PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johannes Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Davi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tikkanen
vs
Davi

182 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Tikkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joao Davi!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Davi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Davi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tikkanen misses with a few strikes there.
Tikkanen tries to bum rush Davi with a series of wild strikes but Davi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tikkanen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Oooh a lovely combination from Tikkanen sends Davi down but not out. Tikkanen dives into side control looking to finish.

Davi is rocked!

It looks like Joao Davi has been cut.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tikkanen stands up.
Davi is still on wobbly legs! Can Tikkanen finish him?
Davi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Davi seems to have recovered his senses.
Tikkanen misses with a series of wild punches.
Tikkanen fails to land with a series of punches.
Tikkanen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No joy there for Tikkanen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but Davi is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Davi.
Tikkanen fails to land with a series of punches.
Tikkanen is breathing heavily.
Tikkanen fails to land with a series of punches.
Tikkanen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Davi.
Tikkanen looks to land a combination but Davi avoids it well.
Johannes Tikkanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Davi shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Davi stalling.
Davi wants to take a breather but Tikkanen is having none of it.
Davi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Tikkanen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Davi is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davi prevents Tikkanen from standing back up.
Davi is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tikkanen is refusing to be controlled, as Davi sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Joao Davi just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Davi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tikkanen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tikkanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Davi counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Davi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tikkanen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Tikkanen uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Tikkanen throws a left and a right that both miss

so Davi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Davi won't allow Tikkanen to get back to his feet.
Tikkanen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Davi controls the pace.
Tikkanen wants to sweep here but Davi controlling him for the moment.
Tikkanen controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davi tries to free his leg and advance position but Tikkanen is retaining full guard.

Tikkanen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Davi is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Tikkanen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Davi's back instead.
Tikkanen has good solid back control here.
Davi tries to escape the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tikkanen is trying to stick to Davi's back but Davi is turning into Tikkanen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tikkanen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Davi.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tikkanen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Tikkanen is looking to stand up but Davi isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johannes Tikkanen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joao Davi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tikkanen misses with an uppercut

and Davi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Davi trying to control the position from guard on top but Tikkanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Davi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Davi trying to control but Tikkanen is working from the bottom.
Tikkanen is looking to stand up but Davi isn't so interested in that idea.
Davi trying to control the position from guard on top but Tikkanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tikkanen is looking to stand up but Davi isn't so interested in that idea.
Tikkanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tikkanen throws a lazy head kick

and Davi counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tikkanen is trying to stand up here but Davi is controlling him well.
Davi works his way into full mount!
Davi tries to control but Tikkanen wriggling away.
Tikkanen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tikkanen's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tikkanen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Tikkanen wants to get back to his feet.
Davi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tikkanen keeps working.
Tikkanen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Davi is keen to just control but Tikkanen is a slippery customer.

Tikkanen kicks Davi off and gets back to his feet.
Tikkanen misses with a few strikes there.
Tikkanen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Davi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Davi is posturing up here but Tikkanen has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Davi tries to roll out but it's too tight and Davi has to tap! Slick submission there by Tikkanen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Johannes Tikkanen!