PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ali Dixon (ranked 515 p4p, 519 weight class) and Tino Takala (ranked 77 p4p, 78 weight class). Tino Takala acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Dixon
vs
Takala

182 cm
27
203
17 - 6 - 1

180 cm
33
218
10 - 6 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

NARCOS
Seventh Circle Clothing

PWNAGE Elite
Seventh Circle Clothing

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 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Ali Dixon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Tino Takala!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from Dixon misses

and Takala counters by moving into the clinch.

Takala breaks from the clinch.
Dixon looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Takala is looking for the big counter here.
Dixon throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Takala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A short left from Takala.
Takala makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Takala stalling in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Takala.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dixon has had enough of the clinch but Takala keeps him there for the moment.
Takala keeps control of Dixon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Takala is pushing Dixon up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Takala pushes Dixon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala pushes Dixon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Takala lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dixon backwards.
Takala lands a nice uppercut.
Takala misses with a punch to the body.
Takala working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Takala pushes Dixon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dixon wants to break the clinch but can't.
Takala lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Takala makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Takala.
Takala has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Dixon seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Takala can turn it around.
Takala presses Dixon against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Dixon can't break the clinch.

Takala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Takala bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Takala fails to land with a series of punches.
A little feinted left hand from Dixon on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dixon misses with a two punch combination.
Takala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dixon throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Takala moves into the clinch.
Takala is leaning against Dixon and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Takala stalling the fight.
Takala lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dixon backwards.
Takala keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dixon's efforts to push away.
Takala lands a left hand.
Dixon wants to break free but Takala has control.
Takala working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Dixon wants to break free but Takala has control.
Takala lands a shoulder strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala scores with a shoulder strike.
Dixon is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Takala lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dixon backwards.
Takala throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dixons head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Takala.
Takala tries to work over Dixon's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Takala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ali Dixon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dixon throws a left and a right that both miss

and Takala counters by clinching up.
Takala stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Dixon is breathing heavily.
Takala lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Takala stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Dixon is trying to break the clinch but Takala has him pressed against the cage.
Takala lands an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Takala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takala doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dixon is trying to break free.

Takala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A thudding body kick lands there by Takala!
Dixon takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Dixon misses with an uppercut
and Takala counters with a nice uppercut.
Dixon throws a body punch but Takala moves out of range.
Takala now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Takala lands with an overhand left.

Takala has Dixon up against the cage in a clinch.
Takala scores with a nice hook to the head.
Takala misses with a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tino Takala dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dixon's corner calls for a 1-2. Dixon obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Dixon rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Takala counters by clinching up.
Takala is stalling here.
The referee calls for Takala to work.
Dixon is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Takala.
Takala lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Takala pushes Dixon back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dixon tries to break the clinch but Takala is controlling the position.
Takala avoiding damage.
Takala lands a nice uppercut.
Takala scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dixons head.
Come on Takala - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Dixon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short uppercut from Takala.
Takala lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dixon backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Takala.
Takala taking a breather.
Takala lands with a short shot to the head.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Takala lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Dixon backwards.
A short right from Takala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala lands a left hand.

Dixon is rocked!
Takala stalls.
Oh Dixon is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Takala lands a right hand.
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!
Dixon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dixon seems to have got his legs back now.
Dixon looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takala stalls.
Takala lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dixon backwards.

Takala connects with a big uppercut there that sends Dixon tumbling to the ground! Takala follows him down into his guard.
Takala wants to stand but Dixon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Takala stops Dixon from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Dixon manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Takala scores with a nice short uppercut.
Takala lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dixon backwards.
Dixon is trying to force a seperation but Takala has the dominant position.

Takala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dixon crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Takala - the referee stops the clock and Dixon gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Takala. Dixon manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Takala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Takala with the inside leg kick.
Takala looks to land a combination but Dixon avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takala ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Takala throws a series of punches but Dixon moves out of range.
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!
Dixon misses with a left hand
and Takala counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Dixon thinking.
Ali Dixon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dixon misses the jab.
Takala is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Dixon cracks Takala with a right hand to the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Dixon throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Dixon throws a combination that misses
and Takala counters with an inside leg kick.
Dixon avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tino Takala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Takala ducks under a wild hook from Dixon.
Takala throws a poor cross that misses
and Dixon cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dixon misses with a left hand
and Takala counters with a leg kick.
Takala scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Dixon throws a nice looking combination but Takala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dixon throws a right and a left that both miss.
Takala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dixon was well out of range. Poor timing from Takala.
Dixon went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dixon misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Takala counters with an outside leg kick.
Dixon misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon shoots in looking for a takedown. Takala tries to sprawl out of it but Dixon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Takala manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dixon misses with a double jab.
Takala cracks Dixon with an open hand slap.
Takala lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Dixon tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Takala was well out of range. Poor timing from Dixon.
Dixon misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Takala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dixon wants to get back to striking at distance but Takala won't allow it.
Takala has Dixon pressed against the cage, preventing Dixon from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Takala working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tino Takala is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Takala on the inside.
Takala gets through Dixon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Takala softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Takala misses with a body punch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Takala.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takala lands an uppercut in the clinch that drops Dixon to his knees! Takala keeps firing more shots against his stricken opponent and the referee jumps in to save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tino Takala!
A relieved looking Tino Takala thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.