PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vihanen Thaikku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joseph Di Maio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thaikku's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Ice Cream Paint Job. Di Maio has chosen Manowar - Sign of the Hammer as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Thaikku
vs
Di Maio

189 cm
23
189 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

193 cm
23
197 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

TKO Vegas
Takomo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vihanen Thaikku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joseph Di Maio!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thaikku is looking to clinch but Di Maio is avoiding it.
Di Maio is looking to clinch but Thaikku is avoiding it.
Di Maio misses with a straight left.
Thaikku tries to clinch up but Di Maio circles away and keeps his distance.
Thaikku is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Di Maio misses with a wild combination.
Thaikku has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Thaikku there as he acknowledges the shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Di Maio.
Vihanen Thaikku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Thaikku moves into the clinch.
Thaikku with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Di Maio.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thaikku avoiding damage as Di Maio throws knees to the body.
Thaikku tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Thaikku is fighting off a takedown attempt but Di Maio is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Thaikku to the mat. Thaikku regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Di Maio wants to pass the guard but Thaikku is keeping the position.
Thaikku is breathing heavily.

Di Maio drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Thaikku dives on top into guard.

Di Maio looking for a guillotine here but Thaikku defends easily.
Di Maio is trying to hold Thaikku in close to prevent damage but Thaikku has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Di Maio wants to get back to full guard.
Di Maio is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thaikku knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Di Maio on the ground.

That's two 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.

Di Maio actively working from the bottom here.
Di Maio is looking for a sweep. Thaikku is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thaikku tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Di Maio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Di Maio 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.
Di Maio passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Di Maio unloads with some shots from mount but Thaikku bucks and avoids them well.
Thaikku really wants to buck Di Maio off and get back to his feet.

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

Di Maio looking for a guillotine here but Thaikku defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Thaikku gets to his feet - Di Maio follows without any prompting.
Thaikku takes one to the side of the head.

Thaikku gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thaikku misses with a knee to the head.
Thaikku looking to throw knees to the head but Di Maio is blocking nicely.
Thaikku throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thaikku avoiding damage as Di Maio throws knees to the body.
Di Maio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thaikku.
Thaikku throws a knee to the head but misses.
Di Maio trying to land knees to the body.
Di Maio takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joseph Di Maio dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thaikku tries to clinch but Di Maio moves out of range.
Di Maio throws a right and a left that Thaikku avoids nicely.
Di Maio fails to land the takedown.
Thaikku tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Di Maio paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Thaikku has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but Di Maio blocks it.
Di Maio misses with a knee to the head.
Di Maio tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Di Maio tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thaikku tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thaikku misses with a knee to the head.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but Di Maio blocks it.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thaikku managing to block the knees to the body from Di Maio.
Di Maio tries to land knees in the clinch but Thaikku avoids the damage to the body.
Thaikku blocks an elbow strike.
Thaikku with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thaikku with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thaikku with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thaikku with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Di Maio missing with knees to the body.
Di Maio trying to land knees to the body.
Di Maio blocks an elbow strike from Thaikku.
Thaikku looking to throw knees to the head but Di Maio is blocking nicely.
Di Maio throws an elbow but it misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Di Maio lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Di Maio unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thaikku lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Di Maio gets control of Thaikku's arms and successfully pulls guard. Di Maio will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Di Maio wants to sweep but no luck.

Di Maio isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Thaikku stacks Di Maio on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Thaikku!
Di Maio is trying to work for a sweep but Thaikku has mounted him!

Thaikku is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Good leg kick by Di Maio there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Di Maio throws a head kick that misses.
Di Maio misses with a double jab.
Joseph Di Maio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thaikku tries to clinch up.
Di Maio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Thaikku was well out of range. Poor timing from Di Maio.

Thaikku has closed the distance and engaged Di Maio in a clinch.
Di Maio throws a knee to the head but misses.
Di Maio is looking to control Thaikku's arms but Thaikku gets an underhook and turns him. Now Di Maio has his back to the cage.
Thaikku misses with a knee to the head.
Thaikku misses with a knee strike.
Thaikku throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Di Maio blocks it with crossed arms.
Di Maio tries for a takedown. No joy.
Thaikku avoiding damage as Di Maio throws knees to the body.
Di Maio with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Knees to the body from Di Maio.
Thaikku lands an elbow just above Di Maio 's eye.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but Di Maio blocks it.
Thaikku swings wildly with an uppercut but Di Maio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Di Maio using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Di Maio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thaikku.
Thaikku looking to throw knees to the head but Di Maio is blocking nicely.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thaikku misses with a knee strike.
Di Maio lands a knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Di Maio missing with knees to the body.
Thaikku using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Di Maio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Di Maio blocks an elbow strike.
Di Maio lands a nice knee to the body.
Thaikku misses with a knee to the head.
Thaikku throws a head punch that misses.
Di Maio connects with a knee to the head.
Thaikku managing to block the knees to the body from Di Maio.
Di Maio landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Thaikku misses with a knee strike.
Thaikku using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Di Maio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Di Maio tries to pull guard but Thaikku holds him up against the cage and eventually Di Maio drops back down to his feet.
Vihanen Thaikku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Di Maio.
Di Maio with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thaikku looking to throw knees to the head but Di Maio is blocking nicely.
Di Maio misses with a knee to the head.
Thaikku throws a knee to the head but misses.
Di Maio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thaikku.
Di Maio with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Di Maio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thaikku.
Di Maio missing with knees to the body.
Thaikku throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Di Maio blocks it with crossed arms.
Thaikku throws an elbow but it misses.
Thaikku managing to block the knees to the body from Di Maio.
Di Maio avoids the elbow strike from Thaikku, against the cage.
Thaikku lands a knee to the head.
Thaikku managing to block the knees to the body from Di Maio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Thaikku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Thaikku blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thaikku misses with a knee to the head.
Thaikku tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thaikku blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Di Maio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thaikku.
Thaikku with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but Di Maio blocks it.
Thaikku misses with a knee to the head.
Di Maio trying to land knees to the body.
Di Maio taking a breather.
Thaikku blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thaikku avoiding damage as Di Maio throws knees to the body.
Thaikku with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Di Maio missing with knees to the body.
Thaikku gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Di Maio.
Di Maio tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thaikku just stands there and leans against the cage.
Di Maio takes an elbow to the temple.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Di Maio changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thaikku fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Di Maio blocks a head kick by Thaikku.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thaikku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vihanen Thaikku dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Di Maio feints and as Thaikku raises his hands in defense, Di Maio changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Di Maio looking to sit in guard and control but Thaikku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Di Maio is working an open guard so Thaikku takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Di Maio swats away the attempt to clinch by Thaikku.

Thaikku rushes Di Maio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Di Maio tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Knees to the body from Di Maio.
Di Maio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Di Maio with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Thaikku misses with a knee to the head.
Di Maio is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thaikku gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vihanen Thaikku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joseph Di Maio.
Thaikku throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Di Maio blocks it with crossed arms.
Di Maio lands an elbow inside.
Thaikku looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Di Maio.
Thaikku with a knee to the head.
Di Maio lands an elbow inside.
Di Maio blocks an elbow strike from Thaikku.
Thaikku tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but Di Maio blocks it.
Di Maio crunches a lovely knee into Thaikku's ribcage.
Di Maio trying to land knees to the body.
Thaikku tries to land a knee to the head but Di Maio blocks with his arms.
Di Maio takes an elbow to the temple.
Di Maio wants a takedown.
Thaikku misses with some punches.
Di Maio blocking some punches.
Thaikku misses with a knee to the head.
Di Maio trying to land knees to the body.
Di Maio pushes off an throws an elbow but Thaikku leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Thaikku throws a knee to the head but misses.
Di Maio lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Di Maio looking to throw knees to the head but Thaikku is blocking nicely.
Thaikku looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Thaikku blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thaikku misses with a knee strike.
Di Maio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thaikku lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Thaikku working aggressively here.
Di Maio looking to throw knees to the head but Thaikku is blocking nicely.
Thaikku avoiding damage as Di Maio throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Thaikku landing knees to the head.
Thaikku using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Di Maio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Di Maio drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Thaikku gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Di Maio takes a knee right on the jaw!
Thaikku throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Di Maio blocks it with crossed arms.
Thaikku managing to block the knees to the body from Di Maio.
Thaikku tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Di Maio trying to land knees to the body.
Di Maio tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Thaikku looking to throw knees to the head but Di Maio is blocking nicely.
Thaikku avoiding damage as Di Maio throws knees to the body.
Thaikku tries to land a knee to the head but Di Maio blocks with his arms.
Di Maio unloads a knee to the mid-section. Thaikku lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Thaikku lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Di Maio tries to pull guard but Thaikku holds him up against the cage and eventually Di Maio drops back down to his feet.
Thaikku managing to block the knees to the body from Di Maio.
Thaikku lands a knee to the head.
Di Maio crunches a lovely knee into Thaikku's ribcage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but Di Maio blocks it.
Thaikku throws a knee to the head but misses.
Thaikku throws a knee to the head but misses.
Di Maio using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Thaikku misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Di Maio trying to land knees to the body.
Thaikku lands an elbow inside that Di Maio shrugs off.
Di Maio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thaikku.
Di Maio blocks an elbow strike from Thaikku.
Thaikku connects with a nasty looking knee right to Di Maio's face.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thaikku avoiding damage as Di Maio throws knees to the body.
Di Maio tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Thaikku tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Thaikku.
Thaikku blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thaikku throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Di Maio blocks it with crossed arms.
Di Maio tries to pull guard but Thaikku holds him up against the cage and eventually Di Maio drops back down to his feet.
Di Maio stalling against the cage.
Thaikku comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Thaikku lands a knee to the head.
Thaikku stops a takedown attempt from Di Maio.
Thaikku landing knees to the head.
Thaikku throws a knee to the head but misses.
Di Maio crunches a lovely knee into Thaikku's ribcage.
Thaikku blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Thaikku avoiding damage as Di Maio throws knees to the body.
Di Maio tries a knee to the head but Thaikku blocks it.
Thaikku misses with a knee strike.
Thaikku managing to block the knees to the body from Di Maio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Di Maio changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thaikku fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Thaikku has taken the fight to the clinch.
Thaikku throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Di Maio lands a nice knee to the body.
Thaikku scores with a knee to the head.
Thaikku managing to block the knees to the body from Di Maio.
Thaikku misses with a knee strike.
Thaikku scores with a knee to the head.
Di Maio fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Thaikku looking to throw knees to the head but Di Maio is blocking nicely.
Thaikku throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Di Maio blocks it with crossed arms.
Di Maio tries to land knees in the clinch but Thaikku avoids the damage to the body.
Di Maio trying to land knees to the body.
Vihanen Thaikku has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Thaikku softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Di Maio landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Thaikku looking to throw knees to the head but Di Maio is blocking nicely.
Di Maio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thaikku.
Di Maio throws a knee to the head but misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Di Maio tries to land a knee to the head but Thaikku blocks with his arms.
Thaikku throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Di Maio blocks it with crossed arms.
Thaikku throws an elbow that misses.
Thaikku avoiding damage as Di Maio throws knees to the body.
Thaikku connects with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vihanen Thaikku showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Thaikku 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vihanen Thaikku!