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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tino Takala (ranked 901 p4p, 2199 weight class) and Juha Niska (ranked 138 p4p, 350 weight class). Juha Niska has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 180 cm
35
218
13 - 9 - 2 |
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193 cm
39
212
32 - 23 - 1 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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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 13 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Tino Takala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Juha Niska!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice leg kick from Takala, right into the meat of the thigh.
Niska throws a right and a left that Takala avoids nicely.
Takala with the inside leg kick.
Niska rushes Takala and presses him up against the cage.
Takala is trying to break the clinch but Niska is controlling him.
Takala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sloppy strikes from Niska. Those never looked like landing.
As Niska looks to move away, Takala throws a big counter combo but Niska just gets out of the way.
Niska lands with a kick to the temple. Takala shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Niska missing with a left hand there. Takala was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Takala swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice jab there from Takala.
Niska takes a swing at Takala's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takala. Niska does a little dance to reset his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Niska takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Takala looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Niska tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Takala counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Takala lands with a good body shot.
Takala misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tino Takala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takala throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Niska stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Juha Niska seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Niska throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Niska throws an off balance right hand
and Niska takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Niska throws a lazy right hand but Takala sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Niska swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Takala connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A punch combination from Takala misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Niska eats them both and turns towards Takala to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Niska misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Takala counters with a low kick, right behind Niska 's knee.
Niska fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Takala, pushing him back against the cage.
Takala is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Niska taking a breather.
Takala letting Niska take a breather here.
Takala wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Niska fails to land.
Niska keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Takala's efforts to push away.
Niska prevents Takala from breaking the clinch.
Takala has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Takala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niska throws a leg kick but Takala moved away.
A quick step to the side and Takala tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Takala misses with a low kick.
Niska goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Takala lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Niska throws a leg kick but Takala moved away.
Takala misses the shot to the body.
Niska moves into range and clinches up with Takala.
Takala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Niska moves into the clinch.
Takala wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska pulls guard successfully.
Niska bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takala's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niska wants to control from the top but Takala keeps moving.
Takala being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Niska wants to pass the guard but Takala is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Tino Takala will probably get the nod.
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.
Takala throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tino Takala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Takala misses with an attempted mid kick.
A little jabbing left from Niska on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Takala throws a body punch but Niska moves out of range.
Niska throws out a counter right but Takala avoids it with no problem.
Takala is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Niska.
Niska waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takala.
A jab from Takala misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niska misses with a lunging right hand
and Takala counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Niska throws a predictable looking body shot
and Takala counters with a series of strikes. Niska will be more careful next time no doubt.
Niska fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Takala checks it well.
Takala throwing a counter right hand but Niska manages to avoid it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Niska takes the fight into the clinch.
Niska keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Takala's efforts to push away.
Takala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Niska swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Niska throws a right and a left that both miss.
Takala throws a big counter combination but Niska scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Niska throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takala misses with an uppercut.
Takala ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Niska moves away.
Niska misses with a hook
enabling Takala to counter with a crisp jab.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala thumps Niska with a low kick.
Takala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Takala lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Niska throws a right and a left that both miss.
Takala tries to counter by clinching up but Niska breaks away and moves out of range.
Niska throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Takala counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Niska thinking.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niska checks a low kick from Takala.
Niska throws a jab when Takala was well out of range.
Takala bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Niska throws a looping overhand right but Takala ducks down to avoid it.
Takala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Niska can do to turn this around?
Niska tries to close the distance and clinch but Takala swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tino Takala is winning the standup battle so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala throws a body kick, spinning off balance
letting Niska counter with a right hand.
Niska throws a right and a left that Takala avoids nicely.
Niska shoots in for a double leg but Takala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Niska tries to clinch there but Takala circles away.
Niska gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Takala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Takala is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Niska tries to bum rush Takala with a series of wild strikes but Takala uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Niska misses with a two punch combination.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As Niska looks to move away, Takala throws a big counter combo but Niska just gets out of the way.
Niska misses with a lunging right hand
and Takala counters with a straight right hand.
Niska walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Niska shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takala as he avoids it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takala lunges at Niska with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Niska's hand.
Niska moves into the clinch.
Takala breaks from the clinch.
Niska throws a wild body kick that Takala sees coming a mile off.
Takala lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A low kick from Niska misses
and Takala counters with a low kick, right behind Niska 's knee.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Tino Takala dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!
Niska throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Takala throws a combination that misses
and Niska counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Niska swings away with a body shot that misses
and Takala connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Takala tries to score with a low kick but Niska moves his leg out of the way.
Niska moves out of range as Takala throws a body kick.
Niska cracks Takala with an open hand slap.
Takala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niska scores with a punch to the head.
Nice cross by Takala.
Niska thows a leg kick but Takala checks it
and Takala counters by clinching up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Takala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Takala throws a body shot but no joy.
Takala swats away the attempt to clinch by Niska.
Takala slips a jab from Niska.
Niska tries to clinch there but Takala circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Niska. Takala does a little dance to reset his feet.
A head kick misses from Niska.
Takala ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takala takes a swing at Niska's ribcage but misses.
Niska fails to land with a series of punches.
As Niska looks to move away, Takala throws a big counter combo but Niska just gets out of the way.
Takala misses with a wild body shot.
Niska rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takala moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Takala appears to be looking for a big counter.
Niska moves out of range of the body kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Niska! But no joy.
Takala looks to throw a body kick
and Niska counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Takala throws a low kick, looking for Niska's leg but Niska calmly moves out of range.
Takala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takala moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takala tries to score with a low kick but Niska moves his leg out of the way.
Niska is looking to clinch.
A big right from Niska misses.
Takala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Niska.
A slapping leg kick lands for Niska.
Niska throws a right and a left that Takala avoids nicely.
Takala swats away the attempt to clinch by Niska.
Takala misses the shot to the body.
A cross from Takala lands.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niska falls off balance throwing a combination
and Takala counters with a left to the body.
Niska throws a shot from downtown. Takala moves away and avoids it.
Juha Niska has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Niska is looking to clinch.
Takala went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Takala throws a lazy right hand but Niska sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Niska throws a head kick but Takala moves out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Niska lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Takala has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Takala and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Takala throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Niska sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Takala throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Niska on the side of the head.
And that's the end of the fight!
Tino Takala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takala, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tino Takala!
Our winner, Tino Takala, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
47% |
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