PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Togi Makabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juha Ahokas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Makabe's entrance music is Immigrant Song. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ahokas's choice of entrance music: ...Baby one more time!. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Makabe
vs
Ahokas

196 cm
29
265 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

192 cm
39
280 lbs
36 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Togi Makabe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Ahokas!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makabe wants to clinch.
Ahokas swats away the attempt to clinch by Makabe.
Ahokas tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Ahokas scores with a takedown into Makabe's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Makabe utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Makabe keeping moving, preventing Ahokas from controlling successfully.
Ahokas tries to free his leg and advance position but Makabe is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahokas advances to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ahokas lands a nice short elbow.

It looks like Togi Makabe has been cut.
Ahokas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Makabe's head.
Ahokas is looking to take a break and control but Makabe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahokas wants to free his trapped foot but Makabe is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ahokas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ahokas not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ahokas winds up and cracks Makabe with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Makabe keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Makabe is trying to stand back up but Ahokas is controlling him
Ahokas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ahokas in particular looking to stall.
Makabe wants to get back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ahokas missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ahokas throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ahokas not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ahokas blocks a head kick by Makabe.
Ahokas misses the shot to the body.
Ahokas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Makabe tries to avoid it but Ahokas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Makabe to the ground. Makabe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Makabe moves into range and clinches up with Ahokas.
Makabe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Makabe tries to land a knee to the head but Ahokas blocks with his arms.
Ahokas misses with a body punch.
Ahokas is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Makabe is keeping busy.
Ahokas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Makabe is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Makabe is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ahokas is keeping busy.
Makabe lands a hook that snaps the head of Ahokas backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makabe utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Makabe connects with a knee to the head.
Ahokas effectively controlling the action here.

Makabe drops Ahokas with a big knee straight up the middle! Ahokas is covering up against the ropes but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

It looks like Juha Ahokas has been cut.
Ahokas looks winded!
Ahokas shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Makabe defends it nicely.
Togi Makabe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juha Ahokas.
Makabe tries to clinch up.

Makabe moves into the clinch.
Makabe with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Makabe with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Makabe breaks from the clinch.
Makabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ahokas drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Makabe defends it well.

Ahokas looking to score a takedown here. Makabe is defending well but Ahokas drives through and ends up in Makabe's guard.
Ahokas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Makabe is keeping the position for now.
Makabe is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Ahokas throwing strikes but missing.
Ahokas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ahokas loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've been informed that Ahokas has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Makabe is looking to stand up but Ahokas isn't so interested in that idea.
Ahokas throwing strikes from guard but Makabe blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Togi Makabe dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Makabe has closed the distance and engaged Ahokas in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Makabe.
Makabe pushes Ahokas back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Makabe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Makabe lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ahokas circles away quickly and effectively.
Ahokas let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Makabe keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Togi Makabe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ahokas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Makabe was well out of range. Poor timing from Ahokas.
Makabe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ahokas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahokas throws the left hand but Makabe avoids the punch easily.
Ahokas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Makabe moves away.
Ahokas just misses with a punch to the body.
Ahokas misses with a wild body shot.

Makabe rushes Ahokas and presses him up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makabe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ahokas leaning against his opponent.
Makabe misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ahokas.
Makabe trying to land knees to the body.
Ahokas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Makabe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Makabe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Come on Ahokas - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ahokas holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Makabe throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ahokas blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahokas takes a knee to the side of the body.
Ahokas blocks an elbow strike.
Makabe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ahokas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Makabe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Makabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Ahokas.
Makabe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ahokas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Makabe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ahokas is trying to stall.
Makabe is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ahokas can do to turn this around?
Ahokas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Makabe putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Ahokas in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ahokas is breathing heavily.
Makabe lands with a light punch inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makabe trying to control the position but instead, Ahokas has worked for underhooks and has pushed Makabe into the ropes.
Makabe lands a knee to the body.
Makabe lands a body shot.
Makabe looking to throw knees to the head but Ahokas is blocking nicely.

Makabe breaks from the clinch.
Makabe wants to clinch up but Ahokas keeps it at a distance.
Makabe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Makabe wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahokas throws a body shot but no joy.
Makabe is looking to clinch but Ahokas is avoiding it.
Ahokas lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Togi Makabe's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Makabe tries to clinch but Ahokas is having none of it.
Makabe lands a nice looking body kick.
Makabe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ahokas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Makabe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Makabe tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Ahokas manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Makabe fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Makabe is looking to clinch.
Makabe is looking to clinch but Ahokas is avoiding it.
And Ahokas tries to counter it with a takedown but Makabe pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Ahokas is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Makabe rather than just go for the knockout.
Ahokas keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Togi Makabe dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Makabe closes the distance but Ahokas moves to the side
and Ahokas counters with a right hand to the body.
Juha Ahokas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ahokas throws a body punch but Makabe moves out of range.
Ahokas avoids the head kick by Makabe.
Ahokas swats away the attempt to clinch by Makabe.
Ahokas throws a body punch but Makabe moves out of range.

Makabe lands a big head kick that sends Ahokas tumbling to the mat! Makabe takes a step backwards and waves Ahokas back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Ahokas is rocked!
Ahokas misses the shot to the body.
Ahokas is still on wobbly legs! Can Makabe finish him?
Makabe takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ahokas seems to have recovered his senses.
Makabe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ahokas with the counter takedown but Makabe avoids it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ahokas swings away with a body shot that misses
and Makabe counters with a left and a right that stings Ahokas.
Ahokas keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Ahokas throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Makabe feinted with a counter takedown.
Makabe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Makabe instigates a clinch.
Ahokas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Makabe's elbow.
Togi Makabe has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Knees in the clinch landing for Makabe.
Ahokas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Makabe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ahokas has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Makabe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Ahokas's face.
Makabe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Makabe has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head that stumbles Ahokas - he's in trouble! Another big knee to the head from Makabe, and another! Ahokas is out on his feet - the ref jumps in to save him and ends the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Togi Makabe!
A very excited looking Togi Makabe made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Juha Ahokas spoke after the fight, saying 'Sucker!'.