PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaan Tamm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammed Akram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tamm comes to the cage accompanied by Pimelinna legend. Akram has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. The key to victory for Jaan Tamm has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tamm
vs
Akram

183 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaan Tamm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mohammed Akram!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tamm shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Akram but Akram pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tamm looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tamm attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Tamm tries to score a power double leg takedown but Akram sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tamm somewhat.
Tamm misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tamm bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Akram looks gassed!
Tamm tries to stand but Akram is controlling his head.
Tamm grinds an elbow into Akram's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamm tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Tamm decides to stand back up. Tamm steps back and let's Akram get back to his feet.
Tamm doesn't manage to clinch there - Akram circles away.
Tamm misses with a head kick.
Jaan Tamm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akram has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tamm wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tamm misses with a series of wild punches.
A big right from Tamm misses.
Tamm wants to clinch.

Akram looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akram prevents Tamm from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akram looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Akram controlling the action here.
Tamm taking some punishment here, with Akram in his half guard.
Tamm is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Akram lands a nice short elbow.
Akram takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Akram landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tamm avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Akram.
Akram moves nicely into side control.
Akram in side control lands a decent elbow.
Akram fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tamm seems a little lost for a moment, as Akram dominates the positioning.
Akram trying to control the position but Tamm is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mohammed Akram will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tamm fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tamm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tamm fails with the takedown

and Akram decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tamm's guard.
Akram pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tamm is keeping the position for now.
Akram controls from within his opponent's guard.
Akram throwing strikes from guard but Tamm blocks nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akram wants to pass the guard but Tamm is keeping the position.
Akram looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Tamm trying to control the position.
Akram not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Akram throwing strikes from guard but Tamm blocks nicely.
Akram with a flurry of punches that miss.
Akram works over Tamm with some ground and pound from guard.
Akram showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Akram has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tamm wants to sweep here but Akram controlling him for the moment.
Tamm is trying to keep Akram in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akram not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Akram working some strikes from top position.
Akram is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Akram wants to control from the top but Tamm keeps moving.
Tamm is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Akram lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Akram is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Akram postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tamm is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Akram connects with a couple of short punches.
Akram trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Akram works over Tamm with some ground and pound from guard.
Tamm keeping moving, preventing Akram from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Akram is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mohammed Akram showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The fight stays on the outside here - Tamm looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Akram swats away the attempt to clinch by Tamm.
Tamm throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Akram takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Tamm, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tamm tries to clinch but Akram is having none of it.
A combination from Tamm does no damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamm tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Akram paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jaan Tamm is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tamm doesn't manage to clinch there - Akram circles away.
Tamm tries to clinch up but Akram circles away and keeps his distance.
Tamm misses with a looping right.
Tamm fails with the takedown

and Akram counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tamm's guard now.
Akram not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Akram throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akram working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tamm preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tamm knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Akram on the ground.
Akram postures up and lands a big shot to Tamm's brow.
Akram looking to pass the guard.
Akram content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Akram is looking to work some ground and pound but Tamm has wrist control.
Akram working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tamm's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tamm is looking to stand up but Akram isn't so interested in that idea.
Akram passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akram throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Tamm pushes Akram away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Akram gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tamm is looking for a sweep.
Akram throws a strike aimed at the side of Tamm's head but Tamm avoids it well.
Tamm tries to escape but Akram is in control.
Akram cracks Tamm with a big right hand but Tamm just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Tamm dodges the ground and pound from Akram.
Akram staying calm.
An elbow from Akram crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Akram throws an elbow but Tamm slips to the side and avoids it well.
Akram tries to score with some ground and pound. Tamm controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Akram is chipping away with strikes.
Tamm avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Akram.
Jaan Tamm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tamm takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tamm is looking to regain half guard here but Akram keeps moving and retains side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mohammed Akram comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Akram 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohammed Akram!