PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Otso Toivonen (ranked 2761 p4p, 2403 weight class) and Pocket Rocket (ranked 201 p4p, 172 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Toivonen
vs
Rocket

193 cm
33
148
15 - 12 - 0

163 cm
28
145
9 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Otso Toivonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pocket Rocket!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Bruno Lombardi and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rocket clinches.
Rocket digs a right hand into Toivonen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Toivonen's gas tank.
A right hand to the body from Rocket.
Rocket presses Toivonen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rocket letting Toivonen take a breather here.
Rocket goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Toivonen tries to circle away but Rocket has him pinned against the cage.
Toivonen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Toivonen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Rocket to work.
Rocket wants to take the fight to the mat but Toivonen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Toivonen is defending well.
Rocket misses with the head strike.
A body shot lands from Rocket.
Toivonen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rocket misses with a punch on the inside.

Rocket wants the takedown. Toivonen is fighting it off but Rocket persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Toivonen's guard against the cage.
Rocket slips nicely into half guard.
Toivonen is staying active underneath Rocket, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Rocket is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Toivonen sees it coming and defends easily.
Toivonen is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocket looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rocket stops Toivonen from getting back to his feet.

Rocket is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Toivonen is just riding it out for now. Rocket eventually gives up the hold.
Toivonen is trying to control but can't.
Rocket wants to take a breather but Toivonen is having none of it.
Toivonen wants to get back to his feet.
Toivonen is refusing to be controlled, as Rocket sits in half guard.

Rocket seems to be working for a kimura but Toivonen defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rocket is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Toivonen sees it coming and defends easily.
Toivonen is concentrating on defense, preventing Rocket from advancing position.

Rocket is looking for a kimura here.

Rocket is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Toivonen controlling the position well.
Rocket working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Toivonen's thigh. Toivonen counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Toivonen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Toivonen keeping moving, preventing Rocket from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Rocket rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Toivonen counters with a left to the body.
Toivonen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Toivonen misses with an uppercut.
Rocket lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A swing and a miss from Rocket.
Toivonen lands a right hook to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Rocket. That snapped Toivonen's head back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pocket Rocket dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rocket on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rocket moves out of range of the strikes.
Rocket throws a looping overhand right but Toivonen ducks down to avoid it.
Rocket stuns Toivonen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Rocket gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rocket lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rocket lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rocket throws a punch but it's blocked by Toivonen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rocket turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rocket manages to end up in side control.

Toivonen sneaks out the side door and pushes Rocket away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rocket fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Toivonen, pushing him back against the cage.
Toivonen is looking to break free of the clinch but Rocket has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket controlling the action here for a moment.
Rocket misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rocket struggles to land a body shot inside as Toivonen controls his hands.
Toivonen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rocket avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rocket misses with a body punch.

Rocket has hold of one of Toivonen's legs. Toivonen is fighting the takedown attempt but Rocket gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Toivonen has his feet on Rocket's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nice takedown defense from Toivonen. No joy for Rocket on that attempt.
Rocket with a lazy takedown attempt
and Toivonen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rocket misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
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!
Rocket tries to clinch there but Toivonen circles away.
A swing and a miss from Rocket.
Rocket throws a body punch but Toivonen moves out of range.
It looked like Toivonen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rocket.
Pocket Rocket seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rocket dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Toivonen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Rocket holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rocket blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Toivonen jumps guard but Rocket stands there with Toivonen around his waist. Toivonen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Toivonen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rocket pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Otso Toivonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rocket tries to throw a body punch but Toivonen avoids it by throwing Rocket back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket is stalling here.
Toivonen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rocket pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Toivonen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rocket fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Toivonen closes the distance and clinches.
Rocket tries for a takedown. No joy.

Rocket gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Toivonen regains guard.
Rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Toivonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rocket is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Toivonen looking for a guillotine here but Rocket defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Toivonen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rocket doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rocket manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rocket trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Toivonen manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Rocket is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Otso Toivonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Toivonen wants to control from the top but Rocket keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pocket Rocket 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. This is the final round!

Rocket throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rocket misses with an uppercut.
Toivonen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rocket moves out of range as Toivonen strikes.
Rocket misses the shot to the body.
Toivonen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Rocket connects with a body shot that sends Toivonen's belly button to the back.
Toivonen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rocket has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rocket throws a body punch but Toivonen moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Toivonen misses the target.
Rocket tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Toivonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocket throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rocket lands a jab to Toivonen's midsection.
Rocket shoots in for a takedown but Toivonen shows good takedown defense.
Jab from Toivonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocket misses with a right hand
and Toivonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rocket misses with a jab, cross combination.
Toivonen throwing a counter right hand but Rocket manages to avoid it.

Rocket closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rocket lands in his opponent's guard.
Rocket wants to control from the top but Toivonen keeps moving.
Toivonen is trying to control the position but Rocket postures up.
Toivonen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rocket is one step ahead there.
Rocket is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Rocket trying to control the position from guard on top but Toivonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Rocket controls the pace.
Rocket stopping the sweep attempt from Toivonen.
Otso Toivonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocket wants to control from the top but Toivonen keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Toivonen throws an overhand right that lands on Rocket's shoulder, as Rocket tries to avoid the shot.
Rocket now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Toivonen with a hook.
Toivonen defending well as Rocket loads up on a big left hand.
Rocket misses the shot to the body.
Toivonen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Toivonen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rocket.
Rocket displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Toivonen throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocket throws a looping overhand right but Toivonen ducks down to avoid it.
Toivonen throwing a counter right hand but Rocket manages to avoid it.
Rocket is looking to clinch but Toivonen is avoiding it.
Toivonen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rocket throws a nice looking combination but Toivonen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rocket fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Toivonen manages to avoid it.
Toivonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Toivonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Rocket shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Toivonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Rocket defends well.
Toivonen can't keep his opponent in guard - Rocket advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Pocket Rocket 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.
Toivonen trying to control from the bottom.
Rocket performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rocket is trying to control the action in half guard but Toivonen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rocket sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Let's hope that Rocket has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pocket Rocket comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rocket has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pocket Rocket!
Our winner, Pocket Rocket, 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.