PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Juha Ahokas (ranked 3949 p4p, 3049 weight class) and Paavo Talvela (ranked 471 p4p, 386 weight class). Talvela has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. Paavo Talvela is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Ahokas
vs
Talvela

178 cm
25
180
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
175
4 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Heavy Metal Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Juha Ahokas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Paavo Talvela!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahokas checks a low kick from Talvela.
Ahokas throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ahokas misses with a takedown attempt - Talvela sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Talvela only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ahokas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Talvela tries to avoid it but Ahokas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Talvela to the ground. Talvela escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ahokas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Ahokas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Talvela with the inside leg kick.

Talvela closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Talvela working aggressively here.
Talvela gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ahokas.
Ahokas is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Talvela pulls him back up using the underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talvela lands a left hand.
Talvela lands a left hand.
Ahokas looking for a takedown.
Ahokas goes for a takedown attempt but Talvela pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ahokas lands an overhand right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahokas gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ahokas has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Vale Tudo in the buildup to the fight.
Talvela scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Talvela moves out of range of the strikes.
Ahokas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Talvela tries to avoid it but Ahokas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Talvela to the ground. Talvela escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Talvela rushes Ahokas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Talvela breaks from the clinch.
Ahokas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Talvela counter with a right hand.
Ahokas wants to clinch.

Talvela drives through and clinches with Ahokas against the cage.
Ahokas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Talvela is defending well.
Talvela misses with a hook from the clinch.

Ahokas wants the takedown. Talvela is fighting it off but Ahokas persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Talvela's guard against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ahokas is in close to Talvela's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ahokas works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ahokas looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Talvela gets back to full guard.
Ahokas 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.

Ahokas drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Talvela manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ahokas has Talvela in his guard.

Ahokas wants to sweep here but Talvela controlling him for the moment.
Talvela is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Talvela trying to control but Ahokas is working from the bottom.
Talvela working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ahokas looking for a sweep. Not yet Ahokas, not yet.
Talvela trying to control the position from guard on top but Ahokas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Talvela postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ahokas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Talvela's corner is telling him to maintain 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.
Talvela trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ahokas working a defensive guard but Talvela passes into half guard.
Ahokas wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ahokas manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ahokas trying to control the position.
Talvela engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Paavo Talvela dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ahokas is looking to clinch.

Talvela rushes Ahokas and presses him up against the cage.
Talvela lands a right hand.
Talvela gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ahokas.
Talvela gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ahokas.
Talvela lands a body punch in the clinch.

Talvela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Talvela's coach down at Heavy Metal was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Talvela's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Talvela attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Talvela lands with a thumping leg kick.
Talvela displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahokas uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Talvela.
Ahokas fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Talvela on the side of the head.
Ahokas misses with a looping right.
Talvela feints a counter leg kick.
Talvela throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ahokas sees it coming and avoids it easily.
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!
Talvela scoring well with a low kick there.
Ahokas has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Talvela.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahokas misses with a takedown attempt - Talvela sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Ahokas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Talvela gets caught flat footed, as Ahokas shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Talvela looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Juha Ahokas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ahokas tries to free his leg and advance position but Talvela is retaining full guard.
Talvela manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ahokas manages to get himself to full guard.

Talvela won't allow Ahokas to sweep him here.
Ahokas is trying to keep Talvela in close.
Talvela content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Talvela won't allow Ahokas to sweep him here.
Talvela stops Ahokas from standing up.
Talvela trying to control but Ahokas is working from the bottom.
Ahokas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Talvela postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ahokas bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Talvela's guard.

Ahokas stands and throws Talvela's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Talvela gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahokas trying to mount his opponent but Talvela defends it.

Ahokas is working for a kimura but Talvela is defending it quite comfortably.
Talvela wants to improve his position but Ahokas is controlling well.
Ahokas tries to pass to full mount but Talvela defends it.
Talvela wants to control but Ahokas is keeping busy.
Ahokas works his foot free and advances to mount.
Talvela really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahokas forces the positional change into back control.

Talvela is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Ahokas gets his way!

Ahokas working for the choke.
Talvela rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Talvela is looking to control Ahokas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Talvela avoid being mounted?
Talvela is looking to improve his position.

Ahokas is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Talvela has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Talvela is defending against the submission attempts here by Ahokas.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paavo Talvela will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ahokas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Talvela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Paavo Talvela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ahokas throws a lazy right hand but Talvela sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice shot by Talvela.
Ahokas staying out of range there.
Talvela scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ahokas just misses with a punch to the body.
Ahokas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Talvela lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ahokas misses with a lunging right hand
and Talvela counters with a leg kick.
Paavo Talvela seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ahokas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Talvela defends it nicely.
Talvela has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Talvela lands with a straight right. Ahokas didn't see that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Ahokas. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talvela stuffs the takedown attempt from Ahokas. Ahokas gets slowly back to his feet.
Talvela looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Paavo Talvela is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ahokas chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Talvela can pounce on him.
Talvela displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ahokas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Ahokas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Talvela gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Talvela wants to sweep here but Ahokas controlling him for the moment.

Talvela is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ahokas defends well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Talvela is on top in guard.

Talvela scoring with some ground and pound.
Juha Ahokas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahokas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Talvela is looking to advance position but Ahokas has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Ahokas wants to finish this one by submission but Talvela is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ahokas.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Talvela gets back to half guard.
Talvela is looking to improve his position.
Talvela regains full guard. Nicely done.
Talvela keeping full guard, as Ahokas tries to pass.

Talvela working for a triangle but Ahokas defends it easily.
Ahokas postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahokas looking to pass the guard.
Ahokas throws a strike but Talvela rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Talvela looking to pass the guard.
Talvela trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Talvela lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Talvela got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ahokas has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Talvela has managed to get both his arms back between Ahokas's legs - danger averted.
Ahokas pulls Talvela in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Talvela showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Talvela slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Talvela comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Talvela winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Talvela!
After winning the bout, Paavo Talvela thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.