PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tauno Potku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oiva Tuominen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Potku
vs
Tuominen

185 cm
26
201 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

185 cm
27
193 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Potku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Oiva Tuominen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potku tries to clinch up but Tuominen circles away and keeps his distance.
Potku defending well as Tuominen loads up on a big left hand.
Potku tries to clinch up.
Tuominen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tuominen swats away the attempt to clinch by Potku.
Potku tries to clinch up.
Potku defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tuominen.
Potku fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tuominen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Potku pinned against the cage. Potku gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tuominen wants to clinch

and Potku counters by clinching up.
Potku has a couple of punches blocked by Tuominen.
A head punch on the inside from Potku fails to land.
Potku stalls.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuominen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Potku stalling the fight.

Tuominen pulls guard.
Potku trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tuominen's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku 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.

Tuominen is looking for a triangle but Potku pushes his legs off easily.

Tuominen is working an open guard so Potku takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Potku pushes Tuominen up against the cage in a clinch.
Tuominen blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.
Potku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tuominen jumps guard but Potku stands there with Tuominen around his waist. Tuominen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tauno Potku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oiva Tuominen.
Tuominen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Potku walks away with a smile on his face. Tuominen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tuominen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Potku counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku lands a hook that snaps the head of Tuominen backwards.

Tuominen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Tuominen is working an open guard so Potku takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Potku wants to clinch.
Tuominen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Potku holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tuominen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Potku smiles and moves away.
Tuominen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Potku tries to close the distance and clinch but Tuominen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tuominen wants to clinch but Potku slips to the side

and Potku counters by clinching up.
Potku lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tuominen backwards.
Potku lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tuominen backwards.
Potku has Tuominen pushed against the cage.
Potku prevents Tuominen from breaking the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku pushes Tuominen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tuominen wants to stall.
Potku tries a body shot but Tuominen blocks it.
Tuominen being controlled against the cage.
Potku misses with a punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Potku.
Potku avoiding damage.
Potku swings wildly with an uppercut but Tuominen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Potku has a couple of punches blocked by Tuominen.
Potku throws a punch but it's blocked by Tuominen.
Potku misses with some punches.
Potku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Potku.
Potku lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Tuominen backwards.
Tuominen fails to pull guard.
Potku swings wildly with an uppercut but Tuominen uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Potku swings wildly with an uppercut but Tuominen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tuominen fails to pull guard.
Tuominen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Potku lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tuominen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Potku lands with a right to the head.
Potku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Potku slowing the pace effectively.
Potku working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tuominen jumps guard but Potku stands there with Tuominen around his waist. Tuominen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Potku prevents Tuominen from breaking the clinch.
Tuominen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Potku smiles and moves away.

Potku takes the fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Potku dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tuominen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Potku holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Potku.
Potku controlling the action here for a moment.
Potku gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Tuominen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Potku scores with a nice hook to the head.
Potku tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.
Potku tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Potku lands a left hand.
Tuominen swings wildly with an uppercut but Potku uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tuominen being controlled against the cage.
Potku misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuominen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Potku walks away with a smile on his face. Tuominen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tauno Potku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oiva Tuominen.

Potku moves into range and clinches up with Tuominen.
Potku displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tuominen up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Potku fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.
Potku stalling in the clinch.

Tuominen jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potku wants to stand and escape but instead Tuominen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Potku wants to stand but Tuominen is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tuominen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Potku keeping full guard, as Tuominen tries to pass.

Potku pushes Tuominen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Potku tries to clinch there but Tuominen circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuominen throws a sloppy body shot

and Potku holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tuominen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Potku works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Potku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.
Tuominen tries to pull guard but Potku holds him up against the cage and eventually Tuominen drops back down to his feet.
Potku misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tuominen blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tuominen.
Tuominen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Potku fails to land.
Potku working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Potku.
Potku misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potku throws a head punch that misses.
Potku misses with some punches.
Potku misses with some punches.
Potku swings wildly with an uppercut but Tuominen uses good head movement to avoid it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Potku lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Tuominen fails to pull guard.
Potku misses with some punches.
Potku swings wildly with an uppercut but Tuominen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Potku throws a head punch that misses.
Tuominen fails to pull guard.
Tuominen tries to pull guard but Potku holds him up against the cage and eventually Tuominen drops back down to his feet.
Potku stalls.
Potku tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Potku throws a punch but it's blocked by Tuominen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Potku dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tuominen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Potku tries to kick Tuominen off but Tuominen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tuominen thows a huge punch but Potku dodges it nicely.
Potku is looking to escape.
Potku wants to stand back up but Tuominen manages to pass into side control.

Tuominen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Potku has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tuominen passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Potku!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuominen has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Potku's face.

Tuominen working for a submission but Potku is keeping him at bay.
Tuominen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
You get the feeling that Potku really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Tuominen punching from mount but Potku doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Potku'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.
Potku knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tuominen on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Potku is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Tuominen has taken his back!

Tuominen has his opponent's back but Potku is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Tuominen.
Tuominen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Potku.
Tuominen keeps the fight on the outside.

Potku pushes Tuominen up against the cage in a clinch.
Potku fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The referee calls for Potku to work.

Potku breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tuominen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Potku counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Potku.
Tuominen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Potku walks away with a smile on his face. Tuominen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tuominen misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku slips a jab and a cross from Tuominen.
Potku tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tuominen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tuominen swats away the attempt to clinch by Potku.
Tuominen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Potku counters by moving into the clinch.
Tauno Potku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Oiva Tuominen.
A head punch on the inside from Potku fails to land.
Potku swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Potku pressing his opponent against the cage.

Potku pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tuominen with a poor takedown

and Potku counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Potku.
Potku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Potku taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Potku fails to land.
Potku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Tauno Potku has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Tuominen letting Potku take a breather here.
Tuominen blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Potku dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Tuominen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Potku just stands there and leans against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.

Tuominen drags the fight down to the ground.

Potku stands up and waves to Tuominen to follow him.
Tuominen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Potku counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Potku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Potku stalling.
Tuominen blocking some punches.
Potku leaning against his opponent.
Tuominen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Tuominen blocking some punches.

Potku breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tuominen fails with the takedown

and Potku holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

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 Tauno Potku.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Potku, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tauno Potku!