PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tadashi Masaru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juha Tappio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tappio is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kari Tapio - Juna kulkee vaan. Tadashi Masaru has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Masaru
vs
Tappio

176 cm
23
166 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

180 cm
26
165 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tadashi Masaru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Tappio!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masaru connects with a body shot that sends Tappio's belly button to the back.
Masaru scores with a jab to the body.
Masaru keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Masaru comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tappio takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Masaru throws a poor cross that misses
and Tappio counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Masaru thinking.
Masaru misses the jab.
Masaru throws the left hand but Tappio avoids the punch easily.
Masaru paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Masaru throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Masaru swinging wildly here.
Tadashi Masaru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masaru moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Masaru, as that shot connected.
Masaru lands with a cross.

Tappio is rocked!
Tappio swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tappio is still on wobbly legs! Can Masaru finish him?
Masaru slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Tappio gets a double leg takedown into Masaru's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Masaru wants to stand up but Tappio is controlling him.
Tappio seems to have recovered his senses.
Tappio stays in close to Masaru's body and controls the position.
Tappio connects with a couple of short punches.
Masaru wants to stand and escape but Tappio is having none of it.
Masaru trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Tappio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappio trying to control the position from guard on top but Masaru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tappio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Masaru utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tappio loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tappio not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tappio has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Masaru wants to stand up but Tappio is controlling him.
Tappio passes Masaru's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Masaru defending well though.
Masaru blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tappio.
Tappio is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tappio is keen to just control but Masaru is a slippery customer.
Well, if Tappio is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Juha Tappio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Masaru rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Tappio counters with a nice body shot.
Masaru rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tappio moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Tappio shoots in and bounces Masaru off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tappio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Masaru is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masaru is looking to stand up but Tappio isn't so interested in that idea.
Tappio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tappio trying to control but Masaru is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tappio not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tappio trying to control but Masaru is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tadashi Masaru will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Masaru scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tappio in his tracks.
Tappio fails with the takedown.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Tappio, as that shot connected.

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

It looks like Juha Tappio has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tappio walks into a straight right, dropping him to the canvas! Masaru swarms him and finishes the fight with a hail of punches! What a brutal finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Tadashi Masaru!
Our winner, Tadashi Masaru, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.