PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kari Tapio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dylan Thurston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tapio comes to the ring accompanied by Cannibal Corpse. Dylan Thurston will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tapio
vs
Thurston

182 cm
23
225 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

193 cm
27
230 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Strikefirst Nutrion

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Tapio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dylan Thurston!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tapio feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Thurston looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tapio passes into half guard.
Thurston is refusing to be controlled, as Tapio sits in half guard.
Thurston pushes Tapio off looking to stand but Tapio dives back in and keeps control.
Thurston wants to get back to full guard.
Tapio thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tapio is looking to take a break and control but Thurston is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Thurston looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tapio is trying to control the action in half guard but Thurston is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Tapio is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Thurston tries to get to full guard but Tapio has control of the leg.
Thurston is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tapio seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Thurston does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thurston is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Tapio is trying to control the action in half guard but Thurston is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kari Tapio wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Thurston gets caught flat footed, as Tapio shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Thurston looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tapio wants to control from the top but Thurston keeps moving.

Thurston has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tapio can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tapio trying to control but Thurston is working from the bottom.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tapio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Thurston works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kari Tapio.
Tapio paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Thurston takes a shot right to the bread basket.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tapio closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Thurston's guard.
Tapio tries to free his leg and advance position but Thurston is retaining full guard.
Tapio trying to control the position from guard on top but Thurston is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Thurston looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tapio passes into side control.
Thurston tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Tapio lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tapio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thurston keeps working.
Thurston is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thurston looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tapio is keen to just control but Thurston is a slippery customer.

Tapio is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tapio is trying to control. Thurston wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tapio scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Thurston looking for submissions off his back.
Tapio slows the pace down in half guard.

Thurston is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tapio pulls his head out easily.
Tapio wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tapio trying to control from half guard but Thurston is working away.
Tapio takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Thurston is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Tapio's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Tapio's back!
Thurston lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Tapio hold on?!

Tapio is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Thurston gets his way!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tapio defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Tapio is trying to break free.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tapio rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Tapio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Tapio looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Thurston prevents Tapio from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Tapio dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Thurston keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Tapio dives in and scores a takedown into Thurston's guard.

Thurston isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tapio stacks Thurston on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Tapio!
Thurston is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tapio off and has taken his back!

Thurston has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Tapio! Can he survive? No! He's out! Thurston gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dylan Thurston!