PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grigor Borisov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teppo Tahkojuusto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tahkojuusto comes into a darkened arena with his song building. AC/DC : T.N.T kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Borisov
vs
Tahkojuusto

185 cm
28
200 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

185 cm
32
186 lbs
11 - 13 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grigor Borisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Teppo Tahkojuusto!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tahkojuusto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Borisov defends it nicely.
Tahkojuusto takes a jab right on the kisser.

It looks like Teppo Tahkojuusto has been cut.
Tahkojuusto moves out of range of the strikes.
Borisov throws a looping overhand right but Tahkojuusto ducks down to avoid it.
Borisov missing with a left hand there. Tahkojuusto was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Borisov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Borisov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Tahkojuusto fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Borisov to the ground. Tahkojuusto is now in Borisov's guard.
Tahkojuusto trying to control but Borisov is working from the bottom.

Borisov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tahkojuusto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tahkojuusto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Borisov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borisov is pulling down on Tahkojuusto's head to control his posture.
Tahkojuusto throws a big elbow that misses.

Borisov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Borisov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Borisov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tahkojuusto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Borisov wants to sweep but no luck.

Tahkojuusto gets to his feet - Borisov follows without any prompting.

Tahkojuusto throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Borisov was covering up waiting for the punch and Tahkojuusto finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tahkojuusto looking to sit in guard and control but Borisov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tahkojuusto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Borisov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Borisov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Borisov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Tahkojuusto is proving hard to escape from.
Borisov looking to pass the guard.

Tahkojuusto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tahkojuusto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov preventing the sweep.
Tahkojuusto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Borisov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tahkojuusto looking to control and managing it successfully.
Borisov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Borisov tries to improve his position but instead Tahkojuusto has taken his back!
Tahkojuusto keeps control of the position as Borisov tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto struggling to keep hold of the position.
Tahkojuusto doesn't have the hooks in and Borisov manages to turn into his guard.
Borisov wants to stand but Tahkojuusto has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tahkojuusto pulls Borisov in to control the position.

Borisov stands and steps away. Tahkojuusto gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Borisov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice cross by Borisov.
Some wild striking there from Tahkojuusto.
Tahkojuusto tries to clinch but Borisov moves out of range.
Grigor Borisov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tahkojuusto gets the takedown into side control.
Borisov is trying to get back to half guard.

Tahkojuusto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Borisov, who protects the arm well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Teppo Tahkojuusto will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Teppo Tahkojuusto's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tahkojuusto wants to clinch up but Borisov keeps it at a distance.
Tahkojuusto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Tahkojuusto shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Borisov is trying to defend but Tahkojuusto finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Borisov is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Borisov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Borisov keeping moving, preventing Tahkojuusto from controlling successfully.
Borisov seems keen to control Tahkojuusto's posture.
Tahkojuusto postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Teppo Tahkojuusto has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto wants to pass the guard but Borisov is keeping the position.
Tahkojuusto trying to control the position from guard on top but Borisov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Borisov looking for a guillotine here but Tahkojuusto defends easily.
Tahkojuusto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tahkojuusto trying to control but Borisov is working from the bottom.

Borisov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Borisov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Borisov managing to control the position.
Tahkojuusto trying to control but Borisov is working from the bottom.

Borisov is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tahkojuusto defends well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Borisov is on top in guard.

Tahkojuusto has his feet on Borisov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borisov stuffs the takedown.
Grigor Borisov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Borisov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Borisov wants it to stay on the feet.
Grigor Borisov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Teppo Tahkojuusto.
Borisov throws a body punch but Tahkojuusto moves out of range.
Borisov misses with a body shot
and Tahkojuusto counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A punch lands to the side of Tahkojuusto 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Borisov takes a swing at Tahkojuusto's ribcage but misses.
Tahkojuusto shoots in for a double leg but Borisov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Borisov lands a right hook to the body.
Borisov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Borisov wants it to stay on the feet.
Tahkojuusto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tahkojuusto takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Borisov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tahkojuusto was well out of range. Poor timing from Borisov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Borisov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tahkojuusto moves away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tahkojuusto is defended easily by Borisov.
Borisov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Tahkojuusto takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Tahkojuusto - that will leave a mark!
Tahkojuusto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Borisov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Borisov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tahkojuusto was well out of range. Poor timing from Borisov.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tahkojuusto fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Borisov, pushing him back against the cage.
Tahkojuusto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Borisov wants to get back to striking at distance but Tahkojuusto won't allow it.
Borisov can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Grigor Borisov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Teppo Tahkojuusto's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tahkojuusto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Borisov.
No joy there for Borisov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tahkojuusto fails to land the takedown.
Tahkojuusto tries to clinch up but Borisov circles away and keeps his distance.
Borisov tries to bum rush Tahkojuusto with a series of wild strikes but Tahkojuusto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tahkojuusto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Borisov defends it nicely.
Tahkojuusto takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Borisov swinging wildly here.
Borisov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Borisov duly obliges.
Teppo Tahkojuusto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tahkojuusto slips a jab and a cross from Borisov.
Grigor Borisov is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto moves in looking to clinch but Borisov pushes him off.

Tahkojuusto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tahkojuusto in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Borisov gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Tahkojuusto wants to control the pace but Borisov is squirming around nicely.
Tahkojuusto looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Tahkojuusto lands a big shot there that rocks Borisov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Borisov is trying desperately to improve position.

Tahkojuusto is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Borisov throws a nice looking combination but Tahkojuusto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Borisov sprawls well. Borisov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tahkojuusto gets slowly back to his feet.
Grigor Borisov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Teppo Tahkojuusto.
Tahkojuusto shoots for a double leg takedown but Borisov sprawls well. He's pushed Tahkojuusto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tahkojuusto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Borisov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tahkojuusto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Borisov.
Borisov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tahkojuusto.
Tahkojuusto tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tahkojuusto shoots in for a takedown but Borisov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A punch combination from Borisov misses.
Nice body punch from Borisov.
Tahkojuusto misses with a takedown
and Tahkojuusto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Borisov.
Tahkojuusto misses with a low kick.
Tahkojuusto walks into a jab.
Tahkojuusto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tahkojuusto lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Tahkojuusto drops his hands momentarily and Borisov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tahkojuusto shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Borisov sprawls well. Borisov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tahkojuusto gets slowly back to his feet.
Borisov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tahkojuusto wants to clinch.
Tahkojuusto fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borisov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Borisov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Borisov.

Tahkojuusto is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Borisov connects with a combination that backs up Tahkojuusto into the cage. Borisov lands a flurry of punches that gets past Tahkojuusto's guard. Tahkojuusto is down and the referee has seen enough. It is all over! Borisov bursts into tears - this win obviously means a huge amount to him.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Grigor Borisov!