PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Arvydas Sabonis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarmo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sabonis's entrance music is James Brown - Superbad. A fine choice. Hovi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Vesa-Matti Loiri - Armo. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Sabonis
vs
Hovi

210 cm
35
289 lbs
34 - 17 - 0

200 cm
29
244 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Hellbent
Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Arvydas Sabonis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tarmo Hovi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sabonis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hovi throws a solid leg kick but Sabonis takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hovi.
Sabonis shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hovi has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Sabonis is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Sabonis scores with a hook.
Hovi thuds his shin into the meat of Sabonis's side.
Hovi looks to score with a jab to the body but Sabonis is just out of range.
Sabonis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sabonis throws the kick towards the body but Hovi avoids it.
Sabonis moves out of range of the body kick from Hovi.
Crunch! Hovi slams his shin into Sabonis's torso.
Sabonis scores with a spinning back kick!
Hovi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sabonis doesn't seem bothered though.
Hovi misses with a head kick.
Sabonis throws a body punch but Hovi moves out of range.
Sabonis swings for the body but Hovi moves out of range.
Tarmo Hovi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hovi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hovi throws a jab when Sabonis was well out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hovi. Sabonis does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovi lands with a good body shot.
Hovi throws a push kick but Sabonis slaps the foot to one side.
Hovi lands a nice looking body shot.
Hovi misses with a body shot.
Sabonis is looking to score with low kicks.
Hovi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hovi checks a low kick from Sabonis.
Hovi slips under a jab.
Hovi takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Sabonis has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Le Prieuré de Sion in the buildup to the fight.
Sabonis scores with a jab to the body.
Hovi thumps Sabonis with a low kick.
Hovi takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Good shot there by Hovi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hovi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hovi cracks a nice hook into Sabonis's ribs.
Sabonis takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovi checks a low kick from Sabonis.
Hovi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Hovi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sabonis.
Sabonis seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Sabonis buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sabonis has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Hovi.
Hovi throws a hook but Sabonis avoids it easily.
As Hovi tries to get set, Sabonis tries to push him back and clinch up but Hovi manages to avoid the attempt.
Hovi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Sabonis checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Sabonis is looking to counter the offense by Hovi and move into the clinch.
Sabonis lands a jab.
Hovi avoids the body shot from Sabonis.
Sabonis throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sabonis ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sabonis misses the jab.
Hovi misses with a looping left.
A slow jab from Hovi misses its intended target.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Sabonis checks a leg kick.
Sabonis wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hovi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sabonis at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hovi throws a body shot but no joy.
Sabonis takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Hovi connects with a solid leg kick.
Sabonis works the jab nicely.
Hovi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hovi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Sabonis is out of range.
Hovi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sabonis lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hovi's sensitive parts.

Sabonis has closed the distance and engaged Hovi in a clinch.
Sabonis trying to stall but Hovi improves his position.
A short right from Sabonis.

Sabonis pulls guard effortlessly.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Sabonis has his foot on Hovi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hovi works his way back into a safe position though.
Hovi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hovi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Sabonis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hovi defends it easily.

Sabonis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hovi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hovi trying to control the position from guard on top but Sabonis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hovi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarmo Hovi dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sabonis avoids the head kick by Hovi.
Hovi tried to score with a low kick but Sabonis checks it.
Hovi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Hovi. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Hovi slips a jab from Sabonis.
Hovi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Sabonis's head backwards.
Sabonis scores with a body shot.
Sabonis is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Sabonis misses with a low kick as Hovi jumps back.
Hovi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sabonis doesn't manage to clinch there - Hovi circles away.
Hovi tries to score with a low kick but Sabonis moves his leg out of the way.
Sabonis lands with a shot to the body.
Tarmo Hovi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sabonis connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabonis is looking to slow Hovi down with leg kicks.
Hovi throws a sloppy head kick and Sabonis moves out of range easily.
Sabonis moves out of range of the body kick from Hovi.
Sabonis on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sabonis has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovi has a couple of punches blocked by Sabonis.
Sabonis blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sabonis stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Hovi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hovi takes a swing at Sabonis's ribcage but misses.
Sabonis throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Sabonis looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Good leg kick by Sabonis there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sabonis lands a jab to Hovi's midsection.
Sabonis is looking to clinch but Hovi is avoiding it.
Hovi follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Hovi lands a nice looking body kick.
Sabonis lands a jab to Hovi's midsection.
Sabonis tries to clinch but Hovi moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabonis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hovi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sabonis will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Hovi takes a swing at Sabonis's ribcage but misses.
Hovi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sabonis staying out of range there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hovi misses with a low kick.
Hovi throws a lazy right hand but Sabonis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sabonis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hovi.
Hovi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sabonis throws a leg kick but Hovi moved away.
And Hovi responds with a good body kick, but Sabonis manages to step out the way in time.
Hovi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sabonis.
A shot to the liver by Sabonis. Beautiful body shot.
Sabonis moves out of range of the body kick.
Sabonis throws a body shot but no joy.
Hovi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hovi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sabonis scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
An inside leg kick from Sabonis misses.
Sabonis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hovi tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Sabonis is able to avoid easily.
Sabonis misses with a shot to the body
and Hovi counters with a stiff right hand.
Hovi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Sabonis misses with a low kick as Hovi jumps back.
Hovi keeps the fight on the outside.
Sabonis avoids the body shot from Hovi.
As Hovi tries to get set, Sabonis tries to push him back and clinch up but Hovi manages to avoid the attempt.
Hovi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Hovi blocks the leg kick.
Hovi checks the leg kick.
Hovi throws a head kick but Sabonis moves out of range.
Sabonis is looking to counter the offense by Hovi and move into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hovi gets tackled into the cage by Sabonis. Sabonis maintains the clinch.
Hovi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hovi.
Sabonis looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hovi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sabonis.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sabonis misses with a kick to the body.
Sabonis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hovi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sabonis uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hovi.
Sabonis is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hovi.
Hovi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hovi moves away from the strike by Sabonis.
Sabonis is looking to wear down Hovi with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jab by Sabonis.
A jab lands there for Hovi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tarmo Hovi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Sabonis's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Hovi cracks Sabonis with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hovi cracks the inside of Sabonis's front leg.
A left lands for Sabonis.
Sabonis thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hovi if he has to take too many more of those.
Sabonis misses the jab.
A bone on bone clash there as Sabonis blocks the leg kick.
Sabonis throws a shot from downtown. Hovi moves away and avoids it.
Sabonis throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hovi explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Sabonis misses with a wild body shot.
Hovi cracks the inside of Sabonis's front leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hovi throws a hook but Sabonis blocks it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hovi - that will leave a mark!
Sabonis takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sabonis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Sabonis working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hovi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sabonis digs a good hook to Hovi's body.
Hovi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sabonis connects with an inside leg kick.
Hovi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Sabonis pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hovi feints a counter leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Sabonis as he connects with a hook.
Hovi blocks a low kick nicely.
Hovi tries to work over Sabonis's front leg with a kick but Sabonis checks it.
Hovi jabs at Sabonis's body.
Hovi throws a wild body kick that Sabonis sees coming a mile off.
Hovi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sabonis takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hovi lands with a kick to the temple. Sabonis shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Hovi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sabonis manages to avoid it.
Arvydas Sabonis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hovi scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hovi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Sabonis.
An inside leg kick from Sabonis misses.
Hovi misses the shot to the body.
Hovi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hovi scores with a jab to the body.
Sabonis takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hovi misses with a wild body shot.
Hovi moves out of range of the leg kick from Sabonis.

Sabonis gets a clinch.

Sabonis breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hovi tried to score with a low kick but Sabonis checks it.
Sabonis is looking to clinch.
Hovi was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Sabonis uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hovi.
Sabonis lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabonis lands a leg kick that knocks Hovi off balance momentarily.
Sabonis misses with a hook.
Hovi misses with a straight left.
Sabonis wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hovi lands a nice looking body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hovi feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sabonis's calf.
Hovi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Sabonis looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hovi with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hovi blocks the body kick.
Hovi scores with a kick to the midsection.

Sabonis gets a clinch.
Hovi can't find room to land a body shot as Sabonis controls the action.
Hovi lands a nice shot to the body.
Hovi lands with a short shot to the head.
Sabonis lands a hook that snaps the head of Hovi backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sabonis tries to pull guard but Hovi holds him up against the cage and eventually Sabonis drops back down to his feet.
Sabonis tries to pull guard but Hovi holds him up against the cage and eventually Sabonis drops back down to his feet.
Hovi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sabonis blocks an uppercut.
Hovi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hovi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sabonis misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hovi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Hovi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hovi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tarmo Hovi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hovi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tarmo Hovi!
In his post fight interview, Tarmo Hovi started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.