PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Urho Takila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sylvester Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Takila might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Kirkkokuoro - Jeesus tulee. Balboa is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Eye of the Tiger. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Takila
vs
Balboa

181 cm
25
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Urho Takila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sylvester Balboa!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takila throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Balboa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Balboa fails to land with a series of punches.
Takila connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Balboa momentarily.
Balboa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Balboa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Balboa takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Takila avoids a punch combination nicely.
Takila slips a jab and a cross from Balboa.
Balboa tries to bum rush Takila with a series of wild strikes but Takila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Balboa avoids a punch combination nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Balboa wants to clinch.
Balboa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Takila moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Takila cracks the inside of Balboa's front leg.
Balboa tries to close the distance and clinch but Takila swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Balboa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Takila is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Takila lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Balboa circles away quickly and effectively.
Balboa is looking for the big counter here.
A punch combination from Balboa misses.
Balboa misses with a double jab.
Sylvester Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Balboa misses with a double jab.
Balboa takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Takila lands a slapping body shot.
Takila misses with an uppercut.
Balboa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Balboa. Takila shrugs it off though.
Sloppy strikes from Balboa. Those never looked like landing.
Balboa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Balboa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Takila pinned against the cage. Takila gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Balboa looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Balboa shoots for a takedown but Takila saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Takila stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Balboa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Takila blocks a head kick by Balboa.

Takila has closed the distance and engaged Balboa in a clinch.
A short right from Takila on the inside.
Takila lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Balboa backwards.
Balboa tries to break free but Takila pushes him back against the cage.
Takila lands with a short shot to the head.
Balboa wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short right from Takila on the inside.
Balboa working hard to break the clinch.
Takila gets through Balboa's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Takila is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Balboa is defending well.
Takila displaying some good clinch control by pressing Balboa up against the cage.
Takila lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takila has him pressed against the cage.
Takila lands a shoulder strike.
Takila lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Takila displaying some good clinch control by pressing Balboa up against the cage.
Balboa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Takila.
Takila stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Takila.
Balboa tries to break free but Takila pushes him back against the cage.
Balboa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takila lands with a short shot to the head.
Balboa has had enough of the clinch but Takila keeps him there for the moment.
Takila lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Balboa or not.
Balboa has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short uppercut from Takila.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takila works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Takila stalling the fight.
A right handed body shot lands from Takila.
A short left from Takila.
Takila scores with a hook to the body.
Balboa is trying to break the clinch but Takila has him pressed against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Takila.

Takila manages to break the clinch.
Takila chopping away at his opponent's legs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takila dodges the punch combination from Balboa.
Takila jabs Balboa right on the nose. Balboa blinks but takes it well.
Balboa is looking to clinch.
A punch combination from Takila misses.
Balboa misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takila chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Takila as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urho Takila dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Takila dodges the punch combination from Balboa.
Takila scores with a punch to the head.
Takila is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Balboa can do to turn this around?
Takila moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Sylvester Balboa has been cut.
Some wild striking there from Balboa.
Takila misses with a body shot.
Balboa looks to land a combination but Takila avoids it well.
Takila shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Balboa pinned against the cage. Balboa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Despite the aggression on Balboa's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takila smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Takila moves into the clinch successfully.
Balboa has had enough of the clinch but Takila keeps him there for the moment.
Takila scores with a shot to the side of Balboa's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takila has Balboa pressed against the cage, preventing Balboa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Takila softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Balboa jumps guard but Takila turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Takila pushes Balboa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Takila pushes Balboa back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Takila prevents Balboa from breaking the clinch.
Balboa is trying to push Takila away but Takila has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Takila lands with a right to the head.
Urho Takila has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Takila tightens his grip and picks Balboa up, before dumping him to the ground. Balboa manages to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Takila accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Takila trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Balboa keeping moving, preventing Takila from controlling successfully.
Takila throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Balboa bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Takila's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Balboa is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Balboa is breathing heavily.
Takila wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Takila is looking for a triangle but Balboa pushes his legs off easily.
Takila trying to control the position.
Balboa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Takila escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Balboa gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Balboa with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takila controls Balboa momentarily but Balboa frees himself.
Balboa postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Balboa lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Takila looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Balboa is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balboa wants to control from the top but Takila keeps moving.
Balboa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Balboa working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Takila's head.
Takila on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Takila tries to get out of the position.
Balboa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Balboa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Takila's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Balboa wants to control from the top but Takila keeps moving.
Balboa won't allow Takila to sweep him here.

Balboa stands up from Takila's guard - Balboa perhaps looking for a knockout.
Balboa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Takila with a jab.
Balboa misses with a wild combination.
Takila works Balboa's body with a nice hook.
Balboa tries to clinch but Takila moves out of range.
Takila feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Takila avoids a kick to the body.
Balboa fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urho Takila dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Sylvester Balboa'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. This is the final round!

Takila takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Balboa moves out of range of the body kick from Takila.
Balboa slips a jab from Takila.
Takila just misses with a punch to the body.
Takila swats away the attempt to clinch by Balboa.
Decent striking displayed by Takila there.
A chopping leg kick lands by Takila.
Balboa looks to land a combination but Takila avoids it well.
It looked like Takila wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Takila stuffs the takedown attempt from Balboa. Balboa gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa misses with a double jab.
Balboa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balboa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Takila.
Takila throws a head kick that half lands.
Balboa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Takila looks to land a left hand but Balboa moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takila manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Balboa shoots in looking for a takedown. Takila tries to sprawl out of it but Balboa keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Takila manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Takila cracks Balboa with an open hand slap.
Takila works the jab nicely.
Balboa dodges the punch combination from Takila.
Takila feints a jab promting Balboa to slip. Takila then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Balboa slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Takila paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Takila connects with an inside leg kick.
Takila lands a leg kick that knocks Balboa off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takila lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sylvester Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Balboa closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Takila scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A cross from Takila lands.
Balboa moves out of range of the body kick.
Balboa walks into a jab.
Takila with a nice cross.
Balboa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Takila backs up against the cage.
Balboa throws a combination that misses
and Takila counters with a straight right hand.
Balboa takes one to the chin there.
Urho Takila is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Takila avoids a kick to the body.
Balboa slips a jab and a cross from Takila.
Balboa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Takila manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Takila pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Takila closes the distance and clinches.
Takila throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takila misses with an elbow strike.
Takila lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Balboa tries to pull guard but Takila forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Urho Takila has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sylvester Balboa.
Takila lands a nice uppercut.
Takila scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Takila softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Takila lands a shoulder strike.
Takila working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Balboa is trying to push Takila away but Takila has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A nice right hand lands inside from Takila.
A short uppercut from Takila.
Takila prevents Balboa from breaking the clinch.
Takila lands with a short shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Takila lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Balboa is looking to break free of the clinch but Takila has double underhooks.
Takila lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Balboa or not.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Takila holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Takila lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Balboa jumps guard but Takila turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sylvester Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takila lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Takila lands a shoulder strike.
Balboa is trying to pull guard but Takila has him pressed against the cage.
Takila lands a left hand that snaps the head of Balboa backwards.
Takila lands a shoulder strike.
Takila lands a shoulder strike.
Takila can't get the takedown.
A left hand lands to the body for Takila.
Takila lands a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Balboa being controlled against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Urho Takila showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Takila, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Urho Takila!
Our winner, Urho Takila, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
Sylvester Balboa spoke after the fight, saying 'I gave it my all thank you for supporting me, I will be back you can bet on it.'.