PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abrafo Tokunbo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Lahdenpera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tokunbo
vs
Lahdenpera

179 cm
20
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abrafo Tokunbo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Lahdenpera!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tokunbo shoots in and bounces Lahdenpera off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tokunbo prevents Lahdenpera from getting back to his feet.
Tokunbo being controlled here momentarily.
Lahdenpera keeping moving, preventing Tokunbo from controlling successfully.
Lahdenpera seems keen to control Tokunbo's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lahdenpera tries to clinch but Tokunbo is having none of it.

Lahdenpera closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tokunbo did well to prevent Lahdenpera getting side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lahdenpera wants to control but Tokunbo is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahdenpera trying to mount his opponent but Tokunbo defends it.
Tokunbo punching from the bottom.
Lahdenpera trying to mount his opponent but Tokunbo defends it.
Lahdenpera stalling.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Antti Lahdenpera hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Tokunbo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Lahdenpera manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lahdenpera with a poor takedown

and Tokunbo counters by moving into the clinch.

Lahdenpera is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tokunbo is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Lahdenpera to the mat. Lahdenpera regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lahdenpera tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lahdenpera is on top in guard.
Lahdenpera content to stall in guard here.
Tokunbo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lahdenpera is controlling him.
Tokunbo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lahdenpera on the ground.
Tokunbo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lahdenpera trying to control but Tokunbo is working from the bottom.
Tokunbo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tokunbo managing to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Abrafo Tokunbo wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Tokunbo tries to clinch up but Lahdenpera circles away and keeps his distance.
Tokunbo with a poor takedown
and Lahdenpera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tokunbo misses with a few strikes there.
Tokunbo is breathing heavily.
A head kick by Lahdenpera misses

and Tokunbo counters with a single leg into guard. Lahdenpera didn't expect that.
Lahdenpera keeping moving, preventing Tokunbo from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lahdenpera trying to control the position.
Lahdenpera looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tokunbo is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lahdenpera is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Lahdenpera looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tokunbo passes into half guard.

Lahdenpera is defending against the submission attempts here by Tokunbo.

Tokunbo seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abrafo Tokunbo dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nice body kick there by Lahdenpera.

Lahdenpera shoots in and gets a takedown into Tokunbo's guard.
Tokunbo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tokunbo tries to get out of the position.
Lahdenpera scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lahdenpera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lahdenpera trying to control but Tokunbo is working from the bottom.
Tokunbo trying to control the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tokunbo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Lahdenpera's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahdenpera wants to control from the top but Tokunbo keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Antti Lahdenpera was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Tokunbo clinches up with Lahdenpera and pushes him back against the cage.
Lahdenpera is trying to stall.
Lahdenpera has had enough of the clinch but Tokunbo keeps him there for the moment.
Tokunbo has Lahdenpera pressed against the cage, preventing Lahdenpera from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Tokunbo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lahdenpera clinches up with Tokunbo and pushes him back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Tokunbo.

Tokunbo manages to break the clinch.
Lahdenpera tries to clinch up

and Tokunbo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tokunbo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A lazy body kick from Lahdenpera

and Tokunbo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tokunbo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lahdenpera is pulling down on Tokunbo's head to control his posture.
Lahdenpera is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tokunbo is looking to work some ground and pound but Lahdenpera has wrist control.
Lahdenpera working a defensive guard here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tokunbo wants to pass the guard but Lahdenpera is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Antti Lahdenpera hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Lahdenpera throws the kick towards the body but Tokunbo avoids it.
Lahdenpera wants to clinch

and Tokunbo counters by clinching up.
Lahdenpera changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tokunbo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Lahdenpera shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tokunbo holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Tokunbo manages to break the clinch.

Tokunbo rushes Lahdenpera and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Tokunbo gets control of Lahdenpera's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tokunbo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Lahdenpera connects with a couple of short punches.
Tokunbo keeping moving, preventing Lahdenpera from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lahdenpera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Lahdenpera gets to his feet - Tokunbo follows without any prompting.
Tokunbo moves in looking to clinch but Lahdenpera pushes him off.
Lahdenpera tries for a takedown but Tokunbo circles away easily
and Tokunbo counters with a head kick.
Abrafo Tokunbo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antti Lahdenpera.

Lahdenpera gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tokunbo to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Tokunbo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abrafo Tokunbo dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Tokunbo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Tokunbo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tokunbo looking to control but Lahdenpera is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lahdenpera regains half guard.
Lahdenpera is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tokunbo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tokunbo's back!

Lahdenpera looking for the RNC.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lahdenpera has the hooks in. Tokunbo is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahdenpera lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Tokunbo is trying to break free.
Tokunbo is working hard here to advance position.
Lahdenpera avoiding Tokunbo 's attempts to control his hands.
Lahdenpera is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Tokunbo up.
Abrafo Tokunbo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lahdenpera scores with strikes from the back.
Lahdenpera is landing with strikes. Tokunbo can't take much more of this.

Lahdenpera has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Tokunbo! Can he survive? No! He's out! Lahdenpera gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Antti Lahdenpera!