PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reino Tohveli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mamed Becker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Becker has chosen Shamhan Daldaev - Eto Kavkaz as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Tohveli
vs
Becker

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
213 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reino Tohveli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mamed Becker!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tohveli tries to keep at a distance but Becker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tohveli can't get the takedown.

Tohveli ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tohveli no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Tohveli has his foot on Becker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Becker works his way back into a safe position though.
Becker postures up.
Tohveli is looking to stand up but Becker isn't so interested in that idea.
Tohveli looking to control.
Becker throwing strikes from guard but Tohveli blocks nicely.
Becker working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Becker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tohveli has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Becker has managed to get both his arms back between Tohveli's legs - danger averted.
Becker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Becker is looking to work some ground and pound but Tohveli has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Becker chips away with some ground and pound.
Tohveli is trying to keep Becker in close.
Becker is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tohveli looking to control.
Becker trying to control the position from guard on top but Tohveli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tohveli wants to stand up but Becker is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tohveli works Becker's body with a nice hook.
Becker misses the jab.
Becker misses with an uppercut.
Becker misses with the combination.
Becker misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tohveli misses with a body shot.
Tohveli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Becker throws a series of punches but Tohveli moves out of range.
Becker tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Becker slaps away a takedown attempt from Tohveli, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reino Tohveli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tohveli fails with the takedown.
Tohveli fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tohveli tries to score a power double leg takedown but Becker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tohveli somewhat.
Becker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tohveli shoots in for a takedown but Becker shows good takedown defense.
Tohveli shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Becker sprawls well. Becker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tohveli gets slowly back to his feet.
Tohveli wants to clinch

and Becker counters by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Becker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Becker throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tohveli on the side of the head.

It looks like Reino Tohveli has been cut.
Reino Tohveli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tohveli misses with a takedown
and Becker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tohveli doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Becker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tohveli is breathing heavily.
Tohveli throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tohveli tries for a takedown but Becker circles away easily

and Becker counters by moving into the clinch.
Becker holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Becker tries to land knees in the clinch but Tohveli avoids the damage to the body.

Becker manages to break the clinch.
Becker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tohveli sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Becker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Becker misses with a wild combination.
Tohveli doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Becker counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tohveli drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Becker gets the underhooks and prevents it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Becker manages to break the clinch.
Tohveli throws a combination. Becker tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Becker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tohveli lands a body shot.
Becker jabs at Tohveli's body.
Mamed Becker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tohveli tries for a takedown but Becker circles away easily

and Becker counters by clinching up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tohveli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Becker pulls his leg out and moves away.
Becker looks to land a combination but Tohveli avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mamed Becker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Reino Tohveli's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tohveli doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Becker counters by moving into the clinch.

Becker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Becker throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tohveli counters with a left and a right that stings Becker.
Tohveli misses with a takedown attempt

and Becker moves into the clinch.
Becker gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tohveli.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reino Tohveli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tohveli drops down looking for an ankle pick but Becker pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tohveli darts in trying to clinch

and Becker counters by clinching up.
Tohveli fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Becker.
Tohveli tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Becker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tohveli tries to pull guard but Becker won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Becker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tohveli cracks Becker with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Becker lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tohveli circles away quickly and effectively.
Becker is breathing heavily.
Becker misses with a two punch combination.
Tohveli misses with a takedown attempt
and Becker connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tohveli connects with a nice looking jab.
Tohveli is looking to clinch.
Becker throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tohveli makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tohveli tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Becker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Becker defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tohveli.
Tohveli looks for a takedown but Becker sprawls well.
Tohveli shoots in but no luck this time.
Becker misses with a wild combination.
Tohveli dips to his left and cracks Becker with an uppercut!
Tohveli delivers a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tohveli with a lazy takedown attempt

and Becker counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Becker.
Tohveli tries to pull guard but Becker won't allow it.
Tohveli is working for takedown but Becker is calmly controlling the position for now.
Becker is trying to break the clinch but Tohveli is controlling him.
Tohveli tries to pull guard but Becker won't allow it.
Tohveli drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Becker missing with knees to the body.
Becker trying to land knees to the body.
Tohveli jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Becker walks away with a smile on his face. Tohveli gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tohveli fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tohveli shoots in and drives through. Becker sprawls well.
Becker looks to land a right hand but Tohveli moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tohveli displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Becker throws out the jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tohveli.
Tohveli blocks a jab.
Tohveli shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Becker misses with a straight left.
Tohveli is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Becker.
Tohveli throws a combination. Becker tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Tohveli will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Becker fails to land with a series of punches.
Tohveli shoots in for a takedown but Becker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Becker.
Tohveli plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tohveli shoots in and drives through. Becker sprawls well.
Tohveli lands a head kick. Becker smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Tohveli shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Becker but Becker pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Becker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tohveli moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tohveli shoots in but no luck this time.

Becker instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Becker's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Tohveli stalling in the clinch but Becker improves position.
Tohveli is trying to drag Becker to the mat but Becker just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Becker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tohveli digs a good hook to Becker's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tohveli lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Becker backs up against the cage.
Tohveli lands a head kick. Becker smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A combination from Becker does no damage.
Sloppy strikes from Becker. Those never looked like landing.
Reino Tohveli is winning the standup battle so far.
Tohveli fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Reino Tohveli will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Reino Tohveli's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tohveli displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Becker fails to land with a series of punches.
Tohveli misses with a two punch combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tohveli.
Reino Tohveli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Becker stuffs the takedown.
Tohveli lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tohveli shoots in for a double leg but Becker sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tohveli fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reino Tohveli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Becker throws a combination that misses
and Tohveli counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Good exchange - Tohveli coming out on top.
Becker throws a right hand that Tohveli ducks under and follows up with a left that Tohveli also avoids with ease.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tohveli.
Tohveli fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tohveli misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Becker tries to close the distance and clinch but Tohveli swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tohveli dives in and grabs Becker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Becker pushes down on Tohveli's head and hops out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tohveli shoots in for a takedown but Becker shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Tohveli shoots in looking for a takedown but Becker manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tohveli's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Becker throws a big shot that misses.

Becker moves into the clinch.
Tohveli tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Becker smiles and moves away.
Tohveli slips a jab from Becker.
Tohveli showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Becker.
Becker swinging wildly here.
Becker might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

Tohveli shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Becker's guard.
Becker wants to sweep but no luck.

Becker working for a triangle but Tohveli defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tohveli trying to control the position from guard on top but Becker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tohveli looking to pass the guard.
Tohveli trying to control the position from guard on top but Becker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reino Tohveli has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Tohveli fails with a takedown attempt.
Tohveli throws a sloppy head kick and Becker moves out of range easily.
Becker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Horrible takedown by Tohveli or perhaps it was just good defense by Becker which made him look bad.
Tohveli wants to clinch but Becker slips to the side

and Becker moves into the clinch.
Tohveli tries to pull guard but Becker won't allow it.

Becker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tohveli shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Becker counters by clinching up.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Tohveli wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Becker has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tohveli fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tohveli jumps guard but Becker stands there with Tohveli around his waist. Tohveli gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tohveli drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tohveli jumps guard but Becker stands there with Tohveli around his waist. Tohveli gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Becker gets underhooks to prevent Tohveli's takedown attempt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Becker.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Reino Tohveli.
I think Tohveli has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Reino Tohveli!