PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricky Thompson (ranked 641 p4p, 1053 weight class) and Jarkko Ahola (ranked 36 p4p, 57 weight class). Jarkko Ahola told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Thompson
vs
Ahola

190 cm
34
280
26 - 15 - 0

190 cm
31
255
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Fast

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ricky Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Ahola!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ahola connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've been informed that Ahola 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.
Thompson takes one on the button.
Thompson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Thompson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ahola throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thompson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Thompson tries to counter with a takedown but Ahola is quick to defend against it.
Ahola waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thompson.
Ahola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Thompson moves away.
Ahola looks to score with a jab to the body but Thompson is just out of range.
Ahola fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Thompson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Thompson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ahola defends it nicely.
Ahola dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahola keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ahola thuds a left hand into Thompson's body.
Thompson misses with a two punch combination.
A big left from Thompson misses.
A slow jab from Ahola misses its intended target.
Thompson throws a nice looking combination but Ahola bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ahola throws a hook to the side of Thompson's head but Thompson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ahola keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricky Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson slips under a jab from Ahola.
Thompson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Thompson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Jarkko Ahola is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Thompson misses with a double jab.
Thompson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ahola.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahola cracks a nice hook into Thompson's ribs.
Ahola throws a lazy right hand but Thompson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ahola loads up on a big right hand but Thompson slips the punch.
Thompson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ahola throws a hook but Thompson avoids it easily.
Thompson tries to counter with a takedown but Ahola is quick to defend against it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ahola throws a hook to the side of Thompson's head but Thompson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice body punch from Ahola.
A lazy left from Ahola finds it's target.
Thompson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Thompson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ahola jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jab by Ahola.
Thompson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ahola tries to counter by closing the distance.
Thompson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ahola lands a glancing blow to the side of Thompson's head.
Ahola swings for the body but Thompson moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahola ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ahola scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Thompson walks into a straight right hand from Ahola.
Ahola throws a jab but it's blocked by Thompson.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Thompson.
Thompson controls the position.
Ahola struggling a bit here.
Ahola defending against the ground and pound.
Thompson misses with the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thompson lands an elbow.
Thompson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thompson is working Ahola over with some ground and pound from side control.
The strikes coming from Thompson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Thompson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sloppy strikes there by Thompson.
Thompson misses with the ground and pound.
Thompson lands a few punches from side control.
Thompson scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ahola to see if he's OK.
Thompson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Ahola defending against the ground and pound.
Ahola regains half guard, as Thompson was trying to land strikes.
Ahola wants to control but Thompson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Ahola dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ahola looks to throw the jab but Thompson is out of range.

Ahola has closed the distance and engaged Thompson in a clinch.
Ahola pushes Thompson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ahola fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Thompson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Thompson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ahola clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Ahola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thompson struggling to land strikes to the head as Ahola covers up.
Ahola is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Thompson off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Thompson misses with an elbow to the head.
Thompson throws a series of strikes and Ahola wriggles onto his back, so he's now mounted. He's in real trouble here.
Thompson raining down shots from the mount!
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!
Thompson looking to control but Ahola is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thompson thowing shots but they're missing.
Thompson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Thompson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ahola because Thompson loaded up on that one.
Ahola is bucking up trying to escape but Thompson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ahola tries to hold on but Thompson pushes him away.
Thompson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Thompson lands a heavy elbow.
Poor strikes thrown by Thompson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ahola is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thompson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ahola?

It looks like Jarkko Ahola has been cut.
Thompson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ahola is bucking up trying to escape but Thompson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Thompson breaks from Ahola's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Thompson wants to control the pace but Ahola is squirming around nicely.
Thompson raining down shots from the mount!

Ahola is rocked!
Thompson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Thompson lands a big shot to the head and Ahola winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Ricky Thompson!
Ricky Thompson really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Voodoo Nutrition logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.