PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tarmo Tampio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Robinson (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.

Tampio
vs
Robinson

171 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tarmo Tampio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Travis Robinson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Robinson shoots in for a double leg but Tampio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tampio doesn't manage to clinch there - Robinson circles away.

Tampio scores a takedown into full mount!
Robinson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Tampio controlling from the full mount.
Robinson doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Tampio with the ground and pound from mount.
Robinson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tampio. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Robinson tries to reverse the position but Tampio maintains control.
Robinson tries to hold on but Tampio pushes him away.
Robinson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tampio tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Robinson tries to improve his position but instead Tampio has taken his back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Tampio's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Tampio is trying to stick to Robinson's back but Robinson is turning into Tampio. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tampio's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Robinson.
Tampio looking to hit a scissor sweep but Robinson is one step ahead there.
Robinson wants to stand and escape but instead Tampio has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Robinson looks gassed!
Robinson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Tampio trying to control the position from guard on top but Robinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Robinson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Robinson is looking to stand up but Tampio isn't so interested in that idea.
Tampio passes Robinson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tampio is tying to control. Robinson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Robinson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tampio is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tampio trying to control from half guard but Robinson is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tampio controlling the pace.
Robinson pushes Tampio off looking to stand but Tampio dives back in and keeps control.
Tampio is taking a breather. Robinson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Robinson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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

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.
Tampio winds up and cracks Robinson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Tampio works his foot free and advances to mount.
Tampio working the ground and pound effectively.
Robinson has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Robinson grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Tampio slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarmo Tampio dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tampio blocks a head kick by Robinson.
Tampio misses with a takedown
and Robinson makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Tampio really felt that one!
Robinson explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Robinson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tampio.
Robinson throws a sloppy head kick and Tampio moves out of range easily.
Robinson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tampio shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Robinson counters with a slapping leg kick.
Robinson swinging wilding here.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Robinson.

Robinson stands up and beckons Tampio to his feet.
Robinson is breathing heavily.
Tampio misses with a takedown

and Robinson counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarmo Tampio. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tampio is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tampio wants a takedown but no success here.
Robinson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tampio has him pressed against the cage.
Robinson has had enough of the clinch but Tampio keeps him there for the moment.
Tampio is working for takedown but Robinson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Tampio manages to break the clinch.
Tarmo Tampio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Robinson moves into the clinch successfully.
Tampio is pressed up against the cage. Robinson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tampio down to the mat. Tampio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Robinson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tampio's guard.
Tampio bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Robinson's guard.
Robinson working a defensive guard but Tampio passes into half guard.
Tampio is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Robinson tries to kick Tampio off but Tampio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Robinson can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robinson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Robinson is looking to escape.
Tampio prevents Robinson from improving his position.
Tampio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Robinson keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Robinson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Tampio shoots and misses

and Robinson counters by moving into the clinch.
Robinson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Robinson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robinson is pressed up against the cage. Tampio has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Robinson down to the mat. Robinson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tampio circles away from the clinch attempt

and Tampio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Robinson trying to control from the bottom.
Tampio looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tampio thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Robinson's head.
Tampio trying to mount his opponent but Robinson defends it.
Robinson tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Tampio manages to move to mount!
Tarmo Tampio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tampio controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robinson is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Robinson tries to hold on but Tampio pushes him away.
Robinson is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Tampio has taken his back!
Robinson is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Robinson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Robinson gets a clinch.
Robinson stops a takedown attempt from Tampio.
Tampio is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Robinson breaks the clinch.
Robinson looks to throw a body kick

and Tampio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tampio sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Robinson's guard.
Tampio content to control rather than advance.
Tampio is keen to just control but Robinson is a slippery customer.
Tampio is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Robinson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Robinson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tampio closes the distance looking to clinch

and Robinson counters by clinching up.

Tampio has Robinson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Tampio pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Robinson tumbling to the mat - Tampio dives into Robinson's guard.
Robinson wants to stand but Tampio is controlling the position.

Tampio decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Robinson, up you get!

Robinson gets a takedown into half guard.
Tampio wants to control but Robinson is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tampio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tampio wants to control but Robinson is keeping busy.
Tampio is looking for a sweep. Robinson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Robinson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tampio wants to control but Robinson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Robinson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tampio keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tampio on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Tampio is pressing down on Robinson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Robinson wants to get up but he can't break Tampio's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tampio lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Robinson!
Robinson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Tampio manages to capitalize on a mistake by Robinson to take his back!
Robinson just trying to survive but Tampio is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Tampio's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Tampio is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Robinson is defending well though. Tampio let's go of the attempt for now.
Tampio is looking to control Robinson but Robinson is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Robinson trying to get back to his feet but Tampio is in full control for now.
Robinson trying to control the hands but Tampio won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tarmo Tampio showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tampio 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tarmo Tampio!