PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jari Lehtonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimo Tuomela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Lehtonen
vs
Tuomela

190 cm
23
187 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

184 cm
27
191 lbs
12 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Syndicate Drugs
MADE IN GERMANY

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 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jari Lehtonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raimo Tuomela!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Felipe Paraventi and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lehtonen lands a nice looking body kick.
Tuomela swings for the body but Lehtonen moves out of range.
Tuomela looks to throw the jab but Lehtonen is out of range.
Tuomela throws the left hand but Lehtonen avoids the punch easily.
The fighters circling - Tuomela throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Good standup being displayed there by Lehtonen as he connects with a hook.
Tuomela keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lehtonen.
Lehtonen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Tuomela moves out of range of the strikes.
Lehtonen missing with a left hand there. Tuomela was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Tuomela fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Tuomela avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Lehtonen scoring well with a low kick there.

Tuomela lands a left and a right that send Lehtonen crashing to the mat, dazed. Tuomela thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Lehtonen is rocked!

It looks like Jari Lehtonen has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lehtonen throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Tuomela slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Oh Lehtonen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lehtonen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Lehtonen seems to have got his legs back now.
Tuomela looks to score with a jab to the body but Lehtonen is just out of range.
Tuomela lands a nice looking body shot.
Tuomela misses the shot to the body.
Lehtonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tuomela.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuomela bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tuomela misses with a hook.

Lehtonen rushes Tuomela and presses him up against the cage.
Lehtonen misses with an elbow over the top.
A short right from Lehtonen on the inside.
Lehtonen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tuomela avoiding damage as Lehtonen throws knees to the body.
Come on Lehtonen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A head punch on the inside from Tuomela fails to land.
A right hook to the body lands for Tuomela.
Tuomela avoiding damage as Lehtonen throws knees to the body.
Lehtonen lands an elbow just above Tuomela 's eye.
Lehtonen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Lehtonen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Lehtonen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tuomela avoids it.
Tuomela is working Lehtonen over against the cage.
Tuomela avoids a wild elbow strike from Lehtonen.
Lehtonen looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen stalling.
Lehtonen is trying to stall.
Lehtonen throws an elbow but it misses.
Tuomela avoiding damage as Lehtonen throws knees to the body.
Lehtonen looking to slow down the pace here.
Lehtonen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Lehtonen blocking some punches.
Lehtonen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tuomela is defending well for now.
Lehtonen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lehtonen misses with an elbow strike.
Lehtonen lands an elbow just above Tuomela 's eye.
Lehtonen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tuomela's defenses.
Lehtonen working Tuomela over with knees to the body.
Tuomela misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lehtonen unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tuomela lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lehtonen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Tuomela working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen throws an elbow that misses.
Tuomela wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lehtonen has him pressed against the cage.

Tuomela escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tuomela takes a swing at Lehtonen's ribcage but misses.
Nice defenses there by Lehtonen.

Lehtonen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lehtonen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tuomela has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lehtonen lands a nice elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tuomela.
Lehtonen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Tuomela avoiding damage as Lehtonen throws knees to the body.
Lehtonen missing with knees to the body.
Tuomela lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lehtonen lands an elbow inside that Tuomela shrugs off.
Lehtonen taking a breather.
Lehtonen lands a nice elbow.
Lehtonen pushes off an throws an elbow but Tuomela leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Tuomela breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen cracks Tuomela with a good jab.
Lehtonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tuomela was well out of range. Poor timing from Lehtonen.
Tuomela keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tuomela connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lehtonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lehtonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lehtonen throws a jab when Tuomela was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tuomela. Lehtonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tuomela throws a lazy right hand but Lehtonen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lehtonen scores with a jab to the head.

Lehtonen rushes Tuomela and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lehtonen trying to stall but Tuomela improves his position.
Lehtonen prevents Tuomela from breaking the clinch.
Lehtonen misses with an elbow over the top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lehtonen just leaning against Tuomela, taking a breather.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Lehtonen for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Lehtonen tries a body shot but Tuomela blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Raimo Tuomela will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jari Lehtonen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tuomela swings for the body but Lehtonen moves out of range.
Lehtonen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Lehtonen tries to clinch but Tuomela moves out of range.
Lehtonen's corner calls for a 1-2. Lehtonen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lehtonen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tuomela.
Tuomela takes one to the chin there.
Tuomela throws a big shot that misses.
Lehtonen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lehtonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tuomela moves out of range of the body kick from Lehtonen.
Lehtonen jabs at Tuomela's body.
Lehtonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Tuomela circles away.
Tuomela waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lehtonen.
Lehtonen slips under a jab from Tuomela.
Lehtonen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tuomela's head backwards.

Lehtonen clinches.
Lehtonen lands a damaging elbow.
Lehtonen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A left hand lands to the body for Tuomela.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tuomela's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lehtonen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tuomela.
Lehtonen sizes up Tuomela with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Tuomela on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Tuomela looks to throw the jab but Lehtonen is out of range.
Tuomela scores with a shot to the body.
Tuomela digs a good hook to Lehtonen's body.
A swing and a miss from Tuomela.
Raimo Tuomela seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Tuomela misses with a hook.
Lehtonen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tuomela takes one on the button.

Lehtonen closes the distance and clinches.
Lehtonen tries to land a knee to the head but Tuomela blocks with his arms.
Tuomela has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tuomela is trying to break the clinch but Lehtonen has him pressed against the cage.
Tuomela avoids the elbow strike from Lehtonen, against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuomela avoiding damage as Lehtonen throws knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Lehtonen.
Tuomela blocks an uppercut.
Lehtonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lehtonen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Lehtonen.
Lehtonen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lehtonen throws an elbow but misses.
Lehtonen trying to land knees to the body.
Lehtonen lands a damaging elbow.
Lehtonen stalling in the clinch but Tuomela improves position.
Tuomela working aggressively here.
Lehtonen is looking to control Tuomela's arms but Tuomela gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lehtonen has his back to the cage.
Lehtonen scores with a shot to the side of Tuomela's head.
Lehtonen tries to land a knee to the head but Tuomela blocks with his arms.
Lehtonen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tuomela has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lehtonen lands an elbow inside.
Lehtonen trying to land knees to the body.
Lehtonen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tuomela.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen has Tuomela pressed against the cage, preventing Tuomela from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tuomela is working Lehtonen over against the cage.

Tuomela pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tuomela is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lehtonen slips under a jab.
Tuomela swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tuomela takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lehtonen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tuomela doesn't seem bothered though.
Lehtonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lehtonen lands a jab to the nose.
Lehtonen misses the shot to the body.
Tuomela throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tuomela lands with a shot to the body.
Tuomela tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lehtonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Tuomela.
Tuomela walks into a left hand.
Tuomela is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Lehtonen.
Lehtonen connects with the punch.
Tuomela throws a predictable looking body shot
and Lehtonen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuomela throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tuomela pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lehtonen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Lehtonen scores with a jab. Tuomela acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Tuomela lands an overhand right.
Lehtonen defending well as Tuomela loads up on a big left hand.
Lehtonen moves out of range of the strikes.
Lehtonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lehtonen throws a nice head kick!

Lehtonen clinches up against the cage.
Lehtonen has a couple of punches blocked by Tuomela.
Tuomela is looking to break free of the clinch but Lehtonen has double underhooks.
Lehtonen throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tuomela takes an elbow to the temple.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lehtonen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tuomela lands a body punch.
Lehtonen lands a nice elbow.
Lehtonen stalling against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raimo Tuomela will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jari Lehtonen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lehtonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lehtonen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tuomela. That did some damage!
Tuomela on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The fighters circling - Lehtonen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A left lands for Lehtonen.
Donk. Tuomela catches Lehtonen right on the button with a cross.

Jari Lehtonen's cut is getting worse.
Tuomela keeps the fight on the outside.
Tuomela thows a body shot but no joy.
Lehtonen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tuomela thows a body shot but no joy.
Lehtonen connects with a looping right hand.
Tuomela punishes Lehtonen's body with a nice straight punch.
Lehtonen slips a jab from Tuomela.
Tuomela has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tuomela lands with a right hand.
Lehtonen dips to his left and cracks Tuomela with an uppercut!
Tuomela on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Lehtonen moves away from the strike by Tuomela.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehtonen avoids the body shot from Tuomela.
Tuomela throws a lazy right hand but Lehtonen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tuomela keeps the fight on the outside.
Lehtonen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tuomela to score with a decent uppercut.
Lehtonen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lehtonen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Tuomela throws a shot from downtown. Lehtonen moves away and avoids it.
Tuomela walks into a straight right hand from Lehtonen.
Lehtonen slips a straight right by Tuomela.
Tuomela looks to throw the jab but Lehtonen is out of range.
Tuomela throws a hook but Lehtonen avoids it easily.
Lehtonen digs a good body shot into Tuomela's ribs.
Tuomela misses the jab.
Lehtonen misses with an uppercut.
Lehtonen is looking to clinch but Tuomela is avoiding it.
Tuomela throws an overhand right that lands on Lehtonen's shoulder, as Lehtonen tries to avoid the shot.
Tuomela misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jari Lehtonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raimo Tuomela is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tuomela counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lehtonen tries to clinch up but Tuomela circles away and keeps his distance.
Tuomela scores with a body shot.
Lehtonen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tuomela on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lehtonen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tuomela swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lehtonen counters with a left to the body.
Lehtonen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Tuomela throws out a loose jab but Lehtonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tuomela thuds a left hand into Lehtonen's body.
A big left from Tuomela misses.
Lehtonen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tuomela throws out the jab.
Tuomela tests Lehtonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Tuomela jabs at Lehtonen's body.
Tuomela throws a shot from downtown. Lehtonen moves away and avoids it.
Lehtonen throws a head kick but Tuomela moves out of range.
Tuomela uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lehtonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lehtonen.
Lehtonen scores with a nice strike.
Lehtonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tuomela.
Lehtonen connects with a body shot.
Lehtonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Lehtonen clinches up against the cage.
Lehtonen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tuomela blocks it with crossed arms.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Lehtonen tries to land knees in the clinch but Tuomela avoids the damage to the body.
Lehtonen misses with a punch to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lehtonen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tuomela's brow.
Lehtonen is looking to control Tuomela's arms but Tuomela gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lehtonen has his back to the cage.
Tuomela blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Lehtonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuomela blocks an elbow strike.
Lehtonen looking to throw knees to the head but Tuomela is blocking nicely.
Tuomela has had enough of the clinch but Lehtonen keeps him there for the moment.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tuomela creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lehtonen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lehtonen with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Lehtonen throws a punch but it's blocked by Tuomela.
Lehtonen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tuomela is defending well for now.
Lehtonen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Lehtonen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tuomela.
Lehtonen trying to land knees to the body.
Lehtonen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tuomela or not.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lehtonen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Lehtonen misses with a body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Raimo Tuomela.
I've got Tuomela 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raimo Tuomela!