PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Teppo Raju (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Tuisku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Raju
vs
Tuisku

185 cm
22
200 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
199 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Takomo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Raju!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Tuisku!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Raju fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tuisku fails with an attempt to clinch.
Raju shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tuisku as he avoids it easily.
Tuisku drops Raju with a left and a right! Oh, Raju is hurt - Tuisku dives into side control looking to finish!

Raju is rocked!

It looks like Teppo Raju has been cut.
Raju is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Tuisku is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Raju is working to get back to half guard.
Tuisku controlling from mount.
Raju is wriggling around trying to escape.
Raju is working hard here to advance position.
Tuisku content just to control the position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tuisku lands with some strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuisku with a couple of short strikes.
Raju really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tuisku scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Raju?
Tuisku trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Raju tries to hold on but Tuisku pushes him away.
Tuisku content just to control the position here.
Raju keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuisku looking to control and managing it successfully.
Raju is desperately trying to improve his position but Tuisku has a good base and remains in mount.
Tuisku tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tuisku's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Raju keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuisku controlling the pace for now.
Raju keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tuisku postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Raju looks a forlorn figure.
Raju is looking to improve his position but Tuisku isn't that keen on the idea.
Tuisku controlling the position easily from mount.
Tuisku prevents Raju from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Raju regains half guard.
Raju tries to get to full guard but Tuisku has control of the leg.

Tuisku gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Raju shoots in for a takedown but Tuisku shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teppo Raju. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tuisku fails to land with a series of punches.
Decent striking displayed by Tuisku there.
Raju shoots in but Tuisku avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Antti Tuisku is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raju is breathing heavily.
Tuisku lands a jab to the nose.
Tuisku misses with a two punch combination.
Raju shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tuisku but Tuisku pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Tuisku dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Teppo Raju's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A punch combination from Tuisku misses.
Tuisku misses with a body shot.
Antti Tuisku is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tuisku drops Raju with a left and a right! Oh, Raju is hurt - Tuisku dives into side control looking to finish!
Oh Raju is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tuisku wants to control but Raju is keeping him busy.
Raju is looking for a sweep.
Raju seems to have got his legs back now.
Raju avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Tuisku.
Tuisku in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Raju is looking for a sweep.
Raju is letting Tuisku control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raju is looking to reverse the position.

Tuisku stands up and beckons Raju to his feet.

Raju drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tuisku is breathing heavily.
Tuisku tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Raju wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tuisku managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Raju.
Tuisku is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Raju moves into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raju lands with some strikes.
Raju scoring with strikes but Tuisku is staying in there.
Raju with the ground and pound from mount.
Raju with good strikes from the mount here!
Tuisku takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Raju has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tuisku's face.
Raju is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tuisku can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Raju lands a big shot there that rocks Tuisku but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Raju is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tuisku is surviving well by controlling Raju's body position as best he can.
Raju in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Tuisku is looking to improve his position but Raju isn't that keen on the idea.
Raju has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raju pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Raju lands with some strikes.
Raju wants to take his opponent's back but Tuisku doesn't allow it.
Tuisku tries to hold on but Raju postures up.
Tuisku tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Raju is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Tuisku has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Raju fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raju postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tuisku looks a forlorn figure.

That's four 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.
Raju wants to control the pace but Tuisku is squirming around nicely.
Raju prevents Tuisku from getting the reversal.

Raju goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Tuisku turns into him and now he's in Raju's guard.

Raju looking for a guillotine here but Tuisku defends easily.
Tuisku sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tuisku preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Raju dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Teppo Raju's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Raju gets a takedown into half guard.

Raju is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Tuisku has managed to free his arm - good work.

Raju is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Raju wants to pass the guard but Tuisku is defending well.
Tuisku tries to get to full guard but Raju has control of the leg.
Teppo Raju overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tuisku manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Raju working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raju sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tuisku's guard.
Tuisku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Raju trying to control the pace.
Tuisku wants to improve his position but Raju is controlling well.
Raju throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tuisku tries to roll over but Raju keeps him under control.
Raju moves into full mount! Tuisku won't be happy about that!

Raju get's back to his feet.
A combination from Tuisku does no damage.
Raju changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tuisku tries to avoid it but Raju manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tuisku to the ground. Tuisku escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raju fails to land the takedown.
Tuisku throws a series of punches but Raju moves out of range.
Raju shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tuisku as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teppo Raju. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Raju with that takedown attempt.
Tuisku tries to bum rush Raju with a series of wild strikes but Raju uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Raju closes the distance and clinches up with Tuisku, looking for a takedown. Raju pushes Tuisku against the cage but Tuisku circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tuisku keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Raju looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raju fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tuisku tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Raju paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Antti Tuisku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tuisku throws a hook to the side of Raju's head but Raju sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Raju closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tuisku circles away.
Tuisku looks to land a combination but Raju avoids it well.
Raju throws a hook to the side of Tuisku's head but Tuisku sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Raju shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tuisku as he jumps to the side.
Tuisku moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Raju shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tuisku pinned against the cage. Tuisku gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raju blocks a jab.
Tuisku cracks Raju with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Raju shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tuisku as he jumps to the side.
A big right from Tuisku misses.
Tuisku throws a series of punches but Raju moves out of range.
Raju fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Raju shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tuisku pinned against the cage. Tuisku gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Antti Tuisku.
I think Tuisku 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Antti Tuisku!