PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tank Ispa (ranked 20 p4p, 4 weight class) and Pekka Toivonen (ranked 40 p4p, 10 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ispa
vs
Toivonen

190 cm
28
216 lbs
21 - 7 - 2

193 cm
31
189 lbs
25 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY
Arcticus University: London

HELLS BALLS RECOVERY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Tank Ispa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pekka Toivonen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ispa lands a body shot.
Ispa checks a leg kick nicely.
Toivonen misses with a hook.
Ispa is looking to counter punch.
Toivonen stuns Ispa with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A low kick from Toivonen misses

and Ispa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ispa is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ispa trying to control the position from guard on top but Toivonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ispa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ispa wants to control from the top but Toivonen keeps moving.

Ispa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ispa content to stall in guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ispa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A jab from Toivonen misses.

That's two 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.
Ispa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Good shot there by Toivonen.
Ispa has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Toivonen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Toivonen defending well as Ispa loads up on a big left hand.
Ispa sizes up Toivonen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

It looks like Pekka Toivonen has been cut.
Toivonen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Toivonen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Pekka Toivonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ispa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Toivonen lands with an uppercut that bounces Ispa off the cage and back into range.
Ispa moves out of range of the body kick.
Ispa slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ispa tries to clinch there but Toivonen circles away.
Toivonen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ispa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Toivonen.
Ispa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Toivonen throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ispa throws a jab when Toivonen was well out of range.
Ispa blocks a low kick nicely.
Toivonen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
A slapping leg kick lands for Toivonen.
Ispa throws a jab when Toivonen was well out of range.
Ispa checks a leg kick.
A low kick from Toivonen misses
and Ispa counters with a nice uppercut.
Pekka Toivonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Toivonen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ispa blocks a low kick nicely.
Ispa misses with a wild body shot.
Toivonen throws a leg kick which misses Ispa's front leg but catches the back leg as Ispa tries to avoid it.
Ispa changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Toivonen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Toivonen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ispa lands with a thumping leg kick.
Toivonen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ispa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ispa connects with a crisp jab.
Toivonen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Toivonen misses with a hook. Ispa ducked under it nicely.
Ispa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ispa misses with a low kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ispa checks a leg kick.
Ispa feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Toivonen, right into the meat.
Toivonen throws the left hand but Ispa avoids the punch easily.
A leg kick checked by Ispa.
Ispa is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Toivonen.
Toivonen throws a low kick but Ispa moves out of range easily.
Toivonen checks a leg kick nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Toivonen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pekka Toivonen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Ispa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Toivonen. That did some damage!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Toivonen.
Toivonen throws a right and a left that Ispa avoids nicely.
Toivonen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ispa doesn't seem bothered though.
Toivonen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Toivonen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Ispa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Toivonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Ispa.
Toivonen ducks under a wild hook from Ispa.
Ispa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Toivonen avoids the body shot from Ispa.
Toivonen throws a looping overhand right but Ispa ducks down to avoid it.
Toivonen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toivonen loads up on a big right hand but Ispa slips the punch.
Ispa looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Ispa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Toivonen.
A shot to the body from Toivonen misses
and Ispa counters with a slapping leg kick.
Toivonen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ispa counters with a left to the body.
Toivonen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ispa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Toivonen lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ispa has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ispa and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nice shot lands for Toivonen.
Toivonen thows a leg kick but Ispa checks it
and Ispa counters with a nice uppercut.
Pekka Toivonen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Ispa.
A big left from Toivonen misses.
Ispa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ispa avoids a kick to the body.
Toivonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ispa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Toivonen throws a front kick aimed at Ispa's knee but Ispa avoids it well.
A telegraphed right hand from Toivonen misses the target.
Toivonen throws a leg kick but Ispa sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ispa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ispa jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

Toivonen tries to sprawl but Ispa drives through with a takedown into half guard.

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

Ispa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Toivonen is just riding it out for now. Ispa eventually gives up the hold.

Ispa is looking for a kimura here.

Ispa is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ispa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Toivonen sees it coming and defends easily.
Ispa trying to mount his opponent but Toivonen defends it.

Ispa is working for a kimura but Toivonen is defending it quite comfortably.
Ispa is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

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.
Ispa postures up.
Ispa wants to control from the top but Toivonen keeps moving.
Ispa looking to pass the guard.
Toivonen has Ispa pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ispa trying to control but Toivonen is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Toivonen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
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 Tank Ispa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pekka Toivonen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Toivonen throws a leg kick but Ispa sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ispa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Ispa takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Toivonen avoids the body shot from Ispa.
Ispa tries to land a leg kick but Toivonen saw it coming and moves away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Toivonen.
Ispa gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Toivonen.
Ispa blocks a low kick nicely.
Ispa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Toivonen.
Toivonen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ispa throws a hook to the side of Toivonen's head but Toivonen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ispa clinches up against the cage.
Toivonen dodges an elbow strike from Ispa.
Toivonen misses with a punch on the inside.
Ispa lands a nice uppercut.
Ispa struggles to land a body shot inside as Toivonen controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ispa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ispa tries to throw a body punch but Toivonen avoids it by throwing Ispa back against the cage.

Ispa tightens his grip and picks Toivonen up, before dumping him to the ground. Toivonen manages to land in guard.
Tank Ispa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ispa 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.
Ispa trying to control but Toivonen is working from the bottom.
Toivonen pulls Ispa in close to prevent any damage.
Ispa sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Toivonen's guard.
Toivonen is concentrating on defense, preventing Ispa from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ispa trying to pass the guard but Toivonen defending well.
Toivonen is controlling Ispa's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Ispa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ispa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Toivonen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ispa slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toivonen keeping moving, preventing Ispa from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Toivonen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ispa is out of range and Toivonen settles back down.
Ispa was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ispa moves away from the strike by Toivonen.
Ispa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ispa throws a jab but it's blocked by Toivonen.
Toivonen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Toivonen throws a body kick that misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Toivonen. Ispa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ispa slips under a jab.
Ispa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Toivonen.
Toivonen misses with a hook

and Ispa counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Toivonen!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ispa advances to full mount.
Toivonen can't escape the position.

Ispa swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tank Ispa!
A very excited looking Tank Ispa made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.