PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Teemu Toivanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Koivusalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jussi Koivusalo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Teemu Toivanen's chin.

Toivanen
vs
Koivusalo

191 cm
22
211 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
22
211 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teemu Toivanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Koivusalo!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toivanen throws a head kick that Koivusalo semi-blocks.
Koivusalo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Koivusalo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Koivusalo throws a shot from downtown. Toivanen moves away and avoids it.
Koivusalo throws a head kick that misses

and Toivanen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Toivanen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Toivanen working away.
Toivanen is looking to take a break and control but Koivusalo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Koivusalo wants to control but Toivanen postures up.
Toivanen trying to control the action but Koivusalo is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toivanen advances nicely into full mount.
Koivusalo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Koivusalo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Koivusalo blocking the ground and pound.
Koivusalo gets back to half guard.
Toivanen works his way into full mount!

Toivanen is working for a guillotine from mount but Koivusalo frees his head quite easily.
Toivanen is breathing heavily.
Toivanen throwing strikes here but Koivusalo is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Koivusalo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Toivanen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Toivanen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Koivusalo has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Koivusalo!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivusalo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Koivusalo trying to control the position from guard on top but Toivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koivusalo stays in close to Toivanen's body and controls the position.
Koivusalo won't allow Toivanen to sweep him here.
Koivusalo trying to control the position from guard on top but Toivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koivusalo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Toivanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Koivusalo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Koivusalo wants to control from the top but Toivanen keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Koivusalo throws a sloppy head kick

and Toivanen counters with a shoot takedown. Koivusalo fights it but they end up in guard.
Koivusalo has a closed guard, preventing Toivanen from standing up.
Toivanen looking to pass the guard.
Toivanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Koivusalo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koivusalo has control of Toivanen's left arm, preventing Toivanen from doing any damage.

Toivanen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Toivanen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Koivusalo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Toivanen is one step ahead there.

Toivanen stands up and waves to Koivusalo to follow him.
A head kick misses from Koivusalo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toivanen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Koivusalo misses with a head kick.
Koivusalo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Koivusalo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Toivanen pushing down on Koivusalo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Koivusalo tries to roll over but Toivanen keeps him under control.
Toivanen seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Koivusalo wants to control but Toivanen is keeping busy.
Koivusalo moves into full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Koivusalo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koivusalo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Koivusalo seems keen to control Toivanen's posture.
Koivusalo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Toivanen postures up.
Koivusalo has control of Toivanen's left arm, preventing Toivanen from doing any damage.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Koivusalo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Koivusalo trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koivusalo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Toivanen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Koivusalo pinned against the cage. Koivusalo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teemu Toivanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Koivusalo takes the fight into the clinch.
Koivusalo trying to land knees to the body.
Koivusalo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Koivusalo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Koivusalo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Koivusalo wants to get back to striking at distance but Toivanen won't allow it.
Toivanen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Koivusalo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Koivusalo misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Koivusalo.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Toivanen lands with a kick to the temple. Koivusalo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Koivusalo throws a lazy head kick

and Toivanen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Koivusalo is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Toivanen pulls his head out easily.
Koivusalo is not content to let Toivanen control the position.
Koivusalo desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Koivusalo moves into full guard.
Toivanen stands and throws Koivusalo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Koivusalo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Toivanen off and has taken his back!
I really don't envy Toivanen right now.
I would not like to be Toivanen right now.
Toivanen is trying to break free.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Toivanen is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Toivanen tries to roll but Koivusalo sticks to his back.
Koivusalo is looking to control Toivanen but Toivanen is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Toivanen tries to break free.
Toivanen is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Koivusalo trying to control momentarily.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jussi Koivusalo just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koivusalo clinches but Toivanen breaks the clinch

and Toivanen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Toivanen is thwarting Koivusalo's attempts to control the position.
Koivusalo controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Toivanen wants to control but Koivusalo is keeping him busy.
Toivanen is thwarting Koivusalo's attempts to control the position.
Koivusalo is doing well to control the position and prevent Toivanen from advancing to side control.
Toivanen tries to pass to full mount but Koivusalo defends it.

Toivanen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Koivusalo misses with a double jab

and Toivanen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Toivanen.
Toivanen works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Toivanen is pressing down on Koivusalo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Koivusalo is holding on for now.

Toivanen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Toivanen wants to get back to his feet.
Toivanen works his way into side control.
You can see the frustration on Koivusalo's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toivanen trying to control the position but Koivusalo is working away.
Koivusalo is breathing heavily.

Toivanen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Koivusalo is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Toivanen tries for a kimura but Koivusalo is defending well.

Toivanen swings around for an armbar but Koivusalo sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Toivanen's guard.
Koivusalo postures up in Toivanen's guard and throws a big left but Toivanen blocks it.

Toivanen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Toivanen is looking for a triangle but Koivusalo pushes his legs off easily.

Toivanen looking for a guillotine here but Koivusalo defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivusalo trying to control but Toivanen is working from the bottom.
Toivanen wants to sweep but no luck.
Toivanen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Koivusalo!
Toivanen throws some wild stikes that Koivusalo manages to avoid easily.
Koivusalo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Toivanen wants to take his opponent's back but Koivusalo doesn't allow it.

Toivanen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Toivanen goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Koivusalo is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivusalo preventing the sweep.
Koivusalo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Koivusalo wants to pass the guard but Toivanen is keeping the position.
Toivanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Koivusalo sitting in guard here, content to control.

Toivanen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Koivusalo is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Toivanen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Koivusalo's back instead.

That's four 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.
Koivusalo turns into Toivanen and is now in his guard.
Toivanen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Toivanen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Koivusalo tries to hold on but Toivanen postures up.
Toivanen wants to take his opponent's back but Koivusalo doesn't allow it.

Toivanen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Koivusalo can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Toivanen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Koivusalo is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Koivusalo and Toivanen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Koivusalo is trying to control Toivanen's posture but Toivanen avoids it.
Koivusalo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Toivanen kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Toivanen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Koivusalo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Toivanen advances to full mount.

Toivanen looking to secure an arm triangle but Koivusalo defends it well.
Koivusalo is trying desperately to improve position.
Koivusalo tries to hold on but Toivanen postures up.
Teemu Toivanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Koivusalo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Toivanen is staying active.

Toivanen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Koivusalo wants to hold on but Toivanen pushes him away.
Koivusalo holds on to Toivanen around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jussi Koivusalo just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Toivanen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Teemu Toivanen has been cut.
Koivusalo lands a brutal head kick. Toivanen looks out on his feet and Koivusalo throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Jussi Koivusalo!