PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Buford Tannen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mika Soutukorva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Tannen
vs
Soutukorva

173 cm
19
163 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
24
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

FinnFighters Nutrition

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Buford Tannen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mika Soutukorva!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tannen tries for a takedown but Soutukorva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Soutukorva misses with a takedown attempt

and Tannen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Soutukorva won't be happy with that.
Soutukorva is looking to regain half guard here but Tannen keeps moving and retains side control.
Soutukorva has one of Tannen's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

Tannen goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Soutukorva has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tannen but great work by Soutukorva.
Soutukorva slows the pace down.
Tannen prevents Soutukorva from improving position.
Tannen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soutukorva wants to control but Tannen is keeping him busy.
Tannen tries to improve position but can't.
Tannen is working hard here to advance position.
Soutukorva lands some shots froms side control.
Tannen tries to bench press Soutukorva off him but Soutukorva keeps the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tannen tries to clinch there but Soutukorva circles away.
Soutukorva avoids the head kick by Tannen.
Tannen throws a nice looking combination but Soutukorva bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Soutukorva with a poor takedown

and Tannen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tannen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Soutukorva has him pressed against the cage.
Tannen can't break the clinch.
Soutukorva looking for a takedown.
Buford Tannen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mika Soutukorva.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tannen looking for a takedown.
Nice body punch from Soutukorva - that landed with a thud.
Tannen working hard to break the clinch.

Tannen manages to break the clinch.

Soutukorva drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tannen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Tannen tries to bench press Soutukorva off him but Soutukorva keeps the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soutukorva working away.
Soutukorva gets to mount! Tannen was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
You get the feeling that Tannen really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Tannen throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Tannen is desperately trying to improve his position but Soutukorva has a good base and remains in mount.
Soutukorva sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tannen tries to hold on but Soutukorva postures up.
Tannen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Soutukorva controlling his opponent.
Tannen really wants to buck Soutukorva off and get back to his feet.
Soutukorva looking to finish Tannen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Tannen!
Soutukorva prevents Tannen from getting the reversal.
Tannen tries to hold on but Soutukorva pushes him away.
Soutukorva lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The referee warns Tannen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Tannen is trying to escape the mount.
Soutukorva looking to control but Tannen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mika Soutukorva will probably get the nod.
That's time! Tannen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tannen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Soutukorva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tannen's guard now.
Soutukorva looking to pass the guard.
Soutukorva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Soutukorva trying to control the position from guard on top but Tannen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tannen wants to sweep but no luck.
Tannen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Soutukorva wants to control from the top but Tannen keeps moving.

Soutukorva is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tannen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tannen has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tannen trying to control the position from guard on top but Soutukorva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tannen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tannen trying to control but Soutukorva is working from the bottom.
Tannen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tannen wants to pass the guard but Soutukorva is keeping the position.
Soutukorva not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Tannen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Soutukorva has his hands on Tannen's head, controlling the position.
Soutukorva looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Soutukorva shoots for a double leg takedown but Tannen sprawls well. He's pushed Soutukorva's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Soutukorva scores a takedown into full mount!
Soutukorva is breathing heavily.
Tannen is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tannen swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Tannen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Soutukorva wants to finish this one by submission but Tannen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Soutukorva.
Mika Soutukorva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tannen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Soutukorva. What's that going to do exactly?
Soutukorva prevents Tannen from getting the reversal.
Soutukorva controlling from mount.
Tannen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

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.
Soutukorva trying to control from half guard but Tannen is working away.
Soutukorva is thwarting Tannen's attempts to control the position.
Tannen is trying to stand.
Tannen trying to control from the bottom.
Tannen is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mika Soutukorva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tannen misses with a double jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Soutukorva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Buford Tannen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tannen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Tannen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tannen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tannen stuffs the takedown.
No joy there for Tannen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tannen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Soutukorva shoots in but Tannen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Soutukorva fails with the takedown
and Tannen counters with a stiff right hand.
Buford Tannen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mika Soutukorva.
Tannen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Soutukorva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tannen misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tannen thows a left - swing and a miss!

Tannen moves into the clinch.
Soutukorva tries to break the clinch but Tannen is controlling the position.
Tannen prevents the takedown attempt.
Soutukorva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Tannen's efforts to push away.
Tannen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Tannen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soutukorva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tannen as he avoids it easily.
Tannen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tannen misses with a combination

and Soutukorva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Tannen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Soutukorva pulls his head out easily.
Soutukorva wants to pass the guard but Tannen is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tannen is looking to control Soutukorva's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tannen avoid being mounted?
Soutukorva trying to pass the guard but Tannen defending well.
Tannen wants to get back to full guard.
Soutukorva looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tannen is looking for a sweep. Soutukorva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Soutukorva is controlling the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Soutukorva ducks under a wild hook from Tannen.
Buford Tannen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tannen tries to clinch but Soutukorva moves away

and Soutukorva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Soutukorva is looking to advance position but Tannen won't allow it.
Tannen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Tannen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tannen trying to control the position.
Soutukorva wants to control from the top but Tannen keeps moving.

Tannen is looking for a triangle but Soutukorva pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soutukorva landing with the ground and pound.

Tannen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Soutukorva defends it easily.
Soutukorva slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Tannen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mika Soutukorva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Soutukorva not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mika Soutukorva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Soutukorva 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mika Soutukorva!