PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Raimo Tikkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Apila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jussi Apila has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Tikkari
vs
Apila

172 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Tends to cut

Coffee Shop (Best quality for $ Get 3 for 2)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raimo Tikkari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Apila!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkari misses with a looping left.
Apila keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tikkari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Apila avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tikkari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tikkari fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tikkari fails with an attempt to clinch.
Apila throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Apila circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tikkari wants to clinch.

Apila fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tikkari sprawls well initially but Apila persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tikkari wants to get back to his feet.
Apila thows a huge punch but Tikkari dodges it nicely.
Apila not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tikkari on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Apila throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Apila looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tikkari has hold of Apila's hands but Apila slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Apila stops Tikkari from getting back to his feet.
Apila has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Apila throwing shots but Tikkari is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Apila is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tikkari is just riding it out for now. Apila eventually gives up the hold.
Apila not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tikkari wants to get back to his feet.
Apila drops an elbow to the side of Tikkari's head.
Apila trying to pass the guard but Tikkari defending well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Apila connects with a nice short shot to Tikkari's temple.
Tikkari wants to get back to his feet.
Apila lands strikes from half guard.
Tikkari is trying to stand up here but Apila is controlling him well.
Apila lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Apila is pressing down on Tikkari's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tikkari is holding on for now.
Apila not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Apila is looking for a kimura but Tikkari is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Apila to get the leverage.
Nice strikes from Apila there.
Apila prevents Tikkari from standing back up.
Tikkari is breathing heavily.
Tikkari tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Apila manages to move to mount!
Apila pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Tikkari on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tikkari tries to get out of the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Apila cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tikkari takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Apila scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Tikkari?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Apila connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Apila lands a big shot there that rocks Tikkari but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Apila in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Apila postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tikkari looks a forlorn figure.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Apila landing strikes from the mount.
Tikkari knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Apila on the ground.
Apila postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tikkari looks a forlorn figure.
Tikkari is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apila putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Apila landing strikes, looking to finish!
Apila looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Apila lands a heavy elbow.
Apila looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Apila scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Tikkari?
Tikkari's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Apila lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Apila landing strikes from the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Apila punishing his opponent with strikes.
Apila working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Apila looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Tikkari is in a horrible position here. Apila smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tikkari is trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila landing strikes, looking to finish!
Apila landing shots from mount.
Tikkari takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Apila landing strikes from the mount.

Apila with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
You get the feeling that Tikkari really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Apila looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Apila unloading with bombs!
Apila dominating with strikes here.
Apila working Tikkari over with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Apila landing shots from mount.
Apila connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Apila raining down shots from the mount!
Tikkari is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Apila dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Horrible takedown by Apila or perhaps it was just good defense by Tikkari which made him look bad.
Apila lands an overhand right.
Raimo Tikkari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tikkari is looking to clinch but Apila is avoiding it.
Apila closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tikkari circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Tikkari as Apila shoots in.
Raimo Tikkari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jussi Apila.

Tikkari gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Apila tightens his grip and picks Tikkari up, before dumping him to the ground. Tikkari manages to land in guard.
Jussi Apila has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tikkari is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Apila is controlling him.
Tikkari trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Apila scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Apila connects with a couple of short punches.
Tikkari wants to stand up but Apila is controlling him.
Apila is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila looking to pass the guard.
Apila scoring with punches to the head and body.
Apila in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Apila stops Tikkari from standing up.
Apila postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Apila trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Apila throwing strikes but missing.
Apila lands a couple of elbows.
Tikkari is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Apila is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Apila's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Apila scoring with punches to the head and body.
Apila is working Tikkari over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Apila postures up in Tikkari's guard and throws a big left but Tikkari blocks it.
Apila prevents Tikkari from getting back to his feet.
Apila is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Apila missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tikkari wants to stand up but Apila is controlling him.
Apila stands and throws Tikkari's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tikkari on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Apila scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tikkari to see if he's OK.
Tikkari gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Apila punishing his opponent with strikes.
BOOM! Apila connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tikkari tries to buck Apila off but he can't manage it.
Apila cracks Tikkari with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Apila unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkari really wants to buck Apila off and get back to his feet.
Apila is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tikkari can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Apila dominating with strikes here.
Tikkari really wants to buck Apila off and get back to his feet.
Apila cracks Tikkari with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Apila looking to finish Tikkari with some ground and pound. This is bad for Tikkari!
Apila working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tikkari trying desperately to get to his feet.
Apila cracks Tikkari with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Apila has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Apila punishing his opponent with strikes.
Apila lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Tikkari squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Apila lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
BOOM! Apila connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila thowing shots but they're missing.
Tikkari wants to get back to his feet.
Apila with shots to the head and body - Tikkari looks very uncomfortable down there.
Apila is landing with some decent strikes but Tikkari is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Apila looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Tikkari is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
BOOM! Apila connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Apila with shots to the head and body - Tikkari looks very uncomfortable down there.
Apila landing punches.
Tikkari trying desperately to get to his feet.
Apila is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tikkari can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Tikkari is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
A nice elbow there by Apila.
Apila lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Apila showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tikkari dodges the punch combination from Apila.
Apila throws a nice looking combination but Tikkari bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tikkari fails in his attempt to clinch.

Apila scores a takedown into full mount!
Tikkari's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Apila is going olschool here, as he tries to force Tikkari to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Tikkari shrugs it off.
Tikkari avoids a series of strikes thrown by Apila.
Tikkari tries to buck Apila off but he can't manage it.
Apila scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Tikkari taking shots to the head.
Tikkari wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkari in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Tikkari tries to buck Apila off but he can't manage it.
Apila looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Apila cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Apila lands with some strikes.
Apila landing strikes from the mount and Tikkari is in trouble!
Tikkari really wants to buck Apila off and get back to his feet.
Tikkari is bucking up trying to escape but Apila cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
A nice elbow there by Apila.
Tikkari trying desperately to get to his feet.
Apila landing strikes from the mount and Tikkari is in trouble!
Apila in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Apila is landing with some decent strikes but Tikkari is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Raimo Tikkari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkari squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Apila scoring with strikes but Tikkari is staying in there.
Tikkari is bucking up trying to escape but Apila cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Tikkari is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Apila lands a nice shot to the head.
Apila lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Apila has hold of Tikkari's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tikkari manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Tikkari is trying to stand.
Apila connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tikkari is trying to stand up.
Apila with a couple of short strikes.
The referee warns Tikkari that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkari is trying to stand.
Apila pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Apila fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Tikkari is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Apila raining down shots from the mount!
Apila working the ground and pound effectively.
Tikkari is trying to stand.
Apila lands a big shot there that rocks Tikkari but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Apila is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tikkari can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Apila working Tikkari over with strikes here.
Tikkari holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Apila tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Tikkari really wants to buck Apila off and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Apila postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Tikkari looks a forlorn figure.
Apila landing strikes from the mount.
The referee warns Tikkari that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Apila.
Apila looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Tikkari avoids a series of strikes thrown by Apila.
Apila misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Apila sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Apila is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jussi Apila is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Apila trying to control but he's not successful this time.
You get the feeling that Tikkari really doesn't like being in this position too much.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jussi Apila comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Apila winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 25:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jussi Apila!