PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zima Voin (ranked 2917 p4p, 3489 weight class) and Tapani Kangas (ranked 338 p4p, 380 weight class). Zima Voin had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Tapani Kangas enters the cage!

Voin
vs
Kangas

178 cm
43
170
20 - 22 - 1

178 cm
26
155
11 - 17 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

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 20 - 22 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zima Voin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tapani Kangas!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Chris Dean and Ron Honeybunn.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kangas misses with a body shot.
We've been informed that Kangas has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Good leg kick by Kangas.
Nice body kick there by Kangas.
Voin misses with an uppercut. Kangas saw that one coming.
Voin walks into a stiff left hand from Kangas.
Nice defenses there by Kangas.
Kangas swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kangas lands an overhand right.
Kangas swats away the attempt to clinch by Voin.
Voin takes one to the chin there.
Voin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kangas finds it's way round the side to connect with Voin's head.
Zima Voin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Voin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kangas looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kangas cracks Voin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kangas lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kangas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Voin.
Kangas throws out a counter right but Voin avoids it with no problem.
Kangas connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Voin instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Voin as Kangas tries to tie him up.
A hook to the body from Kangas.
Kangas digs a right hand underneath Voin's ribcage. Voin let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Voin is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kangas can't fight it off and eventually Voin manages to take the fight to the floor. Kangas looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Voin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kangas is keeping the position for now.
Voin passes Kangas's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kangas is controlling Voin's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Voin in particular looking to stall.
Kangas controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kangas is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Voin misses with a hook
and Kangas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Some wild striking there from Voin.
A countering left hand to the body from Kangas misses.
Kangas stuns Voin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tapani Kangas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Voin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kangas.
Voin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Voin tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kangas counters with a left and a right that stings Voin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kangas lands a nice looking body shot.
Kangas misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kangas misses with a head kick.
Voin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Voin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Voin looks to clinch
and Kangas counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Voin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kangas lands with a nice body punch.
Voin is looking to clinch.
Voin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kangas comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A big right from Kangas misses.
Voin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Voin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Well, if Voin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tapani Kangas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kangas takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kangas lands with a cross.
Kangas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Voin.
Kangas cracks Voin with a right hand to the side of the head.

Voin has closed the distance and engaged Kangas in a clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kangas.
A short body shot lands from Kangas as the two fighters clinch.

Kangas breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kangas lands with a nice body punch.
Kangas lands a really nice looking cross but Voin seems unphased.
Voin thows a leg kick but Kangas checks it
letting Kangas counter with a right hand.

Kangas closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kangas working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kangas lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kangas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Voin backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Kangas.
Kangas misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Kangas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kangas throws a nice outside leg kick.
Voin lands a glancing blow to the side of Kangas's head.
A big left from Kangas misses.
Voin attempts a counter takedown but Kangas avoids it well and moves away.
Nice cross by Kangas.
Voin swings for the body but Kangas moves out of range.
It seemed like Kangas was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Kangas pushes Voin up against the cage in a clinch.
Kangas presses Voin against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kangas misses with a body punch.
Kangas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kangas lands a left hand that snaps the head of Voin backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Voin misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Voin tightens his grip and picks Kangas up, before dumping him to the ground. Kangas manages to land in guard.
Kangas is trying to hold Voin in close to prevent damage but Voin has managed to pass into half guard.
Voin is controlling the pace.
We've been hearing good reports from Voin's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kangas wants to control but Voin is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voin content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kangas is concentrating on defense, preventing Voin from advancing position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Voin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kangas lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Voin backs up against the cage.
Voin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kangas paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kangas lands a nice shot that snaps Voin's head back.
Kangas scores with a hook.
A good leg kick by Kangas.
Voin takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kangas smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kangas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Voin manages to avoid it.

Voin moves into range and clinches up with Kangas.
Voin tries to score a body lock takedown but Kangas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kangas.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kangas lands a body punch in the clinch.
Voin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kangas's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kangas.
Voin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kangas gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zima Voin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kangas blocks an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Kangas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kangas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kangas swats away the attempt to clinch by Voin.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tapani Kangas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Kangas scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tapani Kangas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kangas lands a nice looking body kick.
Voin has his takedown stuffed
and Kangas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Voin tries to clinch
and Kangas counters with a stiff right hand.
Voin throws a series of punches but Kangas avoids them all with ease.
Voin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Voin blocks a head kick by Kangas.
Kangas wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kangas gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Voin has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kangas is trying to keep an underhook but Voin manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kangas trying to control from the bottom.
Kangas keeping hold of Voin's head, controlling as best he can.
Voin controlling the pace.
Kangas tries to roll over but Voin keeps him under control.
Zima Voin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kangas is looking to control Voin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kangas avoid being mounted?
Voin prevents Kangas from improving his position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Kangas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kangas digs a good hook to Voin's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kangas lands a nice looking body kick.
Kangas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Voin on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Voin misses with a takedown
and Kangas counters with a good, hard body kick but Voin shrugs it off.
A big right from Voin misses.
Kangas is trying to counter with his kicks.
Voin misses with a hook. Kangas ducked under it nicely.
Kangas rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Voin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Voin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kangas connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Voin is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Both fighters circling a little - Kangas finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kangas lands a slapping body shot.
Voin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jab by Voin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kangas's jab looks to have found its range, popping Voin under the eye.
Voin moves in looking to clinch but Kangas pushes him off.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kangas! But no joy.
Tapani Kangas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kangas thuds a left hand into Voin's body.
A low kick lands for Kangas.
Kangas cracks Voin with a good jab.
Kangas moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kangas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kangas throws a head kick that Voin semi-blocks.
Nice uppercut lands for Kangas. That snapped Voin's head back.
Voin tries to move into range but Kangas moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Voin stuns Kangas with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Voin looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Voin looks to clinch
and Kangas counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Voin looks to land a combination but Kangas avoids it well.
Voin walks into a stiff left hand from Kangas.
Voin throws a lazy uppercut
and Kangas counters with a stiff right hand.
Voin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kangas connects with the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tapani Kangas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kangas 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tapani Kangas!