PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Denis Denisov (ranked 2703 p4p, 3124 weight class) and Tapani Kangas (ranked 320 p4p, 350 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Denisov
vs
Kangas

167 cm
36
140
14 - 32 - 3

178 cm
26
155
11 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 32 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denis Denisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tapani Kangas!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denisov misses with a takedown attempt - Kangas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kangas appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kangas misses the shot to the body.
It looked like Denisov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Denisov fails with a takedown attempt.
Kangas throws a hook but Denisov avoids it easily.
Denisov is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kangas.
Denisov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kangas sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Denisov somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denis Denisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kangas enables Denisov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kangas manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Denisov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Denisov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Denisov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Denisov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Denisov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Denisov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kangas has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Denisov wants to control from the top but Kangas keeps moving.
Kangas trying to keep a closed guard but Denisov is proving a slippery customer.
Denisov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Denisov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Denisov throwing strikes but missing.
Denisov is looking to advance position but Kangas has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Kangas avoids the attempt from Denisov to control.
Denisov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kangas blocks Denisov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kangas blocks Denisov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Denisov tries to reverse the position but Kangas maintains control.
Kangas blocks Denisov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Denisov wants to hold on but Kangas pushes him away.
Kangas prevents Denisov from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Denisov bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kangas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Denisov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kangas trying to control the position.
Denisov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Denisov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kangas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Denisov postures up in Kangas's guard and throws a big left but Kangas blocks it.
Denisov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Denisov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Denisov chips away with some ground and pound.
Denisov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Denisov throwing strikes from guard but Kangas blocks nicely.
Denisov connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Denisov throws a big right hand that misses.
Denisov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kangas has wrist control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Denisov 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.

Kangas slips a jab and a cross from Denisov.
Denisov misses with a kick to the body.
Kangas throws a head kick that Denisov semi-blocks.

Denisov clinches.
Denisov jumps guard but Kangas turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Denisov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kangas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Denisov manages to pull guard.
Denisov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Denisov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Denisov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Denisov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denisov throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Denisov wants to sweep but no luck.
Denisov with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Kangas can't handle though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kangas stops Denisov from standing up.
Denisov trying to strike off his back.

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

Denisov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kangas managing to block the knees to the body from Denisov.
Kangas lands with a right to the head.
Denisov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kangas misses with some punches.
Denisov blocking some punches.

Denisov pulls guard effortlessly.
Denisov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Denisov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kangas is now in half guard.
Kangas stalling away here and it's allowed Denisov to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Denisov doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Denisov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Denisov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Denisov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Denisov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Denisov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Denisov fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denis Denisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Denisov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kangas manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov wants to pass the guard but Kangas is keeping the position.
Kangas trying to control the position.
Denisov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kangas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Denisov.
Denisov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kangas keeping moving, preventing Denisov from controlling successfully.
Denisov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kangas can do to turn this around?
Kangas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Denisov advances to half guard.
Denisov is trying to control. Kangas wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kangas avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Denisov.
Denisov moves nicely into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
An elbow from Denisov crashes against the mat.
Denisov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kangas lands with a cross.
Denisov moves in looking to clinch but Kangas pushes him off.
Kangas defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Denisov.
A jab from Kangas misses.
Denisov is looking to clinch but Kangas is avoiding it.
Kangas throws a jab when Denisov was well out of range.
Denisov misses with a series of wild punches.
Kangas throws a fast counter high kick but Denisov manages to duck under it in time.
Kangas misses with a straight right.
Denis Denisov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kangas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Denisov.
Kangas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denisov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kangas eats them both and turns towards Denisov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Denisov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kangas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Denisov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kangas counters with a left to the body.
Kangas looks to score with a jab to the body but Denisov is just out of range.
Denisov looks for the body kick but Kangas saw that one coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kangas scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Tapani Kangas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kangas displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Denisov.
Some wild striking there from Denisov.
Denisov looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kangas misses with a wild body shot.
Denisov tries to bum rush Kangas with a series of wild strikes but Kangas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tapani Kangas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Denisov has his takedown stuffed
and Kangas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denis Denisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kangas throws a shot from downtown. Denisov moves away and avoids it.

Denisov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kangas napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kangas looks to move to half guard but instead Denisov has passed into mount! Damn!
Kangas wants to hold on but Denisov pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denisov looking to control but Kangas is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kangas takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kangas is in a horrible position here. Denisov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Denisov landing strikes from the mount.
Kangas manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Kangas trying to hold on to Denisov's head to control him but Denisov postures up.
Kangas blocking the ground and pound attempt from Denisov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kangas defending well though.
Denis Denisov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Denisov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Well, if Denisov 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.
Denisov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Denisov controlling the pace.
Denisov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Denisov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Denisov winds up and cracks Kangas with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kangas is trying is best to control the position here.
Denisov controlling the action here.

Denisov escapes and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Denisov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Denisov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Denisov!
During a confident post fight interview, Denis Denisov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.