank Mcewen!