PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Isreal Todd (ranked 8579 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tori Kankunnen (ranked 5905 p4p, 0 weight class). Tori Kankunnen will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Todd
vs
Kankunnen

168 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Isreal Todd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tori Kankunnen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kankunnen looks to land a combination but Todd avoids it well.

Kankunnen throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Todd tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kankunnen is in Todd's guard.
Todd wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kankunnen manages to pass to side control.

Todd wants to get back to his feet.

Todd looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Kankunnen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Todd wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Todd is looking to control Kankunnen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Todd avoid being mounted?
Kankunnen prevents Todd from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todd is trying to maintain the position but Kankunnen is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Todd misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Kankunnen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kankunnen landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Todd is trying to control but can't.

Kankunnen is looking for a kimura but Todd is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kankunnen to get the leverage.
Todd trying to hold on to Kankunnen's head to control him but Kankunnen postures up.
Kankunnen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Todd could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kankunnen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kankunnen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Kankunnen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Kankunnen.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Todd misses with some strikes from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kankunnen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Todd's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kankunnen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kankunnen controlling the pace.
Todd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Todd won't allow Kankunnen to pass to mount.
Kankunnen controlling the action here.
Todd trying to hold on to Kankunnen's head to control him but Kankunnen postures up.

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.

Kankunnen is working for a kimura but Todd is defending it quite comfortably.
Todd is trying to stand up here but Kankunnen is controlling him well.
Todd slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Todd looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kankunnen has picked Todd up and slammed him! Todd can't keep hold of the triangle and Kankunnen manages to pass to side control!
Kankunnen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Todd taking punishment in the form of punches.
Kankunnen scoring with punches from side control.
Todd trying to remain calm as Kankunnen controls from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tori Kankunnen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kankunnen scores with a takedown into Todd's guard.
Kankunnen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Todd's head.

Todd looking for a guillotine here but Kankunnen defends easily.
Kankunnen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Todd is trying to control Kankunnen's posture but Kankunnen avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kankunnen has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Kankunnen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Todd tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kankunnen content just to control the position here.
Todd is looking to improve his position but Kankunnen isn't that keen on the idea.
Kankunnen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Yet more stalling tactics from Kankunnen.
Todd slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kankunnen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Kankunnen.
Kankunnen is taking a breather. Todd says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Todd is trying to control but Kankunnen manages to pass to mount!
Kankunnen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todd wants to try and get back to his feet.
Todd wants to control but Kankunnen is having none of it.
Kankunnen controlling the pace for now.
Kankunnen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kankunnen is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Todd to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Todd shrugs it off.
Todd is desperately trying to improve his position but Kankunnen has a good base and remains in mount.
Kankunnen raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kankunnen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kankunnen dominating with strikes here.
Kankunnen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Todd wants to hold on but Kankunnen pushes him away.
Kankunnen landing strikes from the mount.
Kankunnen lands a heavy elbow.
Kankunnen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kankunnen working Todd over with strikes here.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kankunnen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kankunnen is continuing to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tori Kankunnen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Kankunnen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Todd looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kankunnen working away.
Kankunnen slows the pace down.
Kankunnen is chipping away with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kankunnen lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Todd down.
Todd can't do much from the bottom here.
Todd striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

Kankunnen stands up and beckons Todd to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kankunnen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kankunnen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Todd bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Kankunnen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Todd is trying to defend but Kankunnen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Todd might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Todd punching from the bottom.
Todd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kankunnen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Todd is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Todd has hold of Kankunnen's hands but Kankunnen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Todd is looking for a sweep. Kankunnen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kankunnen moves into full mount! Todd won't be happy about that!
Todd can't escape the position.
Kankunnen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kankunnen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Todd can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Todd taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kankunnen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Todd working to try and regain half guard.
Kankunnen controlling from mount.
Todd is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Todd tries to lock up and control but Kankunnen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Kankunnen has hold of Todd's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Todd manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Todd in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Todd is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kankunnen controlling from the full mount.
Kankunnen avoids the attempt from Todd to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tori Kankunnen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kankunnen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tori Kankunnen!