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). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tannen
vs
Soutukorva

173 cm
21
163 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

177 cm
25
160 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Buford Tannen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mika Soutukorva!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tannen lands with a kick to the temple. Soutukorva shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Soutukorva shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Soutukorva displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tannen.

Tannen closes the distance and clinches.
Soutukorva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tannen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Tannen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Tannen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Tannen passes the guard and advances to mount!

Tannen goes for an armbar but Soutukorva turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Soutukorva.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tannen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soutukorva won't allow Tannen to get back to his feet.
Soutukorva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tannen wants to sweep but no luck.
Soutukorva trying to control but Tannen is working from the bottom.
Soutukorva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Soutukorva looking to sit in guard and control but Tannen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tannen throwing strikes from guard but Soutukorva blocks nicely.
Tannen tries to stand but Soutukorva is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tannen throws a big right hand that misses.

Tannen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Soutukorva dives on top into guard.
Soutukorva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Soutukorva slips nicely into half guard.
Soutukorva controlling the pace.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Soutukorva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tannen defending well though.
Soutukorva wants to control but Tannen is keeping him busy.
Tannen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soutukorva controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mika Soutukorva.
Tannen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Soutukorva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A punch combination from Tannen misses.
Both fighters circling a little - Tannen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Tannen throws a head kick but Soutukorva moves out of range.
Tannen throws a series of punches but Soutukorva avoids them all with ease.
Tannen misses with a head kick.

Soutukorva feints and as Tannen raises his hands in defense, Soutukorva changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tannen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Soutukorva is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tannen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Soutukorva won't allow Tannen to sweep him here.
Soutukorva controls from within his opponent's guard.
Soutukorva stopping the sweep attempt from Tannen.
Tannen keeping full guard, as Soutukorva tries to pass.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tannen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Soutukorva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Soutukorva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tannen tries to clinch up but Soutukorva circles away and keeps his distance.
Tannen throws a head kick but Soutukorva moves out of range.
Soutukorva gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tannen counters with a two punch combo.
Tannen looks to land a combination but Soutukorva avoids it well.
Soutukorva gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Tannen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Soutukorva looking to slow down the pace here.

Soutukorva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tannen thuds a left hand into Soutukorva's body.
Tannen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Soutukorva misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tannen misses with a wild combination.
Tannen tries a head kick but it misses.
Soutukorva misses with a takedown attempt

and Tannen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Buford Tannen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mika Soutukorva.
Soutukorva is breathing heavily.
Tannen tries to free his leg and advance position but Soutukorva is retaining full guard.

Tannen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Soutukorva dives on top into guard.
Tannen lands a decent punch to the body there.
Soutukorva trying to control the position from guard on top but Tannen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Soutukorva stops Tannen from standing up.

Soutukorva got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tannen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Soutukorva has managed to get both his arms back between Tannen's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tannen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Soutukorva off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Soutukorva with a poor takedown
and Tannen counters with an inside leg kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Soutukorva.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tannen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Soutukorva wants to take a breather but Tannen is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tannen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Soutukorva's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tannen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Tannen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tannen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Soutukorva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Soutukorva scores a nice knee to the body.
Soutukorva lands a damaging elbow.
Tannen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tannen.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Soutukorva lands an elbow just above Tannen 's eye.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tannen is trying to break free.
Tannen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Soutukorva can't get the takedown.
Soutukorva is working for takedown but Tannen is calmly controlling the position for now.

Tannen manages to break the clinch.

Tannen clinches with his opponent.

Tannen has hold of one of Soutukorva's legs. Soutukorva is fighting the takedown attempt but Tannen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Tannen looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tannen postures up in Soutukorva's guard and throws a big left but Soutukorva blocks it.
Soutukorva is pulling down on Tannen's head. It's preventing any offense from Tannen, at least for the moment.

Tannen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Soutukorva manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tannen has Soutukorva in his guard.
Soutukorva is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tannen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buford Tannen dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Soutukorva gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Tannen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tannen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Tannen duly obliges.
Soutukorva has a takedown stuffed.

Tannen clinches up against the cage.
Soutukorva is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Soutukorva looking to throw knees to the head but Tannen is blocking nicely.
Tannen blocks an elbow strike.
Tannen goes for a takedown attempt but Soutukorva pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tannen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Soutukorva takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tannen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Soutukorva circles away quickly and effectively.
Soutukorva has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Tannen.
Tannen misses with a two punch combination.

Tannen closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Tannen on the inside.
Tannen dodges an elbow strike from Soutukorva.
Tannen dodges an elbow strike from Soutukorva.
Soutukorva tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Soutukorva misses with an elbow over the top.

Tannen gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tannen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tannen is looking to take a break and control but Soutukorva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Soutukorva wants to control but Tannen is keeping busy.
Mika Soutukorva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tannen trying to control from Soutukorva's half guard. Soutukorva has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Tannen wants to stand but Soutukorva is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tannen controlling from the top position.
Buford Tannen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Buford Tannen wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Soutukorva takes a kick to the side of the head.
Tannen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Soutukorva is defended easily by Tannen.
A right-left combo lands from Tannen.
Tannen throws a sloppy head kick and Soutukorva moves out of range easily.
Tannen lands a head kick. Soutukorva smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Tannen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Tannen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Soutukorva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tannen 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 seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Soutukorva for as long as he can get away with.
Tannen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soutukorva will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Soutukorva throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buford Tannen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tannen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buford Tannen!