PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tarmo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Diotte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hovi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Vesa-Matti Loiri - Armo. Diotte has chosen Cypress Hill - I Want 2 Get High as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Hovi
vs
Diotte

200 cm
32
215 lbs
23 - 11 - 1

190 cm
36
220 lbs
31 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tarmo Hovi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andrew Diotte!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hovi checks a leg kick.
Hovi wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hovi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hovi definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Diotte fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hovi scores with a head kick. Diotte tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Diotte looks to land a left hand but Hovi moved out of range nicely.
Hovi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Diotte as he avoids it easily.

Diotte gets tackled into the cage by Hovi. Hovi maintains the clinch.
Hovi stalling in the clinch but Diotte improves position.
Hovi fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarmo Hovi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hovi throws an elbow that misses.
Hovi tries to pull guard but Diotte holds him up against the cage and eventually Hovi drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hovi blocks a body shot from Diotte.
Diotte misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Diotte has Hovi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hovi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Hovi breaks from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diotte looks to score with a jab to the body but Hovi is just out of range.
Hovi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hovi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hovi shoots in for a takedown but Diotte shows good takedown defense.
Diotte thumps Hovi with a low kick.
Diotte has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A shot to the liver by Diotte. Beautiful body shot.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Diotte.

Hovi closes the distance and clinches.
Diotte avoiding damage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Diotte.
Diotte receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Diotte doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hovi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Diotte tries to break free but Hovi pushes him back against the cage.
Hovi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Diotte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hovi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Diotte swivels and escapes.
Hovi shoots in but Diotte avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Diotte misses with a low kick.
Diotte misses with a kick to the body.
Diotte throws a nice inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diotte uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hovi has time to react.
Diotte throws a body shot but no joy.
Hovi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hovi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Diotte's waist but Diotte gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hovi off to one side.
Hovi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Diotte defends it nicely.
Diotte connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diotte turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hovi shoots in looking for a takedown. Diotte tries to sprawl out of it but Hovi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Diotte manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Diotte cracks Hovi with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Hovi looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Diotte finish him?
Diotte throws a monster overhand right that drops Hovi! Diotte follows up with more strikes from mount and the fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Andrew Diotte!
In his post fight interview, Andrew Diotte started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.