PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tarja Halonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pasi Pikkarainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Halonen
vs
Pikkarainen

190 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
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, Tarja Halonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pasi Pikkarainen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Halonen. Pikkarainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Halonen throws a hook to the side of Pikkarainen's head but Pikkarainen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Halonen thows a body shot but no joy.
Halonen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Tarja Halonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Halonen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pikkarainen's guard.
Halonen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pikkarainen controls Halonen momentarily but Halonen frees himself.

Pikkarainen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Halonen is aware though and is defending well.
Pikkarainen looking for a sweep. Not yet Pikkarainen, not yet.
Halonen trying to control but Pikkarainen is working from the bottom.
Halonen is fighting to break Pikkarainen's control of his arms but Pikkarainen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pikkarainen shoots in and drives through. Halonen sprawls well.
Pikkarainen looks gassed!
A slow jab from Halonen misses its intended target.
Halonen connects with a body shot that sends Pikkarainen's belly button to the back.
A looping hook to the body misses from Halonen. Pikkarainen does a little dance to reset his feet.

Halonen gets a takedown into half guard.
Halonen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Well, if Halonen 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen is not content to let Halonen control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Halonen is pressing down on Pikkarainen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pikkarainen is holding on for now.
Halonen prevents Pikkarainen from improving his position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Halonen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Pikkarainen is not content to let Halonen control the position.
Halonen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pikkarainen on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Halonen wants to pass to mount but Pikkarainen is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tarja Halonen.
Halonen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Halonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halonen looks to throw the jab but Pikkarainen is out of range.
Halonen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pikkarainen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Halonen shoots in and gets a takedown into Pikkarainen's guard.
Halonen distracts Pikkarainen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Halonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pikkarainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Halonen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Halonen looking to sit in guard and control but Pikkarainen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halonen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pikkarainen preventing the sweep.
Halonen trying to keep a closed guard but Pikkarainen is proving a slippery customer.
Halonen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halonen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pikkarainen.
Halonen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Halonen tries to get out of the position.
Pikkarainen throws a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pikkarainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Halonen is keeping the position for now.
Pikkarainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Halonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarja Halonen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Halonen misses with a looping right.
A left lands for Halonen.
Halonen stuffs the takedown.
Pikkarainen moves out of range as Halonen strikes.
Pikkarainen fails with a takedown attempt.
Halonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pikkarainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Halonen.
Pikkarainen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Halonen tries to avoid it but Pikkarainen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Halonen to the ground. Halonen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tarja Halonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pasi Pikkarainen.
Pikkarainen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Halonen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pikkarainen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Halonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pikkarainen keeps working.
Pikkarainen is looking to regain half guard here but Halonen keeps moving and retains side control.
Halonen moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Halonen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Pikkarainen for as long as he can get away with.
The ground and pound from Halonen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halonen trying to control the position but Pikkarainen is working away.
Halonen staying calm.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tarja Halonen wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Halonen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Halonen content to stall in guard here.
Pikkarainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Halonen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen trying to control the position.
Halonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pikkarainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Tarja Halonen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Pikkarainen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pikkarainen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Halonen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pikkarainen wants to get back to full guard.
Halonen not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen trying to control but Halonen postures up.
Halonen is trying to control. Pikkarainen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Halonen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Halonen trying to control the action but Pikkarainen is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Halonen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Tarja Halonen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Halonen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Halonen wants to control but Pikkarainen is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarja Halonen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pikkarainen shoots in looking for a takedown. Halonen tries to sprawl out of it but Pikkarainen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Halonen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Halonen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Pikkarainen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Halonen looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pikkarainen is on top in guard.
Halonen keeping full guard, as Pikkarainen tries to pass.
Pikkarainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Halonen holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Halonen scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Halonen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Pikkarainen's half guard.

Pikkarainen looking for submissions off his back.
Halonen uses his free foot to push down on Pikkarainen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Pikkarainen.
Halonen trying to control but Pikkarainen is having none of it.
Halonen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen tries to lock up and control but Halonen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Halonen prevents Pikkarainen from getting the reversal.
Halonen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Pikkarainen wants to hold on but Halonen pushes him away.
Halonen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Pikkarainen because Halonen loaded up on that one.
Halonen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Halonen trying to control but Pikkarainen is having none of it.
Pikkarainen holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Halonen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Halonen wants to control the pace but Pikkarainen is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halonen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Halonen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tarja Halonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Halonen throwing strikes here but Pikkarainen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Halonen controlling from the full mount.
Pikkarainen tries to hold on but Halonen pushes him away.
Halonen throws some wild stikes that Pikkarainen manages to avoid easily.
Halonen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halonen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Halonen unloads with some shots from mount but Pikkarainen bucks and avoids them well.
Pasi Pikkarainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halonen throwing strikes here but Pikkarainen is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Halonen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Pikkarainen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halonen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Halonen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tarja Halonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tarja Halonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Halonen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tarja Halonen!