PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tali Ihantala (ranked 266 p4p, 734 weight class) and Thom Tharrier (ranked 13 p4p, 52 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ihantala
vs
Tharrier

203 cm
37
253
36 - 17 - 0

170 cm
39
270
37 - 43 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

NARCOS
Shadow Realm Apparel

NARCOS
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 36 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tali Ihantala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 43 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thom Tharrier!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ihantala throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
We've been informed that Tharrier 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.
Ihantala misses with a few strikes there.
Tharrier blocks a jab.
Ihantala changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ihantala throws a nice looking combination but Tharrier bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tharrier throws an off balance right hand
and Ihantala counters with a big head kick but Tharrier shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ihantala on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ihantala lands with a cross.
Ihantala lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tharrier.
Ihantala tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Oooooh!!! Tharrier has knocked Ihantala down with a huge combo! Tharrier steps away and waves a wobbly Ihantala back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Ihantala is rocked!

It looks like Tali Ihantala has been cut.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Ihantala.
Tharrier scoring well with a low kick there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tharrier misses with a hook
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Ihantala has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Tharrier takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tharrier manages to avoid it.
Tharrier looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Tharrier blocks a head kick by Ihantala.
Nice jab there from Ihantala.
Tharrier moves out of range as Ihantala strikes.
Ihantala misses the shot to the body.
Tharrier appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tharrier throws an off balance right hand
and Ihantala counters with an outside leg kick.
Tharrier is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Tharrier throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Nice body kick from Ihantala.
Ihantala scores with a jab. Tharrier acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Tharrier ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ihantala moves away.
Ihantala cracks Tharrier with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ihantala scores with a spinning back kick!
Tharrier looks winded!
Tharrier lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tharrier throws a looping overhand right but Ihantala ducks down to avoid it.
Ihantala uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tharrier has time to react.

It looks like Thom Tharrier has been cut.
Tharrier uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ihantala.
Tharrier connects with a looping 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!
Ihantala checks a leg kick.
Tharrier changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tharrier takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Ihantala lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tali Ihantala dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tharrier throws an off balance right hand
and Ihantala counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ihantala ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tharrier moves away.
A big left from Tharrier misses.
Ihantala appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tharrier tries to land a front kick but Ihantala steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ihantala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ihantala looks to land a body kick but Tharrier moved away.
Ihantala is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice shot lands for Ihantala.
Ihantala ducks under a wild hook from Tharrier.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ihantala misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tharrier looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tharrier throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ihantala pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Tharrier might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Ihantala has got the better of the exchanges.
Tharrier ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ihantala is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tharrier throws a lazy uppercut
and Ihantala counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tharrier throws a sloppy head kick and Ihantala moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tharrier misses with a lunging right hand
and Ihantala counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ihantala clobbers Tharrier with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ihantala darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Tharrier misses with a looping left.
Ihantala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tharrier can do to turn this around?
Tharrier tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ihantala was well out of range. Poor timing from Tharrier.
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!
Ihantala misses with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tharrier drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tharrier misses with a hook
and Ihantala counters with a straight right hand.
Tharrier is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ihantala.

Ihantala fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tharrier, pushing him back against the cage.
Tharrier struggles to land a body shot inside as Ihantala controls his hands.
A short left from Ihantala.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ihantala.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ihantala creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Tharrier misses with a short punch on the inside.

Ihantala pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tharrier scores with a sloppy right hand. Ihantala should have avoided that one.
Tali Ihantala is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tharrier was well out of range. Poor timing from Ihantala.
A little jabbing left from Tharrier on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ihantala has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Tharrier throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ihantala with a nice cross.
Tharrier throws an off balance right hand
and Ihantala counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ihantala takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ihantala lands with a straight right. Tharrier didn't see that one coming.
Tharrier throws a front kick that sends Ihantala stumbling back into the cage.
Ihantala is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tali Ihantala dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ihantala misses with a two punch combination.
Tharrier appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Tharrier avoids a kick to the body.
Tharrier looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Tharrier throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ihantala sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tharrier with a nice cross.
Tharrier misses with a straight right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ihantala lands a slapping body shot.
Tharrier throws an off balance right hand
and Ihantala finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Ihantala just misses with a punch to the body.
Tharrier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tharrier throws a sloppy head kick
and Ihantala counters with a nice body kick.
Ihantala lands a nice shot that snaps Tharrier's head back.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ihantala darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ihantala delivers a nice body kick.
A head kick misses from Ihantala.

Ihantala closes the distance and clinches.
Ihantala lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala stalls.
Tharrier misses with the head strike.
Tharrier struggles to land a body shot inside as Ihantala controls his hands.
Ihantala blocks an uppercut.
Ihantala blocks an uppercut.

Ihantala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ihantala tests Tharrier's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tharrier swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ihantala counters with a series of strikes. Tharrier will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tharrier has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Ihantala.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tharrier looks to land a body kick but Ihantala moved away.
Ihantala was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Tharrier rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ihantala counters with a slapping leg kick.
Ihantala connects with a high kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab lands there for Ihantala.
Tharrier throws a right hand that misses
enabling Ihantala to counter with a crisp jab.
Tharrier fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ihantala manages to avoid it.

Ihantala lands a big uppercut and Tharrier crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Tharrier looks OK. Ihantala waves Tharrier back to his feet!

Tharrier is rocked!
Ihantala weaves into range and cracks Tharrier right on the temple with a beautiful overhand right! Tharrier goes down! He's out cold! Wow, what a beautiful knockout! Ihantala is strutting round the canvas like a movie star as the camera bulbs flash frantically.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Tali Ihantala!
Tali Ihantala thanked the fans post fight for their support.