PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sean Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teppo Tahkojuusto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tahkojuusto has chosen AC/DC : T.N.T as his entrance music. Sean Cunningham could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Teppo Tahkojuusto's chin.

Cunningham
vs
Tahkojuusto

190 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
26
186 lbs
6 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sean Cunningham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Tahkojuusto!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tahkojuusto has a takedown stuffed.

Cunningham looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Cunningham has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tahkojuusto is trying to control the position but Cunningham postures up.

Tahkojuusto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tahkojuusto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cunningham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tahkojuusto is keeping the position for now.

Tahkojuusto is looking for a triangle but Cunningham pushes his legs off easily.
Cunningham postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tahkojuusto looking for a sweep. Not yet Tahkojuusto, not yet.
Cunningham makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cunningham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cunningham keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tahkojuusto's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto pulls Cunningham in to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Cunningham accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Tahkojuusto has his foot on Cunningham's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cunningham works his way back into a safe position though.
Tahkojuusto looking for a sweep. Not yet Tahkojuusto, not yet.
Cunningham scoring with some ground and pound.
Cunningham throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tahkojuusto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cunningham is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Cunningham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Cunningham preventing the sweep.
Tahkojuusto looks gassed!
Cunningham postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cunningham scoring with some ground and pound.
Tahkojuusto trying to control the position.
Tahkojuusto is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Tahkojuusto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cunningham doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cunningham manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cunningham distracts Tahkojuusto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto trying to control the position.
Cunningham distracts Tahkojuusto with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cunningham is working Tahkojuusto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Cunningham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tahkojuusto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Cunningham is controlling him.
Cunningham content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cunningham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cunningham throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Cunningham lands a couple of digs.
Cunningham with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tahkojuusto wants to stand but Cunningham is controlling the position.
Cunningham working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tahkojuusto's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham working some strikes from top position.

Tahkojuusto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cunningham stands and throws Tahkojuusto's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Cunningham lands an elbow.
Tahkojuusto is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Cunningham asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Cunningham scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tahkojuusto to see if he's OK.
Cunningham cracks Tahkojuusto with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Cunningham scoring with punches and elbows.
Tahkojuusto is trying to buck Cunningham off.
Cunningham scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto regains half guard.
Cunningham misses with a head shot. Tahkojuusto uses the momentum to regain guard.
Tahkojuusto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cunningham's guard.
Tahkojuusto controlling from the top position.
Tahkojuusto wants to pass the guard but Cunningham is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Cunningham dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tahkojuusto is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Cunningham's half guard.
Tahkojuusto moves nicely into side control.

Tahkojuusto tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Cunningham is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tahkojuusto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Tahkojuusto looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Tahkojuusto throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

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.

Tahkojuusto working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tahkojuusto wants to control but Cunningham is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Tahkojuusto are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Cunningham on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Cunningham tries to get out of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tahkojuusto gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Tahkojuusto.
Cunningham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tahkojuusto pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tahkojuusto with a knee to the head.
Tahkojuusto tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cunningham prevents the takedown attempt.

Tahkojuusto has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Cunningham is trying to keep an underhook but Tahkojuusto manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Tahkojuusto is pressing down on Cunningham's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cunningham is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Tahkojuusto working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tahkojuusto is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Tahkojuusto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cunningham doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tahkojuusto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Tahkojuusto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Cunningham fails with the takedown

and Tahkojuusto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tahkojuusto wants to pass the guard but Cunningham is defending well.
Tahkojuusto looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tahkojuusto wants to take a breather but Cunningham is having none of it.
Cunningham has hold of Tahkojuusto's hands but Tahkojuusto slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tahkojuusto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Tahkojuusto looking for a submission but Cunningham manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto pushes down on Cunningham's leg and manages to get into half guard.

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.
Tahkojuusto tries to stand and escape but Cunningham is controlling the position.
Tahkojuusto trying to control the action but Cunningham is working from the bottom.
Tahkojuusto wants to stand but Cunningham has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Tahkojuusto is trying to control the action in half guard but Cunningham is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Cunningham is looking to escape.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Tahkojuusto forces Cunningham back against the cage and clinches.

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.
A left hand lands to the body for Tahkojuusto.
Tahkojuusto gets underhooks to prevent Cunningham's takedown attempt.

Tahkojuusto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tahkojuusto has his takedown stuffed

and Cunningham counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Cunningham.
Cunningham won't allow Tahkojuusto to sweep him here.

Tahkojuusto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cunningham working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Cunningham throwing strikes but missing.
Tahkojuusto is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Teppo Tahkojuusto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tahkojuusto has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Teppo Tahkojuusto!