PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Repa Tiitti (ranked 5528 p4p, 502 weight class) and Victor Ulriksen (ranked 8535 p4p, 749 weight class). Tiitti comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC Back in Black . Repa Tiitti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tiitti
vs
Ulriksen

182 cm
35
175 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

183 cm
40
202 lbs
15 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

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 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Repa Tiitti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Victor Ulriksen!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Alan Glass and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ulriksen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ulriksen throws a nice looking combination but Tiitti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Tiitti closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ulriksen's guard.
Ulriksen pulls Tiitti in close to prevent any damage.
Tiitti postures up in Ulriksen's guard and throws a big left but Ulriksen blocks it.
Ulriksen trying to keep a closed guard but Tiitti is proving a slippery customer.
We've been hearing good reports from Tiitti's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Tiitti slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ulriksen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tiitti gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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.
Ulriksen trying to control the position here.
Tiitti trying to control but Ulriksen is working from the bottom.
Ulriksen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ulriksen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ulriksen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ulriksen misses with a takedown attempt - Tiitti sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
It looked like Tiitti was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tiitti misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ulriksen 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.
Ulriksen fails with the takedown.
Ulriksen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ulriksen feints and then cracks Tiitti's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tiitti down.
Some wild striking there from Tiitti.
It seemed like Ulriksen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Ulriksen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Tiitti to the ground. Ulriksen is now in Tiitti's guard.
Ulriksen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tiitti is keeping the position for now.
Ulriksen trying to control but Tiitti is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ulriksen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ulriksen distracts Tiitti with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ulriksen works over Tiitti with some ground and pound from guard.
Tiitti wants to get back to his feet but Ulriksen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tiitti has control of Ulriksen's left arm, preventing Ulriksen from doing any damage.
Ulriksen throwing strikes from guard but Tiitti blocks nicely.
Ulriksen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ulriksen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ulriksen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tiitti is on top in guard.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ulriksen is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tiitti is trying to keep Ulriksen in close.

Tiitti working for a triangle but Ulriksen defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Repa Tiitti 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.

Ulriksen closes the distance and clinches up with Tiitti, looking for a takedown. Ulriksen pushes Tiitti against the cage but Tiitti circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ulriksen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tiitti manages to avoid it.
Ulriksen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ulriksen wants it to stay on the feet.
Tiitti misses with a double jab.
Tiitti shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ulriksen but Ulriksen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ulriksen moves in looking to clinch but Tiitti pushes him off.
As Ulriksen looks to move away, Tiitti throws a big counter combo but Ulriksen just gets out of the way.
Ulriksen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ulriksen loads up on a big right hand but Tiitti slips the punch.
A combination from Tiitti does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiitti slips under a jab from Ulriksen.
Ulriksen goes for a double leg but Tiitti avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tiitti continues to drive forward.
Repa Tiitti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Victor Ulriksen.
Ulriksen goes for a double leg but Tiitti avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Tiitti continues to drive forward.
Tiitti went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Tiitti closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ulriksen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ulriksen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Repa Tiitti is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tiitti closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ulriksen quickly recovers to half guard.
Tiitti is taking a breather. Ulriksen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ulriksen is trying is best to control the position here.
Ulriksen tries to get to full guard but Tiitti has control of the leg.
Well, if Tiitti is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiitti wants to stand up but Ulriksen is controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ulriksen tries to get to full guard but Tiitti has control of the leg.
Tiitti is looking to take a break and control but Ulriksen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Ulriksen instigates a clinch.
Ulriksen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tiitti is defending well.
Tiitti misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiitti wants to break free but Ulriksen has control.
Ulriksen is trying to drag Tiitti to the mat but Tiitti just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Tiitti can't break the clinch.
Tiitti has had enough of the clinch but Ulriksen keeps him there for the moment.

Ulriksen gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Tiitti has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ulriksen has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Ulriksen looking for a takedown.

Tiitti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ulriksen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ulriksen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Tiitti counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ulriksen thinking.
Ulriksen shoots in looking for a takedown. Tiitti tries to sprawl out of it but Ulriksen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tiitti manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Tiitti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ulriksen can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiitti misses with a head kick.
Ulriksen wants to counter the offense by Tiitti and move into the clinch position.

Tiitti shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Ulriksen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tiitti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ulriksen is keeping the position for now.
Ulriksen trying to keep a closed guard but Tiitti is proving a slippery customer.
Tiitti looking to sit in guard and control but Ulriksen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Repa Tiitti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tiitti is looking for a triangle but Ulriksen pushes his legs off easily.
Tiitti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Repa Tiitti dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ulriksen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Ulriksen dives in for a single leg takedown but Tiitti sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Repa Tiitti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tiitti throws a head kick but Ulriksen moves out of range.
Ulriksen lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Tiitti throws a head kick but Ulriksen moves out of range.

Tiitti closes the distance and clinches.

Tiitti manages to break the clinch.
Ulriksen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tiitti throws a big counter combination but Ulriksen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Ulriksen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ulriksen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tiitti is trying to improve his position.
Ulriksen working away.
Tiitti parries the strikes from Ulriksen easily there. Ulriksen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Tiitti to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ulriksen is looking to take a break and control but Tiitti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tiitti manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Tiitti throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ulriksen is trying to get back to full guard.
Tiitti is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Ulriksen manages to get to full guard.
Ulriksen pulls Tiitti in close to prevent any damage.
Tiitti trying to control the position from guard on top but Ulriksen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ulriksen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ulriksen is trying to hold Tiitti in close to prevent damage but Tiitti has managed to pass into half guard.
Tiitti takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
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. Tiitti connects with a nice short shot to Ulriksen's temple.
Ulriksen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tiitti trying to control the position from guard on top but Ulriksen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ulriksen trying to control the position.
Tiitti advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ulriksen desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Ulriksen trying to control but Tiitti postures up.
Tiitti not doing much here.
Ulriksen tries to get to full guard but Tiitti has control of the leg.
Ulriksen is refusing to be controlled, as Tiitti sits in half guard.
Repa Tiitti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ulriksen trying to control but Tiitti postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tiitti fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ulriksen avoids it really well and circles away.
Ulriksen misses with a takedown attempt - Tiitti sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Victor Ulriksen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tiitti cracks Ulriksen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ulriksen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tiitti throws a big counter combination but Ulriksen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ulriksen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tiitti manages to avoid it.
Ulriksen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Tiitti to score with a decent uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Repa Tiitti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tiitti 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Repa Tiitti!
After winning the bout, Repa Tiitti thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.