PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Juho Heinonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and brad tavares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Heinonen
vs
tavares

178 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

Dangerous GnP
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Juho Heinonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, brad tavares!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

tavares gets caught flat footed, as Heinonen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Heinonen throws a strike but tavares rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Heinonen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. tavares doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. tavares manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
tavares trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Heinonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
tavares is looking to work some ground and pound but Heinonen has wrist control.

Heinonen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
tavares throwing strikes but missing.
Heinonen looking to hit a scissor sweep but tavares is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
tavares doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Heinonen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.

tavares uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Heinonen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Heinonen tries to advance to mount but tavares denies him.

tavares throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Heinonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Heinonen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so tavares is just riding it out for now. Heinonen eventually gives up the hold.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if tavares can do anything to dispel that myth.
Heinonen is breathing heavily.
tavares is trying to stand up here but Heinonen is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

tavares is defending against the submission attempts here by Heinonen.
tavares is trying to stand up here but Heinonen is controlling him well.

That's four 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.

Heinonen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Heinonen seems to be working for a kimura but tavares defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

tavares misses with a takedown attempt

and Heinonen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Heinonen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Heinonen is looking to work some ground and pound but tavares has wrist control.

Heinonen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! tavares is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Heinonen, into his guard.
tavares cracks Heinonen with a solid left hand.
tavares is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Heinonen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

tavares avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Juho Heinonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
tavares content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
tavares is working Heinonen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Heinonen trying to control the position.

Heinonen has his foot on tavares's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. tavares works his way back into a safe position though.
tavares working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Heinonen's head.
tavares has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
tavares is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Heinonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and tavares defends well.
tavares lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heinonen is trying to keep tavares in close.
tavares lands a couple of elbows.

tavares got a little sloppy there for a moment and Heinonen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, tavares has managed to get both his arms back between Heinonen's legs - danger averted.
tavares lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
tavares postures up and lands a big shot to Heinonen's brow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
tavares cracks Heinonen with a solid left hand.

Heinonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and tavares defends well.
tavares works over Heinonen with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
tavares is in close to Heinonen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Heinonen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
tavares working some strikes from top position.
tavares postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Heinonen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
tavares working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
tavares with a nice head shot there.

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.
Heinonen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Heinonen has momentary wrist control but tavares slips an elbow through the middle.
tavares postures up and lands a big shot to Heinonen's brow.
tavares stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Heinonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
tavares working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Heinonen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
tavares content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Heinonen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. tavares doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. tavares manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
tavares lands a couple of decent looking shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but brad tavares will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Heinonen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
tavares pushes Heinonen off looking to stand but Heinonen dives back in and keeps control.
Heinonen thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing tavares to regain full guard.

Heinonen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but tavares manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Heinonen has tavares in his guard.
Heinonen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
tavares keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Heinonen's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Heinonen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
tavares landing some decent shots from guard.
tavares throws a big right hand that misses.

Heinonen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Heinonen trying to control the position.
tavares passes Heinonen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Heinonen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
tavares scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
tavares slips a nice elbow through Heinonen's hands, connecting with Heinonen's forehead.

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.
tavares is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
tavares throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
tavares not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
tavares throws a strike but Heinonen avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
tavares throws a big right hand that misses.
tavares throws a big right hand that misses.
tavares is in close to Heinonen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
tavares loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Heinonen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Heinonen showed some decent athleticism there.

Heinonen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Heinonen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

tavares kicks Heinonen off and gets back to his feet.
Juho Heinonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Heinonen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. tavares did well to prevent Heinonen getting side control.
tavares avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Heinonen.
tavares is trying to stand.

Heinonen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juho Heinonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Heinonen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juho Heinonen!