PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Esa Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phoenix Valentine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tikkanen comes to the cage accompanied by Bring The Pain. Valentine has chosen Liquid Tension Experiment - Acid Rain as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tikkanen
vs
Valentine

186 cm
24
209 lbs
14 - 2 - 1

170 cm
24
205 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Brute

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 14 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esa Tikkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Phoenix Valentine!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Shigeki Sano and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkanen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Valentine is out of range and Tikkanen settles back down.
Tikkanen misses with a looping left.
Tikkanen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tikkanen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

It looks like Phoenix Valentine has been cut.
Valentine bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tikkanen thuds his right hand into Valentine's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Valentine throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tikkanen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Valentine looks for a takedown but Tikkanen sprawls well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Valentine.
Tikkanen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Valentine tries to avoid it but Tikkanen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Valentine to the ground. Valentine escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Tikkanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tikkanen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valentine wants a takedown but no success here.
Tikkanen lands with a light punch inside.
Tikkanen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tikkanen wants a takedown.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Valentine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Valentine's elbow.

Valentine gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Ground and pound from Valentine.
Valentine throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Valentine is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Tikkanen reverses the position - he's now on top in Valentine's guard.
Tikkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Valentine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valentine keeping full guard, as Tikkanen tries to pass.
Valentine controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tikkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Valentine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valentine has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Valentine looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Valentine keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen throws a head kick that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valentine pivots, looking for a leg kick but Tikkanen is out of range and Valentine settles back down.
A solid leg kick lands there for Valentine.
Valentine avoids the body shot from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen throws a leg kick but Valentine moved away.

Tikkanen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tikkanen wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen stopping the sweep attempt from Valentine.
Tikkanen looking to sit in guard and control but Valentine gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tikkanen trying to control the position.
Tikkanen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Valentine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tikkanen controls Valentine momentarily but Valentine frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is looking to work some ground and pound but Tikkanen has wrist control.
Tikkanen wants to sweep but no luck.
Valentine throws an elbow that misses. Tikkanen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Valentine's guard. Nice move by Tikkanen!
Tikkanen throwing strikes but missing.
Tikkanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tikkanen wants to control from the top but Valentine keeps moving.
Tikkanen is fighting to break Valentine's control of his arms but Valentine is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Tikkanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Phoenix Valentine's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Valentine tried to score with a low kick but Tikkanen checks it.
Valentine is looking to score with low kicks.

Tikkanen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Tikkanen is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Tikkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Valentine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valentine managing to control the position.
Valentine working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen is looking to pass into half guard but Valentine pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Valentine is in guard.
Valentine postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tikkanen is trying to control the position but Valentine postures up.
Tikkanen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Valentine manages to get himself to full guard.
Tikkanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tikkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Valentine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen looking to pass the guard.
Esa Tikkanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valentine preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Valentine keeping moving, preventing Tikkanen from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Esa Tikkanen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A thudding body kick lands there by Tikkanen!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tikkanen circles away.
Valentine steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Tikkanen. That one must have hurt.
Valentine keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tikkanen.
Valentine misses with a leg kick
and Tikkanen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Valentine's knee momentarily.
Tikkanen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Valentine uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen lands a head kick!
Valentine tries to score with a low kick but Tikkanen moves his leg out of the way.
Nice sprawl there from Tikkanen as Valentine shoots in.
Valentine shoots in looking for a takedown. Tikkanen tries to sprawl out of it but Valentine keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tikkanen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Esa Tikkanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phoenix Valentine.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but Valentine is having none of it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Valentine will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Tikkanen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Tikkanen. No joy for Valentine on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tikkanen gets caught napping as Valentine dives in and scores a takedown. Tikkanen manages to retain guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valentine throwing strikes from guard but Tikkanen blocks nicely.
Tikkanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Tikkanen, not yet.
Valentine throwing strikes from guard but Tikkanen blocks nicely.

Tikkanen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tikkanen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Valentine!
Valentine working to try and regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tikkanen tries to control but Valentine wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Tikkanen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Phoenix Valentine's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Valentine attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Valentine slips a straight right by Tikkanen.
Valentine slaps away a takedown attempt from Tikkanen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Valentine takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Valentine avoids the head kick by Tikkanen.
Valentine moves out of range of the body kick.
That kick from Valentine tenderised Tikkanen's leg. Tikkanen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Valentine slips under a jab.
Valentine throws out a leg kick but Tikkanen moves out of range and Valentine only half commits.
A solid leg kick lands there for Valentine.
Esa Tikkanen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tikkanen leaves Valentine with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tikkanen tries to clinch up but Valentine circles away and keeps his distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Valentine.
Tikkanen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Valentine.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Tikkanen. Those never looked like landing.
Tikkanen looks for a takedown but Valentine sprawls well.
Valentine dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tikkanen. That did some damage!
Tikkanen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Valentine looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tikkanen wants to get back to his feet.
Valentine sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tikkanen defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tikkanen trying to hold on to Valentine's head to control him but Valentine postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Valentine landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Valentine wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tikkanen keeps working.
Tikkanen trying to control here.
Phoenix Valentine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Esa Tikkanen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen gets back to full guard.
Tikkanen 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Valentine trying to control but Tikkanen is working from the bottom.

Tikkanen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Valentine content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Valentine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Valentine's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Valentine working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valentine trying to control but Tikkanen is working from the bottom.
Tikkanen has control of Valentine's left arm, preventing Valentine from doing any damage.
Valentine keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tikkanen's head.
Tikkanen has momentary wrist control but Valentine slips an elbow through the middle.
Valentine wants to control from the top but Tikkanen keeps moving.
Tikkanen controls Valentine momentarily but Valentine frees himself.
Tikkanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tikkanen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valentine is looking to work some ground and pound but Tikkanen has wrist control.
Tikkanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valentine.
Valentine throws a big right hand that misses.
Valentine throwing strikes but missing.
Valentine throws a strike but Tikkanen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Tikkanen postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tikkanen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phoenix Valentine comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tikkanen 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esa Tikkanen!
A very excited looking Esa Tikkanen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.