PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hannu Tappanii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jani Reuhkala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hannu Tappanii had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.2lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tappanii
vs
Reuhkala

179 cm
19
204 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

179 cm
19
197 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hannu Tappanii!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jani Reuhkala!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tappanii darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Reuhkala is positioning himself well to prevent Tappanii advancing to mount.
Reuhkala trying to control but Tappanii postures up.

Tappanii is working for a submission of some sort.
Reuhkala trying to control from the bottom.

Tappanii looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tappanii uses his free foot to push down on Reuhkala's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Reuhkala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tappanii trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Tappanii goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Reuhkala is on top in guard.
Tappanii is pulling down on Reuhkala's head to control his posture.
Tappanii wants to sweep but no luck.
Tappanii pulls Reuhkala in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reuhkala prevents Tappanii from getting back to his feet.
Reuhkala trying to control but Tappanii is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hannu Tappanii.
Tappanii shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reuhkala sprawls well. Reuhkala wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tappanii gets slowly back to his feet.
Tappanii gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Reuhkala counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tappanii tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reuhkala sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tappanii somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannu Tappanii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reuhkala stuns Tappanii with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Reuhkala!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappanii closes this distance looking for a takedown but Reuhkala circles away.

Tappanii shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tappanii showed some decent athleticism there.
Reuhkala is trying to get back to full guard.

Tappanii is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Tappanii looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tappanii takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reuhkala is not content to let Tappanii control the position.
Reuhkala trying to control from the bottom.
Tappanii working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Reuhkala's thigh. Reuhkala counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Tappanii trying to control but Reuhkala is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tappanii drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tappanii jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Reuhkala keeping moving, preventing Tappanii from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannu Tappanii 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.

Reuhkala's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Reuhkala duly obliges.
Tappanii shoots in for a takedown but Reuhkala shows good takedown defense.
Tappanii fails to land the takedown.
Reuhkala scores with a hook.
Tappanii walks into a straight right hand from Reuhkala.
A swing and a miss from Reuhkala.
Tappanii fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannu Tappanii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Tappanii with that takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tappanii closes this distance looking for a takedown but Reuhkala circles away.
Hannu Tappanii seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tappanii misses with a takedown attempt - Reuhkala sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tappanii throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Reuhkala's waist but Reuhkala gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tappanii off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reuhkala lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tappanii circles away quickly and effectively.
Jani Reuhkala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A combination from Reuhkala does no damage.
Tappanii fails to land the takedown.
Reuhkala's corner calls for a 1-2. Reuhkala obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tappanii looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tappanii looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reuhkala is fending him off so far but Tappanii persists. Nope, Reuhkala circles away and we're back to standing.
Tappanii with a poor takedown

and Reuhkala counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Reuhkala.
Tappanii has had enough of the clinch but Reuhkala keeps him there for the moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Reuhkala breaks the clinch.
Tappanii shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Reuhkala as he avoids it easily.

Tappanii darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hannu Tappanii overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tappanii is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Reuhkala trying to control here.
Reuhkala is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tappanii's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tappanii's back!
Reuhkala biding his time, looking for the opening.
Reuhkala is trying to stick to Tappanii's back but Tappanii is turning into Reuhkala. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Reuhkala's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Tappanii.

Tappanii thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reuhkala looking for a sweep. Not yet Reuhkala, not yet.
Tappanii trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reuhkala being controlled here, momentarily.
Tappanii looking to pass the guard.
Tappanii is working hard here to advance position.
Tappanii trying to control the position from guard on top but Reuhkala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tappanii looking to pass the guard.
Tappanii is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tappanii shoots in for a takedown but Reuhkala shows good takedown defense.
Reuhkala misses with a straight right.
Tappanii takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Tappanii takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice uppercut there from Reuhkala.

Tappanii gets a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tappanii is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jani Reuhkala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tappanii shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reuhkala pinned against the cage. Reuhkala gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Reuhkala lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Tappanii avoids a punch combination nicely.
Reuhkala displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tappanii.
Reuhkala throws a shot from downtown. Tappanii moves away and avoids it.
Tappanii shoots in for a takedown but Reuhkala shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hannu Tappanii. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reuhkala keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Reuhkala defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tappanii.
Tappanii uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reuhkala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tappanii shoots for a takedown but Reuhkala saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tappanii fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tappanii.
Reuhkala scores with a nice strike.
Tappanii fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reuhkala avoids it really well and circles away.
Tappanii shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Reuhkala as he jumps to the side.
Tappanii is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reuhkala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd cheers as Reuhkala lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tappanii doesn't seem phased though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from Reuhkala. Those never looked like landing.
Jani Reuhkala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reuhkala keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tappanii.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappanii misses with a takedown attempt
and Reuhkala counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Reuhkala stuns Tappanii with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Reuhkala jabs at Tappanii's body.
Reuhkala tries to bum rush Tappanii with a series of wild strikes but Tappanii uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Reuhkala bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tappanii's head backwards.
The crowd cheers as Reuhkala lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tappanii doesn't seem phased though.
Tappanii has a takedown stuffed.
Tappanii takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Reuhkala throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tappanii stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Reuhkala throws a shot from downtown. Tappanii moves away and avoids it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tappanii.
Reuhkala lands a nice shot that snaps Tappanii's head back.
Tappanii walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Reuhkala catches Tappanii right on the button with a cross.
Tappanii dodges the punch combination from Reuhkala.
Tappanii ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Reuhkala works the jab nicely.
Reuhkala throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Tappanii is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reuhkala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tappanii on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tappanii is trying hard to land a takedown here. Reuhkala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Reuhkala paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Tappanii is rocked!
Reuhkala stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Reuhkala wants it to stay on the feet.
Oh Tappanii is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Reuhkala lands a big right hand that sends Tappanii crashing to the mat! Reuhkala stays standing though and waves Tappanii back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tappanii fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reuhkala avoids it really well and circles away.
Reuhkala flashes Tappanii a smile before throwing a beast of a right hand, straight down the pipe. Tappanii's eyes follow the hand right onto his nose, taking in it's full glory... and then darkness. Tappanii crumples to the floor! He's out cold! Reuhkala punches the air and yells at the top of his lungs - yeeeeeeeeeeah!!!! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jani Reuhkala!
An out of breath Jani Reuhkala thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.