PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Krzysztof Kozlow (ranked 163 p4p, 36 weight class) and Tali Ihantala (ranked 2 p4p, 1 weight class). 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?

Kozlow
vs
Ihantala

190 cm
27
205
13 - 2 - 1

203 cm
30
253
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Warrior Fight Store
Vegan Gains

Pound Town INC
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Krzysztof Kozlow!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tali Ihantala!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Ihantala.
Kozlow appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ihantala misses with a double jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Kozlow misses the target.
We've been informed that Ihantala has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Kozlow defending well as Ihantala loads up on a big left hand.
Ihantala lands with a good body shot.
Ihantala lands a nice shot that snaps Kozlow's head back.
Kozlow ducks under a wild hook from Ihantala.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick from Ihantala lands but Kozlow takes it in his stride.

It looks like Krzysztof Kozlow has been cut.
Kozlow throws a jab but it's blocked by Ihantala.
A head kick from Ihantala lands but Kozlow takes it in his stride.
Kozlow throws a hook but Ihantala blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlow pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kozlow slips a jab and a cross from Ihantala.
Tali Ihantala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed right hand from Kozlow misses the target.
Ihantala pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kozlow throws an off balance right hand
and Ihantala counters with a nice body shot.
Ihantala goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ihantala misses with a low kick.
Kozlow jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ihantala slips under a jab from Kozlow.
A little jabbing left from Ihantala on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kozlow.
Ihantala dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kozlow takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Ihantala.
Ihantala with a nice cross.

Krzysztof Kozlow's cut is getting worse.
Ihantala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kozlow is looking to counter punch.
Kozlow swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ihantala tries a quick counter leg kick but Kozlow is wise to it.
Kozlow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ihantala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ihantala works Kozlow's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kozlow throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ihantala counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ihantala scores with a punch to the head.
Ihantala throws a big shot that misses.
Ihantala looks to throw the jab but Kozlow is out of range.
Ihantala lands with a nice body punch.
Ihantala throws a wild body kick that Kozlow sees coming a mile off.

Ihantala clinches with his opponent.
I was talking to Kozlow's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Ihantala misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ihantala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala struggles to land a body shot inside as Kozlow controls his hands.
Kozlow blocks a body shot from Ihantala.
Ihantala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kozlow working aggressively here.
Kozlow takes a shot to the head.
Ihantala misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kozlow has a couple of punches blocked by Ihantala.
Kozlow can't find room to land a body shot as Ihantala controls the action.
Ihantala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kozlow works on Ihantala's body with a couple of short punches.
Ihantala softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ihantala digs a right hand into Kozlow's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kozlow's gas tank.
Kozlow is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Ihantala's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Ihantala lands a nice uppercut.

Krzysztof Kozlow's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Ihantala scores with a nice hook to the head.
Ihantala tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kozlow lands a body shot in the clinch.
Kozlow lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ihantala tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kozlow blocks an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Ihantala.
Ihantala blocks an uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tali Ihantala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Krzysztof Kozlow's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Ihantala goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A jab from Ihantala misses.
Kozlow is looking to counter punch.
Kozlow steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ihantala.
Kozlow swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ihantala fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kozlow has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ihantala throws an overhand right that lands on Kozlow's shoulder, as Kozlow tries to avoid the shot.
Kozlow misses with a hook.
Ihantala throws a counter combo.
Ihantala is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kozlow throws an off balance right hand
and Ihantala cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kozlow missing with a left hand there. Ihantala was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ihantala swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A jab from Kozlow misses.
Ihantala cracks Kozlow with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kozlow doesn't seem bothered though.
Kozlow takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kozlow has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ihantala.
Ihantala misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It looked like Kozlow was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Ihantala.
A low kick from Ihantala misses
and Kozlow counters with a nice uppercut.
Ihantala throws a leg kick but Kozlow sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Ihantala gets a clinch.
Kozlow swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kozlow tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ihantala misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlow lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ihantala or not.
Kozlow misses with a punch to the body.
Ihantala working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kozlow.
Kozlow fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kozlow misses with some punches.
Ihantala scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Jeez, Krzysztof Kozlow's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kozlow working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kozlow lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ihantala backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kozlow.
Ihantala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A short right from Ihantala on the inside.
Ihantala works on Kozlow's body with a couple of short punches.
Ihantala misses with the head strike.
Kozlow working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kozlow goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ihantala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ihantala is leaning against Kozlow and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Ihantala fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Ihantala.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ihantala.
Ihantala lands a hook that snaps the head of Kozlow backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ihantala.
A short uppercut from Ihantala.
Kozlow fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A hook to the body from Ihantala.
Ihantala softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ihantala softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ihantala is working Kozlow over against the cage.
Ihantala lands with a right to the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Krzysztof Kozlow's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Tali Ihantala!
Tali Ihantala is the new super heavyweight champion!
Tali Ihantala spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.