PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Niko Siilamo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Potku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Siilamo
vs
Potku

186 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Siilamo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Potku!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Siilamo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Potku swivels and escapes.

Potku takes the fight into the clinch.
Siilamo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Siilamo looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Siilamo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Siilamo is trying to drag Potku to the mat but Potku just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Potku manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Potku controlling Siilamo's posture.
Siilamo looking to pass the guard.
Potku wants to stand and escape but Siilamo is having none of it.

Siilamo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potku manages to capitalize on a mistake by Siilamo to take his back!
Siilamo is taking damage to the body and head.
Potku controls the position.
Siilamo tries to break free.

Potku has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Siilamo has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Potku keeps control of the position as Siilamo tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Potku looking for the choke from the back.

Potku patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Siilamo trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Siilamo rolls, trying to escape but Potku keeps control of the position.
Siilamo is breathing heavily.
Siilamo trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
You can see the frustration on Siilamo's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Potku lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku landing with strikes.
The referee is taking a good look at Siilamo as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Potku!
Potku loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Siilamo hold on?
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Siilamo just trying to survive but Potku is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Potku lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Siilamo.
Potku is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Potku gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Potku gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Potku apologises and we restart here on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Potku closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Siilamo to the mat! Siilamo manages to get full guard.
Siilamo looking for a sweep. Not yet Siilamo, not yet.

Potku gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Siilamo with a poor takedown

and Potku counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Potku works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Siilamo tries to get to full guard but Potku has control of the leg.
Siilamo is in trouble now - Potku has advanced to mount!
Potku looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Potku dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Potku misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Potku has closed the distance and engaged Siilamo in a clinch.
Potku gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Siilamo.
Potku's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Potku is pressed up against the cage. Siilamo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Potku down to the mat. Potku avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Potku misses with a hook. Siilamo ducked under it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Siilamo swats away the attempt to clinch by Potku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siilamo misses with a takedown

and Potku counters with a single leg into guard. Siilamo didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Niko Siilamo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Potku showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku is looking to stand up but Siilamo won't let him.
Potku passes Siilamo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Siilamo is trying to maintain the position but Potku is very close to passing his half guard.
Potku content to control rather than advance.
Siilamo tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Potku is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Siilamo pushes Potku off looking to stand but Potku dives back in and keeps control.
Potku content to control rather than advance.
Siilamo is trying to maintain the position but Potku is very close to passing his half guard.
Siilamo is looking to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Siilamo with a poor takedown

and Potku counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Siilamo trying to control the position.
Potku passes Siilamo's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Potku decides to return to a standing position.

Potku looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Potku seems content to control.
Siilamo wants to get back to full guard but Potku has passed into side control.
Potku raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Siilamo is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Potku showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Potku takes the fight into the clinch.
Siilamo tries to score a body lock takedown but Potku shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Potku tries a body shot but Siilamo blocks it.
Siilamo blocks an elbow strike.
Potku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Potku turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
You can see the frustration on Siilamo's face as Potku controls the position.
Siilamo gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Siilamo wants to improve his position but Potku is controlling well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Potku not doing much here.
Siilamo is staying active underneath Potku, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Potku trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Potku connects with a nice short shot to Siilamo's temple.
Potku performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tauno Potku just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Siilamo with a lazy takedown attempt

and Potku counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Siilamo trying to control from the bottom.
Potku takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Siilamo trying to hold on to Potku's head to control him but Potku postures up.
Potku working Siilamo over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Siilamo is trying to stand.
Siilamo wants to control but Potku passes into side.
Potku staying calm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Siilamo wants to control but Potku postures up.

Potku stands up and beckons Siilamo to his feet.
Tauno Potku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Potku drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Niko Siilamo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Potku moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tauno Potku comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Potku has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 25:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tauno Potku!