PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tiyaro Feitsora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esa Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Feitsora's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Helmet - Unsung. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Feitsora
vs
Tikkanen

188 cm
35
215 lbs
29 - 16 - 0

186 cm
36
208 lbs
36 - 16 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction

MayheM sportswear

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 29 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tiyaro Feitsora!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esa Tikkanen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Feitsora has managed to clinch.
Feitsora has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Tikkanen wants a takedown but no success here.
Feitsora displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tikkanen up against the cage.
Tikkanen lands with a light punch inside.
Tikkanen can't find room to land a body shot as Feitsora controls the action.
Tikkanen tries to throw a body punch but Feitsora avoids it by throwing Tikkanen back against the cage.
Feitsora landing knees to the head.

It looks like Esa Tikkanen has been cut.
Tikkanen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Feitsora working aggressively here.
Feitsora tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Feitsora's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tikkanen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Feitsora throws the kick towards the body but Tikkanen avoids it.
Feitsora gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tikkanen.
Tikkanen scores with a nice body kick.
Tikkanen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Feitsora looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Feitsora just misses with a punch to the body.
Feitsora misses with a leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Tikkanen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Feitsora doesn't seem phased though.
Tikkanen's coach down at Fighting Fitness & Freedom was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tikkanen's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Feitsora digs a good hook to Tikkanen's body.
Tikkanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Feitsora has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Tikkanen rushes Feitsora and presses him up against the cage.
Tikkanen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tikkanen lands a nice uppercut.
Feitsora tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tikkanen tries to work over Feitsora's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Feitsora holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tikkanen working aggressively here.
Feitsora has a couple of punches blocked by Tikkanen.
Feitsora throws an elbow but it misses.
Feitsora lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Feitsora prevents a body shot from Tikkanen.
Feitsora misses with the head strike.
Tikkanen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tikkanen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tikkanen misses with some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Feitsora throws an elbow but misses.
Tikkanen avoids a wild elbow strike from Feitsora.
A right hook to the body lands for Tikkanen.
Feitsora has a couple of punches blocked by Tikkanen.
Feitsora gets underhooks to prevent Tikkanen's takedown attempt.
Tikkanen misses with the head strike.
Feitsora scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nice body punch from Tikkanen - that landed with a thud.
Still in the clinch, Feitsora scores with a nice short uppercut.
Feitsora lands with a left to the head.
Tikkanen tries to throw a body punch but Feitsora avoids it by throwing Tikkanen back against the cage.
Feitsora throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tikkanen.
Feitsora misses with a hook to the ribs.
Feitsora lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Feitsora lands an elbow inside.
Tikkanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tiyaro Feitsora has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esa Tikkanen.
Tikkanen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A left hand lands to the body for Tikkanen.
A left hand lands to the body for Tikkanen.
Feitsora is trying to break free.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tikkanen.
Feitsora doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tikkanen misses with a body punch.
Feitsora misses with some punches.

Tikkanen gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Feitsora regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Feitsora is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tikkanen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tikkanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Feitsora swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tikkanen trying to control but Feitsora is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Feitsora controls Tikkanen momentarily but Tikkanen frees himself.
Tikkanen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tikkanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Feitsora is keeping the position for now.
Feitsora looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tikkanen is one step ahead there.
Feitsora not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Esa Tikkanen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Esa Tikkanen's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Feitsora blocks a head kick by Tikkanen.
A jab from Feitsora finds it's way through Tikkanen's defenses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Feitsora looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Feitsora throws a jab when Tikkanen was well out of range.
Feitsora scores with a leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Feitsora.
Tikkanen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Feitsora throws a combination that misses
and Tikkanen counters with a solid body kick.

Feitsora moves into range and clinches up with Tikkanen.
Feitsora blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tikkanen swings wildly with an uppercut but Feitsora uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Feitsora lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Feitsora just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tikkanen's brow.
Tikkanen throws a head punch that misses.
Feitsora makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tikkanen misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Feitsora trying to land knees to the body.
Feitsora's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tikkanen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A hook to the body from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen struggles to land a body shot inside as Feitsora controls his hands.
Tikkanen misses with some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Tikkanen tries to throw a body punch but Feitsora avoids it by throwing Tikkanen back against the cage.
Tikkanen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Tikkanen.
Tikkanen digs a right hand into Feitsora's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Feitsora's gas tank.
Tikkanen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Feitsora throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Tikkanen prevents a body shot from Feitsora.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tikkanen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tikkanen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Feitsora tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tikkanen avoids it.
Feitsora fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Tikkanen jumps guard and drags Feitsora to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tikkanen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Feitsora defends well.
Feitsora landing some decent shots from guard.
Feitsora looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Tikkanen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Feitsora gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tikkanen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Feitsora looking to pass the guard.
Feitsora trying to control the position from guard on top but Tikkanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Tikkanen is trying to control the position but Feitsora postures up.
Feitsora wants to control from the top but Tikkanen keeps moving.

Tikkanen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Feitsora passes into half guard.
Feitsora uses his free foot to push down on Tikkanen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Tikkanen.
Tikkanen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Esa Tikkanen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Esa Tikkanen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tikkanen connects with an inside leg kick.
Feitsora will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tikkanen throws a hook but Feitsora blocks it.
Feitsora takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Feitsora motions for Tikkanen to come forward. Feitsora throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Feitsora attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Tikkanen moves out of range as Feitsora strikes.
Feitsora scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Feitsora throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Feitsora connects with a looping right hand.
Feitsora lands a body shot.
Feitsora keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Donk. Tikkanen catches Feitsora right on the button with a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tikkanen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Feitsora's sensitive parts.
Tikkanen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Feitsora counters with a nice kick to the body.
Tikkanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Feitsora throws a leg kick but Tikkanen sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Feitsora scores with a leg kick.
Feitsora misses with a body kick.
Feitsora lands with a kick to the ribs.
Feitsora looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Feitsora.
Both fighters circling a little - Feitsora finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Feitsora lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Feitsora.
Both fighters circling a little - Feitsora finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Tikkanen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Feitsora lands a jab to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Feitsora gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Tikkanen takes a knee right on the jaw!
A short right from Feitsora on the inside.
Feitsora lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Feitsora connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tikkanen's face.

Tikkanen is rocked!
Feitsora throws a head punch that misses.
Tiyaro Feitsora has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tikkanen is still on wobbly legs! Can Feitsora finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Feitsora stalling.
Feitsora lands an uppercut.
Esa Tikkanen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Tikkanen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Feitsora.
Tikkanen takes an elbow to the temple.
Feitsora lands an elbow inside that Tikkanen shrugs off.
Feitsora throws a big uppercut that drops Tikkanen! More strikes from Feitsora and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Tikkanen lies dazed against the cage as Feitsora celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tiyaro Feitsora!
After the fight, Tiyaro Feitsora was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.