PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kari Tapio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarkko Nordlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kari Tapio has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tapio
vs
Nordlund

188 cm
20
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Tapio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Nordlund!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nordlund stuffs the takedown.
A lazy left from Tapio finds it's target.
Tapio has a takedown stuffed.
Nordlund misses with a few strikes there.

Tapio is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nordlund's half guard.
Nordlund tries to kick Tapio off but Tapio keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Nordlund is positioning himself well to prevent Tapio advancing to mount.

Tapio is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Nordlund has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nordlund 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 is trying to work for a kimura but Nordlund is defending well.

Tapio seems to be working for a kimura but Nordlund defends the submission attempt.
Nordlund is positioning himself well to prevent Tapio advancing to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nordlund is looking to control Tapio's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nordlund avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nordlund tries to get to full guard but Tapio has control of the leg.
Nordlund wants to control but Tapio is keeping busy.
Nordlund gets back to full guard.
Nordlund seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Nordlund trying to control the position.
Tapio stopping the sweep attempt from Nordlund.
Tapio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tapio preventing the sweep.
Tapio looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tapio advances position into side control!
Nordlund tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nordlund wants to control but Tapio postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nordlund lands a jab.
Nordlund tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tapio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nordlund throws a head kick that misses.
Nordlund lands a with a good body shot.
Tapio goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Tapio misses the shot to the body.
Nordlund misses with a double jab.
Nordlund ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tapio moves away.
Nordlund tries to clinch up but Tapio circles away and keeps his distance.
Tapio throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Jarkko Nordlund has been cut.
Nordlund looks gassed!
Tapio avoids the body shot from Nordlund.
Nordlund swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Tapio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tapio trying to control but Nordlund is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tapio tries to free his leg and advance position but Nordlund is retaining full guard.
Nordlund trying to control the position here.

Tapio 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.
Tapio tries to free his leg and advance position but Nordlund is retaining full guard.

Tapio 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.
Nordlund looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tapio.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kari Tapio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tapio uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nordlund.

That's four 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.
Nordlund throws a leg kick that misses.
Nordlund keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nordlund looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nordlund is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tapio fails with a takedown attempt.
Nordlund looks to score with a jab to the body but Tapio is just out of range.
Nordlund throws a head kick that misses.

Nordlund looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nordlund trying to control but Tapio is working from the bottom.
Nordlund working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tapio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tapio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nordlund lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nordlund drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Nordlund throws a big right hand that misses.
Tapio wants to sweep but no luck.

Tapio escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Nordlund gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nordlund working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tapio's head.
Nordlund stands up over Tapio, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nordlund missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Tapio looking for a guillotine here but Nordlund defends easily.
Nordlund scoring with punches to the head and body.

Tapio is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nordlund with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tapio looking for a sweep. Not yet Tapio, not yet.
Nordlund wants to pass the guard but Tapio is keeping the position.
Nordlund scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tapio controls Nordlund momentarily but Nordlund frees himself.
Nordlund loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nordlund postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tapio shoots for a takedown but Nordlund saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nordlund throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nordlund misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nordlund is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tapio rather than just go for the knockout.

Nordlund shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Nordlund was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tapio tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tapio is working hard here to advance position.
Nordlund looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Tapio taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nordlund connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tapio regains half guard.
Nordlund wants to take a breather but Tapio is having none of it.

Tapio looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nordlund lands a nice short elbow.
Tapio is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Nordlund scores with a couple of nice shots.
Nordlund takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tapio on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nordlund lands a nice short elbow.
Kari Tapio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nordlund tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tapio knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tapio makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tapio.

Nordlund avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tapio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Tapio had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Nordlund is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Tapio Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Nordlund's back instead.
Nordlund tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Tapio tries to push Nordlund's head away but Nordlund is holding on tight.
Nordlund working to try and regain half guard.

Tapio is working for a guillotine from mount but Nordlund frees his head quite easily.

Tapio is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nordlund has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nordlund is looking to get to half guard.
Nordlund wants to hold on but Tapio pushes him away.

Tapio wants to finish this one by submission but Nordlund is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Tapio.
Tapio prevents Nordlund from getting the reversal.

Tapio is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Nordlund has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Tapio looking for a guillotine from mount but Nordlund is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jarkko Nordlund will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jarkko Nordlund's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nordlund throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tapio connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nordlund lands a jab-cross combination.
Nordlund wants to land a leg kick but Tapio is out of range.

Nordlund scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Tapio tries to bench press Nordlund off him but Nordlund keeps the position.
Nordlund cracks Tapio with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nordlund cracks Tapio with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Nordlund landing a few strikes.
Tapio is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Nordlund off and has taken his back!
Tapio not allowing Nordlund to control his hands.
Nordlund breaks Tapio's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Nordlund lands a couple of elbows.

Nordlund got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tapio has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nordlund has managed to get both his arms back between Tapio's legs - danger averted.
Nordlund postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tapio is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nordlund is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nordlund landing with the ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Tapio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nordlund landing some decent shots from guard.
Nordlund thows a big elbow that misses.
Nordlund stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tapio swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nordlund with a flurry of punches that miss.

Nordlund got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tapio has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nordlund has managed to get both his arms back between Tapio's legs - danger averted.
Nordlund connects with a couple of short punches.
Nordlund makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Nordlund working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tapio's head.
Nordlund postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tapio is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tapio prevents Nordlund from improving his position.

Nordlund is defending against the submission attempts here by Tapio.
Nordlund trying to hold on to Tapio's head to control him but Tapio postures up.
Nordlund is trying to get back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nordlund can do anything to dispel that myth.

Tapio wants to work for an arm triangle but Nordlund is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nordlund trying to control but Tapio postures up.

Tapio is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nordlund is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nordlund trying to control but Tapio postures up.
Nordlund tries to get to full guard but Tapio has control of the leg.
Tapio trying to mount his opponent but Nordlund defends it.
Nordlund has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tapio is working away from the top position though.

Tapio is trying for a kimura here. Nordlund looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Tapio wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kari Tapio!