PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nalle Karhu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iko Rapada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rapada is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: M83-We Own The Sky. Iko Rapada is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Karhu
vs
Rapada

184 cm
24
194 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
28
197 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Resistance
Resistance

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nalle Karhu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Iko Rapada!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rapada on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Karhu misses with a straight right.
Karhu jabs at Rapada's body.
Karhu throws a poor cross that misses
and Rapada counters with a straight right hand.
Karhu misses with a body shot.
Rapada throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Karhu scores a takedown into full mount!
Karhu controlling the pace for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Karhu working for a submission but Rapada is keeping him at bay.

Karhu is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Rapada to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rapada shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rapada is looking to improve his position but Karhu isn't that keen on the idea.
Karhu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Nalle Karhu.
The fighters circling - Rapada throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rapada swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rapada falls off balance throwing a combination

and Karhu counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Rapada's guard now.
Karhu controlling from the top position.
Karhu has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Karhu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Karhu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Rapada escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Karhu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rapada has his foot on Karhu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Karhu works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Karhu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Karhu landing strikes.
Rapada takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Karhu has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu moves into full mount!
Karhu controlling the pace for now.
Rapada can't escape the position.
Karhu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Karhu's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rapada is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nalle Karhu dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Karhu scores with a shot to the body.
Karhu punishes Rapada's body with a nice straight punch.
Karhu scores with a nice right hand.
Karhu lands a jab to Rapada's midsection.
Rapada takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rapada scores with a hook to the body. Karhu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Iko Rapada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab by Karhu.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rapada throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Karhu swings for the body but Rapada moves out of range.
Karhu throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rapada on the side of the head.

Karhu drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rapada struggling a bit here.
Rapada is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapada is trying to escape the position but Karhu is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karhu seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rapada for as long as he can get away with.
Karhu tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Karhu has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Karhu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rapada tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Karhu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Karhu wants to finish this one by submission but Rapada is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Karhu.
Karhu controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapada is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Karhu controlling from the full mount.
Karhu landing shots from mount.
Karhu has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rapada's face.
Karhu connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Rapada squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Karhu controlling from the full mount.
Karhu punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rapada tries to reverse the position but Karhu maintains control.
Rapada wants to control but Karhu is having none of it.
Karhu content just to control the position here.
Karhu prevents Rapada from getting the reversal.
Karhu controlling from the full mount.
Karhu working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Karhu tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nalle Karhu dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Karhu throws an overhand right that lands on Rapada's shoulder, as Rapada tries to avoid the shot.
Karhu misses with a looping right.
Rapada walks into a jab.
Karhu misses with a lunging right hand
and Rapada cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Karhu connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rapada's hands.
Rapada throws a head kick that misses.

Karhu drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Karhu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Karhu working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapada wants to sweep but no luck.
Karhu engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nalle Karhu wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rapada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Karhu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rapada circles away.
Rapada takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Karhu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rapada can do to turn this around?
Rapada looks to land a combination but Karhu avoids it well.
Karhu lands a body shot.
Rapada takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Karhu scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karhu performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rapada tries to get to full guard but Karhu has control of the leg.
Karhu is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nalle Karhu just wasn't active enough.
Karhu scores with a jab.

Karhu looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nalle Karhu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rapada being controlled here, momentarily.

Karhu is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Karhu 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Nalle Karhu has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A big left from Karhu misses.
Iko Rapada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Karhu shoots in and bounces Rapada off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Rapada is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Karhu is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nalle Karhu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Karhu 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nalle Karhu!