PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Knox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Turo Vatanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Knox's entrance music is Malukah & Wolfgang - The Dragonborn Comes. A fine choice. Vatanen has chosen Hold Me Now as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Turo Vatanen was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Knox
vs
Vatanen

225 cm
28
300 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

198 cm
34
277 lbs
22 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Knox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Turo Vatanen!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox lands a high kick!

It looks like Turo Vatanen has been cut.
Vatanen walks into a straight right hand from Knox.
Turo Vatanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vatanen tries to land a front kick but Knox steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Knox swats away the attempt to clinch by Vatanen.
Knox takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Knox tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vatanen was well out of range. Poor timing from Knox.
Vatanen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Knox sprawls well. Knox wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vatanen gets slowly back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Vatanen feints and as Knox raises his hands in defense, Vatanen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Knox throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knox is trying to keep Vatanen in close.
Vatanen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vatanen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vatanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Knox swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vatanen postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Knox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vatanen throws a big right hand that misses.
Knox looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vatanen shoots in for a takedown but Knox shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Vatanen clinches up against the cage.
Knox blocks an uppercut.
Vatanen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knox.
Knox blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vatanen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Knox backwards.
Knox prevents a body shot from Vatanen.

Vatanen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Knox lands a leg kick that knocks Vatanen off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vatanen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Knox pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Knox staying out of range there.
Knox stuffs the takedown attempt from Vatanen. Vatanen gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnny Knox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Turo Vatanen.
Vatanen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Vatanen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Vatanen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Knox sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Vatanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vatanen thows a huge punch but Knox dodges it nicely.

Vatanen seems to be looking for submissions.
Knox wants to improve his position but Vatanen is controlling well.
Knox won't allow Vatanen to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Vatanen.
Vatanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vatanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knox keeps working.
Vatanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Knox is looking to improve his position.
Knox avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vatanen.
Vatanen trying to control from half guard but Knox is working away.
Vatanen thows a huge punch but Knox dodges it nicely.
Knox keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Knox keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vatanen is nestled in close to Knox, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Knox is looking to control Vatanen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knox avoid being mounted?
Vatanen thows a huge punch but Knox dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knox is looking for a sweep. Vatanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Vatanen is working for a submission of some sort.
Knox keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vatanen lands strikes from half guard.
Vatanen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Knox does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Knox keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vatanen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Vatanen trying to mount his opponent but Knox defends it.
Knox is looking to improve his position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ground and pound from Vatanen.
Vatanen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Knox with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Knox regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Turo Vatanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Turo Vatanen's cut.
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.

Knox stuffs the takedown.
Vatanen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Knox tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Vatanen is able to avoid easily.
Knox jabs at Vatanen's body.
Vatanen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Vatanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vatanen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Knox scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Knox misses with an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vatanen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Knox sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Johnny Knox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Turo Vatanen.
Nice uppercut lands for Vatanen. That snapped Knox's head back.

Vatanen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knox, pushing him back against the cage.
Knox lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Knox can't find room to land a body shot as Vatanen controls the action.

Knox breaks from the clinch.
Knox misses with a low kick.
Vatanen takes one to the chin there.

Knox gets caught flat footed, as Vatanen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Vatanen is working Knox over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vatanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox pulls Vatanen in close to prevent any damage.
Knox is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vatanen postures up.
Knox manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Vatanen is mounted but he's throwing punches.
Turo Vatanen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Knox tries to control but Vatanen wriggling away.
Knox lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Knox takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Vatanen is squirming around, avoiding Knox's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen is trying desperately to improve position.
Knox looking to control but Vatanen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vatanen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Vatanen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knox won't allow Vatanen to sweep him here.
Knox controls from within his opponent's guard.

Vatanen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vatanen keeping moving, preventing Knox from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knox postures up in Vatanen's guard and throws a big left but Vatanen blocks it.
Vatanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vatanen throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Knox avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Knox wants to control from the top but Vatanen keeps moving.
Knox controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vatanen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knox gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Knox looking to pass the guard.
Knox wants to control from the top but Vatanen keeps moving.
Knox controls from within his opponent's guard.

Johnny Knox has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Vatanen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Knox circles away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vatanen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Knox.
Johnny Knox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vatanen tries to clinch up
and Knox counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Knox dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Turo Vatanen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Vatanen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Knox circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vatanen.
Knox misses with a straight right.
Knox misses with an uppercut.
A jab from Knox does it's job there.
Knox looks to land a right hand but Vatanen moved out of range.
Vatanen tries to clinch there but Knox circles away.
Johnny Knox is winning the standup battle so far.
Knox stuffs the takedown attempt from Vatanen. Vatanen gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnny Knox has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Turo Vatanen.
Vatanen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Knox throws a body kick that misses.
Knox cracks Vatanen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Knox is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Vatanen shoots in looking for a takedown. Knox tries to sprawl out of it but Vatanen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knox manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed right hand from Knox misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatanen ducks under a wild hook from Knox.
Vatanen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Vatanen with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Knox counter with a right hand.

That has opened up Turo Vatanen's cut even more.
Knox connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Knox throws a right and a left that Vatanen avoids nicely.
Knox misses with a kick to the body.
Knox avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knox scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Vatanen tries to clinch up but Knox circles away and keeps his distance.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Knox.
Vatanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Vatanen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Knox, pushing him back against the cage.
Vatanen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vatanen goes for a takedown attempt but Knox pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Knox with a nice cross.
Good shot there by Knox.
Vatanen tries to close the distance and clinch but Knox swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen shoots in looking for a takedown. Knox tries to sprawl out of it but Vatanen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knox manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vatanen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Knox looks to land a combination but Vatanen avoids it well.
Vatanen shoots in and drives through. Knox sprawls well.
Knox misses with a two punch combination.
Vatanen slips a jab and a cross from Knox.

Vatanen instigates a clinch.

Vatanen has picked Knox up - he's going for a ride! Vatanen dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Knox keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Knox tries to get to full guard but Vatanen has control of the leg.
Vatanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox wants to get back to full guard.
Vatanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Knox's head.
Knox tries to kick Vatanen off but Vatanen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Knox trying to hold on to Vatanen's head to control him but Vatanen postures up.
Vatanen is trying to control. Knox wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vatanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Knox desperately trying to maintain half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Knox trying to hold on to Vatanen's head to control him but Vatanen postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Johnny Knox wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Vatanen tries to clinch but Knox moves out of range.
Vatanen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Vatanen has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A right hand to the body from Knox.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vatanen.
Knox lands a hook that snaps the head of Vatanen backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Vatanen manages to pull guard.

Vatanen has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Knox is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Vatanen.
Knox works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Vatanen struggling a bit here.
Knox working the ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A lull in the action here as Knox stalls from top position.
Knox working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Knox showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Knox has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Knox!
Johnny Knox very nearly forgot to thank Steel Penn's Laundry 93% amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.