PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Baruto Tonissaar (ranked 282 p4p, 378 weight class) and Odchigin Khadan (ranked 44 p4p, 58 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Khadan's choice of entrance music: Altai Kai (Turkic Throat Singing). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tonissaar
vs
Khadan

191 cm
28
185
19 - 9 - 0

179 cm
35
192
25 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Warrior Fight Store

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

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 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Baruto Tonissaar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Odchigin Khadan!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonissaar throws a head kick that half lands.
Baruto Tonissaar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tonissaar clobbers Khadan with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Tonissaar does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Khadan misses with an uppercut.
Tonissaar throws the kick towards the body but Khadan avoids it.
Tonissaar ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A big right from Khadan misses.
Tonissaar finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Khadan pushes Tonissaar up against the cage in a clinch.
Tonissaar struggles to land a body shot inside as Khadan controls his hands.
Khadan softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Tonissaar lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tonissaar throws a head punch that misses.
Khadan tries a body shot but Tonissaar blocks it.
Tonissaar lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Khadan backwards.
Tonissaar lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tonissaar lands a right hand.
I was talking to Tonissaar's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Tonissaar struggles to land a body shot inside as Khadan controls his hands.
Tonissaar's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tonissaar working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonissaar prevents a body shot from Khadan.
Khadan throws a head punch that misses.
Tonissaar misses with the head strike.
Khadan lands a body shot.
Tonissaar misses with the head strike.

Tonissaar pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Khadan misses with a looping left.
Khadan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baruto Tonissaar is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khadan. Tonissaar does a little dance to reset his feet.
Tonissaar misses with a low kick.
Khadan has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tonissaar.
Khadan slips under a jab from Tonissaar.
Khadan misses with a hook
and Tonissaar counters with a right hand to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Khadan. Tonissaar does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Tonissaar was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Khadan.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tonissaar darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Khadan swings away with a body shot that misses
and Tonissaar counters with a nice uppercut.
Khadan throws a looping overhand right but Tonissaar ducks down to avoid it.
Tonissaar fires out a quick counter leg kick but Khadan just manages to avoid it.
Tonissaar throws a body shot but no joy.
Tonissaar scores with a jab. Khadan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khadan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Tonissaar half committed to a counter leg kick.
Khadan scores with a hook to the body. Tonissaar takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Khadan keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Tonissaar.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Khadan! But no joy.
Khadan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tonissaar swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slow jab from Khadan misses its intended target.
Tonissaar throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tonissaar swings widly with a right hand
and Khadan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tonissaar moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Tonissaar scores with a jab to the jaw.
Khadan misses the shot to the body.
Khadan scores with a hook to the body. Tonissaar takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Decent striking displayed by Khadan there.
Tonissaar scores with a shot to the body.
Tonissaar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khadan moves away.
Khadan doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Khadan throws a shot from downtown. Tonissaar moves away and avoids it.
Tonissaar connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
An inside leg kick from Tonissaar misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonissaar swinging wildly here.
Khadan misses with a straight left.
Khadan checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tonissaar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Khadan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tonissaar moves away.
Tonissaar throws a shot from downtown. Khadan moves away and avoids it.
A jab from Khadan does it's job there.
Tonissaar works the jab nicely.
Khadan swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A right-left combo lands from Tonissaar.
Tonissaar ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tonissaar is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tonissaar scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Khadan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Khadan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Khadan throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Khadan gets the takedown into side control.
Khadan tries to move to mount but Tonissaar blocks the move with his legs.
Khadan trying to control the action but Tonissaar is working from the bottom.
Khadan lands an elbow.

Khadan goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Tonissaar has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Khadan but great work by Tonissaar.
Khadan is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tonissaar's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Khadan is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tonissaar takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Baruto Tonissaar dominated that round.
That's time! Tonissaar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Khadan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Khadan wants to pass the guard but Tonissaar is defending well.

Khadan is working for a kimura but Tonissaar is defending it quite comfortably.
My spies in Chakuriki LA Gym inform me that Khadan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Khadan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khadan uses his free foot to push down on Tonissaar's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Tonissaar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khadan works his way to his opponent's back.

Khadan is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Tonissaar knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Tonissaar for a finish.
Khadan is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Khadan is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tonissaar defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
I really don't envy Tonissaar right now.

Khadan is looking for the choke from the back position but Tonissaar is controlling his hands well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonissaar is keeping busy.

Tonissaar defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Khadan's arms.

Khadan working for a choke but Tonissaar is defending well.
Khadan slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Khadan is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
I really don't envy Tonissaar right now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Khadan is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Khadan keeps control of the position as Tonissaar tries to break free.

Khadan working for a choke but Tonissaar reverses nicely into Khadan 's guard.
Khadan working a defensive guard but Tonissaar passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khadan trying to get back to full guard but Tonissaar takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Khadan is looking to get to half guard.
Khadan looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
You can see the frustration on Khadan's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Tonissaar will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Khadan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Odchigin Khadan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Khadan misses with a straight right.
Khadan connects with the punch.
Khadan misses with a hook.
Baruto Tonissaar is winning the standup battle so far.
Tonissaar slips a jab from Khadan.
Khadan tries to clinch there but Tonissaar circles away.
Tonissaar connects with an inside leg kick.
Tonissaar lands a jab to the head.
Tonissaar pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tonissaar swings away with a body shot that misses
and Khadan counters with a straight right hand.
Khadan lands a really nice looking cross but Tonissaar seems unphased.
Khadan closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Decent striking displayed by Khadan there.
Khadan takes one on the chin but seems OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tonissaar chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tonissaar moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tonissaar pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tonissaar moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tonissaar misses with a lunging right hand
and Khadan counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Tonissaar misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Khadan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Khadan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tonissaar under the eye.
Tonissaar avoids the body shot from Khadan.
Khadan thuds a left hand into Tonissaar's body.
Tonissaar throws a front kick aimed at Khadan's knee but Khadan avoids it well.
Tonissaar checks a leg kick.
Khadan misses the jab.
Khadan lands a lovely overhand right.
Tonissaar with a nice calf kick.
Khadan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tonissaar.
Tonissaar closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tonissaar fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Khadan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Khadan looks to land a combination. Tonissaar sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tonissaar keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Khadan lands with a good body shot.
Khadan tries to close the distance and clinch but Tonissaar swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Khadan misses with a body shot.
Khadan swings for the body but Tonissaar moves out of range.
Khadan scores with a decent looking hook.
Tonissaar misses the shot to the body.
Tonissaar throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Khadan looks to score with a jab to the body but Tonissaar is just out of range.
Khadan misses with a body shot.
Tonissaar connects with a good right hand that stumbles Khadan. Khadan circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Khadan scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Tonissaar misses.
Khadan unleashes a big counter combination but Tonissaar bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Khadan misses with a looping left.
Tonissaar with a nice cross.
Khadan swings for the body but Tonissaar moves out of range.
Khadan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Tonissaar throws a quick counter kick to the body but Khadan avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonissaar attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Tonissaar gets tackled into the cage by Khadan. Khadan maintains the clinch.
Khadan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tonissaar scores with a hook to the body.
Baruto Tonissaar has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Khadan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tonissaar stalling in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tonissaar.
Tonissaar is pushing Khadan up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Khadan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tonissaar prevents it.
Tonissaar scores with a shot to the side of Khadan's head.
Khadan misses with a body punch.
Khadan throws a head punch that misses.
Tonissaar blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tonissaar swings wildly with an uppercut but Khadan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Khadan is looking for a takedown.
Khadan tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Baruto Tonissaar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Odchigin Khadan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tonissaar.
Khadan tries a body shot but Tonissaar blocks it.
Tonissaar tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tonissaar lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tonissaar wants to stall.
Tonissaar throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Khadans head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khadan looking to throw knees to the head but Tonissaar is blocking nicely.

Khadan drags the fight down to the ground.

Khadan looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tonissaar has picked Khadan up and slammed him! Khadan can't keep hold of the triangle and Tonissaar manages to pass to side control!
Odchigin Khadan has got the better of the ground game so far.
Khadan tries to buck Tonissaar off but Tonissaar is having none of it.
Khadan looks to move to half guard but instead Tonissaar has passed into mount! Damn!
Khadan is looking to improve his position but Tonissaar isn't that keen on the idea.
Khadan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Baruto Tonissaar.
I think Tonissaar 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baruto Tonissaar!
An out of breath Baruto Tonissaar thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.