PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Todd Packer (ranked 1413 p4p, 218 weight class) and Keijo Tapaus (ranked 1907 p4p, 280 weight class). Todd Packer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Packer
vs
Tapaus

177 cm
28
190 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

182 cm
27
190 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Todd Packer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Keijo Tapaus!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Packer throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Tapaus counters with a nice uppercut.
Tapaus lands a slapping body shot.
Tapaus lands a nice shot to the body.
Packer misses with a wild body shot.
Tapaus throws a hook to the side of Packer's head but Packer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Packer lands a front kick.
A punch lands to the side of Packer 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Packer missing with a left hand there. Tapaus was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Packer slips under a jab.
Packer ducks under a wild hook from Tapaus.
Tapaus scores with a sloppy right hand. Packer should have avoided that one.
Tapaus swinging wildly here.
Tapaus avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tapaus looks to land a right hand but Packer moved out of range.
Tapaus moves away from the strike by Packer.
Packer slips under a jab from Tapaus.
Packer is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Packer tries to clinch up.
Tapaus fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Packer looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Tapaus keeps the fight on the outside.
A looping hook to the body misses from Packer. Tapaus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tapaus uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Packer has time to react.
Tapaus lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Packer lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Nice defenses there by Tapaus.
Tapaus throws a jab but it's blocked by Packer.
Tapaus lands the left hand.
Packer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tapaus but Tapaus pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Packer tries to clinch up.
Tapaus throws a looping overhand right but Packer ducks down to avoid it.
Packer slips a straight right by Tapaus.
Packer on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Packer lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Packer darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tapaus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tapaus throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Packer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Packer scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tapaus doesn't seem bothered though.
Packer slips a straight right by Tapaus.
Tapaus misses the shot to the body.
Donk. Tapaus catches Packer right on the button with a cross.
Keijo Tapaus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Packer's corner calls for a 1-2. Packer obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Tapaus throws a jab but it's blocked by Packer.
Tapaus scores with a crisp jab that stopped Packer in his tracks.
Packer loads up on a big right hand but Tapaus slips the punch.
Packer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Packer swings for the body but Tapaus moves out of range.
Packer scores with a head kick.
Tapaus throws out a powerful jab.
Packer with a nice cross.
Packer lands a jab to Tapaus's midsection.
Packer scores with a crisp jab that stopped Tapaus in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tapaus lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Packer is looking to clinch.
Packer moves away from the strike by Tapaus.
Packer connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Packer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tapaus paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Packer scores with a kick to the midsection.
Packer closes the distance but Tapaus moves to the side
and Tapaus counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A combination from Tapaus does no damage.
Packer moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tapaus uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Packer.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Packer is defended easily by Tapaus.
Tapaus swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Packer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Packer misses with a double jab.
Tapaus thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A swing and a miss from Packer.
A little jabbing left from Tapaus on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tapaus gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Packer.
Packer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tapaus throws out the jab.
Packer misses with a body kick.
Tapaus throws a jab but it's blocked by Packer.
Packer is looking to clinch but Tapaus is avoiding it.
A head kick by Packer misses
and Tapaus counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Packer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tapaus.
Tapaus dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tapaus might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Tapaus pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Packer staying out of range there.
Tapaus throws a body shot but no joy.
Packer is looking to land body kicks.
Packer defending well as Tapaus loads up on a big left hand.
Packer defending well as Tapaus loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Tapaus dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tapaus takes a swing at Packer's ribcage but misses.
Packer half committed to a counter leg kick.
Packer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Packer shoots in looking for a takedown. Tapaus tries to sprawl out of it but Packer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tapaus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Packer throws the kick towards the body but Tapaus avoids it.
Packer throws a low kick but Tapaus avoids it.
Tapaus misses with a right hand
and Packer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tapaus connects with a good right hand that stumbles Packer. Packer circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Tapaus misses with an uppercut
and Packer counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tapaus misses with a double jab.
Tapaus lands with a straight right. Packer didn't see that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tapaus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tapaus fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Packer looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The fight stays on the outside here - Packer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tapaus misses with a hook. Packer ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Packer takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tapaus misses with a looping right.
Todd Packer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tapaus sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Packer 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.
Tapaus getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Packer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Packer avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tapaus connects with a crisp jab.
Tapaus throws the left hand but Packer avoids the punch easily.
Packer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tapaus circles away.
Packer tries to clinch but Tapaus is having none of it.
Packer wants to clinch.
Tapaus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Packer takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tapaus throws a body punch but Packer moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tapaus wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Packer lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Tapaus backs up against the cage.
The crowd cheers as Tapaus lands an impressive looking overhand right. Packer doesn't seem phased though.
Packer thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tapaus is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Packer with a body shot.
Packer is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Tapaus.
The fighters circling - Tapaus throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Packer throws a front kick that sends Tapaus stumbling back into the cage.
Packer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tapaus throws out the jab.
Packer throws a nice looking combination but Tapaus bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Packer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tapaus.
Tapaus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Tapaus throws a lazy uppercut
and Packer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Packer steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tapaus.
Tapaus swings away with a body shot that misses
and Packer counters with a nice uppercut.
A punch combination from Tapaus misses.
Packer tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Packer moves out of range of the strikes.
Tapaus throws out a loose jab but Packer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tapaus has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Packer pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Packer moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Packer throws a wild body kick that Tapaus sees coming a mile off.
Packer throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tapaus counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Packer scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tapaus cracks Packer with a right hand to the side of the head.
Packer slips a straight right by Tapaus.
Packer moves out of range of the strikes.
Tapaus looks to land a combination but Packer avoids it well.
Tapaus misses with a wild combination.
Nice cross by Tapaus.
Tapaus is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Packer.
Packer was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Packer looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Packer scores with a jab to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Packer lands a front kick.
Tapaus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Packer.
Packer throws the kick towards the body but Tapaus avoids it.
Tapaus looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Packer slips under a jab.
Packer swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
A jab from Tapaus finds it's way through Packer's defenses.
Tapaus bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tapaus throws a jab when Packer was well out of range.
Tapaus throws a jab when Packer was well out of range.
Tapaus swings for the body but Packer moves out of range.
Tapaus lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Packer at a distance.
Tapaus jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Tapaus showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Packer's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tapaus keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A little jabbing left from Tapaus on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Packer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tapaus.
Packer throws a sloppy head kick and Tapaus moves out of range easily.
Packer ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Keijo Tapaus seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice defenses there by Packer.

Packer closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tapaus breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tapaus thuds a left hand into Packer's body.
Packer lands an overhand right.
Packer fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
As Packer backs off Tapaus throws a huge counter combo but Packer manages to avoid it all.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Packer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tapaus avoids it really well and circles away.
Tapaus moves out of range of the body kick from Packer.

Packer pushes Tapaus up against the cage in a clinch.
Packer lands an elbow that stopped Tapaus in his tracks for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tapaus misses with a punch on the inside.
Our sources have told us that Packer has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Tapaus dodges an elbow strike from Packer.
Tapaus lands a nice uppercut.
Packer misses with some punches.
A short body shot lands from Packer as the two fighters clinch.

Tapaus pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tapaus on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Packer. Packer obviously looking to wear him down.
Packer is looking to clinch but Tapaus is avoiding it.
Tapaus connects with a jab.
Packer scores with a jab.
Tapaus throws an overhand right that lands on Packer's shoulder, as Packer tries to avoid the shot.
Tapaus looks to land a left hand but Packer moved out of range nicely.
Tapaus throws a lazy right hand but Packer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Packer tries to counter with a takedown but Tapaus is quick to defend against it.
Packer connects with a crisp jab.
Packer looks to throw the jab but Tapaus is out of range.
A little jabbing left from Tapaus on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tapaus loads up on a big right hand but Packer slips the punch.
Packer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A looping hook to the body misses from Tapaus. Packer does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tapaus scores with a body shot.
Tapaus has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Packer.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tapaus cracks a nice hook into Packer's ribs.
Tapaus avoids the head kick by Packer.
Tapaus misses with a straight left.
Packer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Packer moves in looking to clinch but Tapaus pushes him off.
Tapaus tries to bum rush Packer with a series of wild strikes but Packer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Packer with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Packer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Packer looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Packer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Tapaus.
Packer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tapaus.
Packer looks to land a combination. Tapaus sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Tapaus swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Packer counters with a series of strikes. Tapaus will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tapaus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Packer.
Tapaus misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Tapaus misses.
Tapaus throws a shot from downtown. Packer moves away and avoids it.
Packer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Packer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tapaus throws out the jab.
Packer scores with a head kick. Tapaus tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Packer is looking to land body kicks.
Tapaus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Packer moves away.
Tapaus looks to land a right hand but Packer moved out of range.
Nice defenses there by Tapaus.
Tapaus paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Packer ducks under a wild hook from Tapaus.
As Tapaus backs away, Packer returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Tapaus misses with a straight right.
Packer thinks about countering with a body kick.
Packer throws a leg kick but Tapaus checks it.
Packer takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tapaus misses with a combination
and Packer counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tapaus misses with a hook.
Tapaus looks to land a right hand but Packer moved out of range.
Packer slips under a jab.
Packer quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Tapaus loads up on a big right hand but Packer slips the punch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A head kick misses from Packer.
Packer scores with a kick to the body.
Tapaus avoids a kick to the body.
Tapaus looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A jab from Tapaus finds it's way through Packer's defenses.
Tapaus throws a body punch but Packer moves out of range.
Packer slips under a jab.
As Tapaus backs away, Packer returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Packer misses with a straight right.
Packer throws a jab but it's blocked by Tapaus.
Tapaus throws a hook but Packer avoids it easily.
Todd Packer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keijo Tapaus is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Packer scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Packer fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Keijo Tapaus.
I've got Tapaus winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keijo Tapaus!
Keijo Tapaus seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.