PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juha Tapio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Van Bone (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.

Tapio
vs
Van Bone

190 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
22
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juha Tapio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tommy Van Bone!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Van Bone.
Tapio fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tommy Van Bone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Bone lands a jab to the head.

It looks like Juha Tapio has been cut.
Van Bone is looking to clinch but Tapio is avoiding it.
Tapio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Van Bone takes a swing at Tapio's ribcage but misses.
Van Bone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tapio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Bone loads up on a big right hand but Tapio slips the punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Van Bone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Van Bone misses with a wild combination.
Van Bone connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

Van Bone closes the distance and clinches.
Tapio avoids a wild elbow strike from Van Bone.
Van Bone trying to land knees to the body.
Van Bone wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tapio has him pressed against the cage.
Van Bone wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Bone wants to break the clinch but can't.
Van Bone lands with a short shot to the head.
Van Bone throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tapios head.
Tapio keeps control of Van Bone as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short uppercut from Van Bone.
Van Bone makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from Van Bone on the inside.
Van Bone lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Van Bone is trying to break the clinch but Tapio has him pressed against the cage.
Van Bone gets underhooks to prevent Tapio's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Tapio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short left from Van Bone.
Tapio jumps guard but Van Bone stands there with Tapio around his waist. Tapio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Van Bone is trying to break the clinch but Tapio has him pressed against the cage.
Tapio changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Van Bone fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Tapio ducks under a wild hook from Van Bone.
Tommy Van Bone is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tapio moves out of range of the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Van Bone as Tapio shoots in.
Van Bone is looking to clinch but Tapio is avoiding it.
Van Bone tries to clinch there but Tapio circles away.
Tapio fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Tapio shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Van Bone really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tapio. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Tapio throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Van Bone wants to get back to his feet but Tapio is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Tapio drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tapio jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tapio is breathing heavily.
Van Bone wants to stand and escape but Tapio is having none of it.

Tapio thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tapio won't allow Van Bone to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tapio drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tapio jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tapio stops Van Bone from standing up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Van Bone tries to clinch up.
Van Bone tries to clinch but Tapio moves out of range.
Tapio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Van Bone tries to clinch there but Tapio circles away.
Van Bone ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tapio moves away.
Van Bone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Van Bone misses with a looping right.
Tapio avoids the body shot from Van Bone.
Van Bone stuffs the takedown attempt from Tapio. Tapio gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Van Bone forces Tapio back against the cage and clinches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Van Bone.
Tapio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tapio keeps control of Van Bone as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tapio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Van Bone is trying to break the clinch but Tapio has him pressed against the cage.
Van Bone lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tapio tries to pull guard but Van Bone holds him up against the cage and eventually Tapio drops back down to his feet.
Tapio jumps guard but Van Bone stands there with Tapio around his waist. Tapio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Van Bone lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tapio backwards.
Van Bone is trying to break free.
Van Bone lands a hook to the side of the head.
Van Bone wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Van Bone has had enough of the clinch but Tapio keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Van Bone dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juha Tapio's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Van Bone throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tapio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Van Bone looks to land a right hand but Tapio moved out of range.
Van Bone misses with an uppercut.
Van Bone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Van Bone swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Van Bone doesn't manage to clinch there - Tapio circles away.
Van Bone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tapio fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tapio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Bone misses the target.
Tapio swats away the attempt to clinch by Van Bone.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Bone missing with a left hand there. Tapio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Bone wants to clinch up but Tapio keeps it at a distance.
Van Bone tries to clinch but Tapio is having none of it.
Van Bone lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Van Bone is breathing heavily.
Van Bone throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
No luck for Tapio with that takedown attempt.
Tapio has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Tapio there as he acknowledges the shot.
Van Bone is looking to clinch.
Van Bone tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tapio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Van Bone tries to clinch up but Tapio circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Bone looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tapio takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Bone doesn't manage to clinch there - Tapio circles away.

Van Bone gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Van Bone fails to land.
Tapio is working for takedown but Van Bone is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Tapio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tapio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Van Bone lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tapio fails to pull guard.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Van Bone.
Van Bone is trying to break the clinch but Tapio has him pressed against the cage.
Van Bone lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Van Bone is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Van Bone throws a head punch that misses.
Van Bone lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tapio backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Van Bone.
Tapio fails to pull guard.
Van Bone wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Van Bone throws a head punch that misses.
Tapio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Van Bone gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tapio goes for a takedown attempt but Van Bone pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Van Bone lands the left hand.
Tapio slips under a jab from Van Bone.
Tapio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Bone scores with a three punch combo!
Van Bone with a jab.
Van Bone is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nice takedown defense from Van Bone. No joy for Tapio on that attempt.
Tapio changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Van Bone tries to avoid it but Tapio manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Van Bone to the ground. Van Bone escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tapio walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Van Bone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Bone throws the left hand but Tapio avoids the punch easily.

Van Bone gets a clinch.
Tapio looking for a takedown.
Van Bone has had enough of the clinch but Tapio keeps him there for the moment.
Van Bone lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tapio backwards.
Van Bone is trying to break free.
A nice right hand lands inside from Van Bone.
A short left from Van Bone.
Van Bone lands with a short shot to the head.
Tapio keeps control of Van Bone as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Van Bone throws a head punch that misses.
Van Bone misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Van Bone.
Van Bone doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Van Bone wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tapio is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tapio wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Van Bone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Juha Tapio's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Van Bone tries to clinch but Tapio is having none of it.
Tapio keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Bone.
Van Bone fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Bone misses the target.
Van Bone is looking to clinch but Tapio is avoiding it.
Tapio tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Bone swivels and escapes.
Van Bone fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tapio avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Van Bone 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.
Van Bone swings for the body but Tapio moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Bone throws a series of punches but Tapio moves out of range.
Van Bone misses with a wild body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Bone moves in looking to clinch but Tapio pushes him off.
Tapio fails with the takedown.
Tapio shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Tapio. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Bone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tapio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Van Bone doesn't manage to clinch there - Tapio circles away.
Tapio ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Van Bone misses the jab.
Van Bone wants to clinch.

Tapio bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Tapio trying to control the action but Van Bone is working from the bottom.

Tapio is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Van Bone has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tapio throws an elbow but Van Bone slips to the side and avoids it well.
Van Bone is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Van Bone is not content to let Tapio control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tapio wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Van Bone, who protects the arm well.
Juha Tapio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Tapio is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Van Bone is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Bone is trying to buck Tapio off.

Tapio tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tapio has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Tapio thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Tapio is trying to get an arm triangle but Van Bone is defending well.

Tapio is trying to get an arm triangle but Van Bone is defending well.
Van Bone is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Tapio has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Tommy Van Bone is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juha Tapio showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Van Bone has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Van Bone!