PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tapani Kansalainen (ranked 1737 p4p, 183 weight class) and George Steve (ranked 1187 p4p, 123 weight class). Steve is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Justin Bieber ft. Ariana Grande - Let Me Think Bout You. Tapani Kansalainen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kansalainen
vs
Steve

169 cm
21
150 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

170 cm
21
150 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Red Light Coffeeshop
Bullet Proof System

IniTech Nutrition
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tapani Kansalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, George Steve!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steve uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kansalainen.
Kansalainen throws a sloppy body shot
and Steve connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Steve cracks Kansalainen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kansalainen avoids the head kick by Steve.
Steve slips a jab from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen moves in looking to clinch but Steve pushes him off.
Steve wants to counter with a clinch but Kansalainen pushes him away.
Kansalainen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steve buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Steve uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen misses with a left hand
and Steve counters with an outside leg kick.
Kansalainen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Steve.
Kansalainen avoids a kick to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steve. Kansalainen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Steve avoids the body shot from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen cracks Steve with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kansalainen throws a jab when Steve was well out of range.
Kansalainen misses with a hook
and Steve counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kansalainen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve throws a body shot but no joy.
Kansalainen throws a nice looking combination but Steve bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kansalainen swings widly with a right hand
and Steve counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steve is looking to slow Kansalainen down with leg kicks.
Kansalainen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Steve stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Steve pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Steve is looking to land body kicks.
Steve throws an overhand right that lands on Kansalainen's shoulder, as Kansalainen tries to avoid the shot.
Kansalainen throws a lazy right hand but Steve sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kansalainen slips under a jab.
Steve avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kansalainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Steve is just out of range.
Steve let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kansalainen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kansalainen backing away here, and Steve unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Steve moves out of range as Kansalainen strikes.
Kansalainen misses with a body shot.
Kansalainen throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve throws a head kick but Kansalainen moves out of range.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Steve steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Kansalainen.
We've been told by Kansalainen's head coaches at Gangsterdamage that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Kansalainen clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steve blocks an uppercut.
Kansalainen throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
Steve holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Steve's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kansalainen needs to keep his hands up - Steve had a free shot at his head there.
Kansalainen throws an off balance right hand
and Steve counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kansalainen looks to land a left hand but Steve moved out of range nicely.
Steve swats away the attempt to clinch by Kansalainen.
Kansalainen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kansalainen misses with an uppercut
and Steve counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen misses with a hook to the body
and Steve counters with a nice uppercut.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Steve! But no joy.
Kansalainen lands a nice shot to the body.
Kansalainen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Steve throws a leg kick
and Kansalainen counters with a straight right hand.
Kansalainen just misses with a punch to the body.

Kansalainen clinches.
Steve scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A right handed body shot lands from Kansalainen.
Steve lands with a right to the head.
Steve looking to slow down the pace here.
Steve tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Steve.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steve blocks a body shot from Kansalainen.
A right hook to the body lands for Steve.
A head punch on the inside from Kansalainen fails to land.
Steve lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kansalainen backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Steve breaks from the clinch.
Steve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kansalainen.
Steve takes a jab right on the kisser.
Steve misses with a body kick.
Kansalainen scores with the left hand. Steve knows he should have avoided that one.
Kansalainen lands a slapping body shot.
Steve showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Steve under the eye.
Steve tries to work over Kansalainen's front leg with a kick but Kansalainen checks it.
Steve looks to land a body kick but Kansalainen moved away.
Steve keeps the fight on the outside.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Steve! But no joy.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Steve lands a jab to the head.
Kansalainen misses with an uppercut. Steve saw that one coming.
Steve 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but George Steve will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A telegraphed right hand from Kansalainen misses the target.
It seemed like Steve was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tapani Kansalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve slips under a jab.
Kansalainen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Kansalainen clinches.
Kansalainen blocks an uppercut.

Kansalainen breaks the clinch.
Steve falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kansalainen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kansalainen cracks a nice hook into Steve's ribs.
Kansalainen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Steve counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kansalainen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Steve counters with a straight right hand.
Kansalainen tries to clinch but Steve moves out of range.
Kansalainen misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kansalainen missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steve doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kansalainen throws a poor cross that misses
and Steve counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Steve lands with a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steve scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kansalainen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Steve counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kansalainen's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kansalainen misses with a left hand
and Steve counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Steve tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kansalainen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Steve counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kansalainen misses with a hook. Steve ducked under it nicely.
Kansalainen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
George Steve seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A good leg kick by Steve.
Kansalainen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steve.
The crowd cheers as Kansalainen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Steve doesn't seem phased though.

It looks like George Steve has been cut.
Steve is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Steve walks into a left hand.
Kansalainen takes a swing at Steve's ribcage but misses.
Kansalainen lands a nice shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steve throws a hook but Kansalainen avoids it easily.
A jab from Kansalainen finds it's way through Steve's defenses.
Steve throws a big shot that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve fails with an attempt to clinch.
Steve throws a shot to the body.
Kansalainen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Steves jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Steve missing with a left hand there. Kansalainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kansalainen is looking for a counter combo.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Steve moves into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Kansalainen.
Steve misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kansalainen lands with a right to the head.

Steve breaks from the clinch.
A shot to the liver by Steve. Beautiful body shot.
Steve throws a low kick but Kansalainen avoids it.
Steve tries a low kick but Kansalainen avoids it.
Kansalainen lands a nice looking body shot.
Kansalainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Steve.
Kansalainen jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kansalainen takes a step back to recover.
Kansalainen looks to land a left hand but Steve moved out of range nicely.
Steve connects with a looping right hand.
A jab lands there for Steve.
A jab from Steve misses.
Kansalainen missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steve takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kansalainen blocks the body kick.
Steve scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kansalainen scores with a jab to the jaw.

Kansalainen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Steve, pushing him back against the cage.
Kansalainen working aggressively here.
Steve misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steve lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kansalainen misses with a punch on the inside.
Steve is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kansalainen lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kansalainen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Steve backwards.
Kansalainen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Steve is rocked!
Still in the clinch, Steve scores with a nice short uppercut.
Steve is still on wobbly legs! Can Kansalainen finish him?
Kansalainen struggles to land a body shot inside as Steve controls his hands.
Kansalainen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kansalainen gets through Steve's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Steve is trying to maintain a safe position but Kansalainen gets an underhook and turns Steve into the cage.
Tapani Kansalainen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kansalainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Steve has him pressed against the cage.
Steve lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kansalainen backwards.

Kansalainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Steve seems to have recovered his senses.
Kansalainen throws a big shot that misses.
Steve tries to counter with a clinch but Kansalainen shakes him off and moves away.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed right hand from Kansalainen misses the target.
Steve misses with a left hand
and Kansalainen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kansalainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Steve moves away.
Steve keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tapani Kansalainen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on George Steve's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Steve looks to score with a jab to the body but Kansalainen is just out of range.
Kansalainen throws an overhand right that lands on Steve's shoulder, as Steve tries to avoid the shot.
Steve fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kansalainen manages to avoid it.
Steve scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Steve chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kansalainen throws a body shot but no joy.
Kansalainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Steve is just out of range.
Steve flicks out a counter leg kick but Kansalainen steps away.
Kansalainen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Steve lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kansalainen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kansalainen slips a jab from Steve.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steve lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Steve misses with a hook. Kansalainen ducked under it nicely.
Steve throws a nice looking combination but Kansalainen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kansalainen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kansalainen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kansalainen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Steve. Steve circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Steve tries to clinch but Kansalainen is having none of it.
Kansalainen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kansalainen looks to throw the jab but Steve is out of range.
Steve getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Steve is looking to score with low kicks.
Kansalainen connects with a jab.
Steve throws a jab but it's blocked by Kansalainen.
Steve misses with a hook.
A lazy left from Kansalainen finds it's target.
Kansalainen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Steve momentarily.
Steve circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Steve counter with a right hand.

Kansalainen has closed the distance and engaged Steve in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Steve's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
An inside leg kick lands from Steve.

Kansalainen closes the distance and clinches.
Steve throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kansalainens head.
Kansalainen takes a shot to the head.
Steve has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kansalainen seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Steve can turn it around.
Kansalainen tries to break the clinch but Steve is controlling the position.
Steve scores with a hook to the body.

Steve breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Steve uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Steve under the eye.
Kansalainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Steve is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kansalainen with a body shot.
Steve throws a low kick but Kansalainen moves out of range easily.
Kansalainen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Steve avoids the body shot from Kansalainen.
Kansalainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Steve was well out of range. Poor timing from Kansalainen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve is looking to clinch.
Kansalainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kansalainen staying out of range there.
Kansalainen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steve.
Kansalainen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Steve pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kansalainen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kansalainen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Steve swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kansalainen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Steve.
Kansalainen slips a straight right by Steve.
Kansalainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Steve.
Steve throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kansalainen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kansalainen looks to land a right hand but Steve moved out of range.
Steve misses with a double jab
and Kansalainen counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kansalainen moves out of range as Steve throws a body kick.
Kansalainen walks into a straight right hand from Steve.
Kansalainen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Steve looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steve connects with the punch.
Sloppy strikes from Kansalainen. Those never looked like landing.
Kansalainen moves out of range as Steve strikes.
Steve lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kansalainen circles away quickly and effectively.
Steve closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kansalainen throws a jab when Steve was well out of range.
Steve has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Steve thumps Kansalainen with a low kick.
Steve tries a head kick but it misses.
Steve is looking to score with low kicks.
Steve throws a head kick but Kansalainen moves out of range.
Steve throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tapani Kansalainen.
Well Kansalainen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Tapani Kansalainen!
Tapani Kansalainen was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.