PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Tulikoura (ranked 1488 p4p, 1035 weight class) and Ruslan Danilov (ranked 208 p4p, 142 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Tulikoura
vs
Danilov

175 cm
32
172
18 - 12 - 1

185 cm
29
180
15 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Core Combat
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Johannes Tulikoura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ruslan Danilov!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danilov connects with a single shot there.
Danilov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice shot by Danilov.
Tulikoura throws a jab but it's blocked by Danilov.
A jab from Danilov finds it's way through Tulikoura's defenses.
Danilov has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Tulikoura finds it's way round the side to connect with Danilov's head.
Danilov lands a glancing blow to the side of Tulikoura's head.
Tulikoura looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Danilov thuds his right hand into Tulikoura's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Tulikoura lands a jab.
Danilov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tulikoura throws out the jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tulikoura fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Danilov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A telegraphed right hand from Tulikoura misses the target.
Tulikoura avoids the head kick by Danilov.

Danilov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tulikoura's guard.

Tulikoura looking for a guillotine here but Danilov defends easily.
Danilov won't allow Tulikoura to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulikoura is working hard here to advance position.
Danilov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Danilov passes Tulikoura's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Danilov working Tulikoura over with strikes.
Danilov slips a nice elbow through Tulikoura's hands, connecting with Tulikoura's forehead.
Danilov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Danilov is working for a kimura but Tulikoura is defending it quite comfortably.

Tulikoura looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danilov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Danilov working the head and body with strikes.

Tulikoura looking for submissions off his back.
Nice strikes from Danilov there.
Danilov is just content to waste time from the top position. Tulikoura takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Danilov working some strikes from top position.
Danilov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danilov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tulikoura's head.
Danilov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tulikoura swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tulikoura is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Tulikoura has his foot on Danilov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Danilov works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Danilov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Danilov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Danilov throws a strike but Tulikoura rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tulikoura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Danilov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Danilov keeping moving, preventing Tulikoura from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Danilov working for a triangle but Tulikoura defends it easily.
Tulikoura advances position into side control!
Danilov gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Tulikoura can't control as he wanted to and Danilov manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Danilov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Tulikoura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Danilov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tulikoura defends it well.
Danilov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Tulikoura misses with a lunging right hand

so Danilov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Danilov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Danilov landing some decent shots from guard.
Tulikoura tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Danilov trying to control but Tulikoura is working from the bottom.
Danilov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tulikoura looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Danilov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tulikoura keeping moving, preventing Danilov from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two 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.
Danilov lands strikes from half guard.
Danilov prevents Tulikoura from improving his position.
Danilov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tulikoura keeps working.
Danilov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tulikoura tries to get to full guard but Danilov has control of the leg.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Danilov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Danilov working the head and body with strikes.
Ruslan Danilov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura wants to improve his position but Danilov is controlling well.
Tulikoura has hold of Danilov's hands but Danilov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Danilov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tulikoura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Danilov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tulikoura is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Danilov wants to control from the top but Tulikoura keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danilov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tulikoura's head.
Danilov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Danilov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Tulikoura working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Danilov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Danilov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Danilov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tulikoura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Danilov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tulikoura checks a leg kick nicely.
Tulikoura throws a head kick that misses.
Danilov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tulikoura just misses with a punch to the body.
Danilov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tulikoura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A solid leg kick lands there for Danilov.
Danilov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Tulikoura moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Danilov.
Tulikoura turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Danilov slips a straight right by Tulikoura.
Tulikoura moves out of range as Danilov throws a body kick.
Danilov misses with a takedown
and Tulikoura counters with a straight right hand.
Danilov scores with a hook to the body. Tulikoura takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tulikoura lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tulikoura throws the left hand but Danilov avoids the punch easily.
Good leg kick by Danilov.
Danilov throws a head kick that misses
and Tulikoura counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A leg kick checked by Danilov.
Johannes Tulikoura is winning the standup battle so far.
Tulikoura misses with a leg kick

and Danilov counters with a shoot takedown. Tulikoura fights it but they end up in guard.
Danilov preventing the sweep.
Danilov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tulikoura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Danilov scoring with some ground and pound.

Tulikoura is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danilov controlling from the top position.
Tulikoura controls Danilov momentarily but Danilov frees himself.
Danilov lands a couple of digs.
Danilov stopping the sweep attempt from Tulikoura.
Danilov looking to sit in guard and control but Tulikoura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Danilov trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tulikoura stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Danilov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johannes Tulikoura has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Danilov is on top in guard.

Danilov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Danilov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Danilov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Danilov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tulikoura is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ruslan Danilov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Danilov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tulikoura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ruslan Danilov.
I've got Danilov 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 James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Danilov!
After the fight, Ruslan Danilov was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.