PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jussi Apila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Severi Turpaansaaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Turpaansaaja is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bulls On Parade. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Apila
vs
Turpaansaaja

182 cm
26
162 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

170 cm
21
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Apila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Severi Turpaansaaja!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apila moves out of range as Turpaansaaja strikes.
Turpaansaaja throws a leg kick but Apila sees it coming and moves out of range.
Apila on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Turpaansaaja throws a leg kick which misses Apila's front leg but catches the back leg as Apila tries to avoid it.
Turpaansaaja with a hook.
Turpaansaaja ducks under a wild hook from Apila.
Turpaansaaja connects with a looping right hand.
Turpaansaaja takes a swing at Apila's ribcage but misses.
Apila blocks a jab.
Apila takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Turpaansaaja connects with a crisp jab.
Apila comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Apila thows a body shot but no joy.
Turpaansaaja fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Severi Turpaansaaja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Turpaansaaja looks to score with a jab to the body but Apila is just out of range.
Turpaansaaja connects with a nice looking jab.
Apila lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Apila misses the shot to the body.
Apila takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
A slapping leg kick lands for Turpaansaaja.
Apila closes this distance looking for a takedown but Turpaansaaja circles away.
Turpaansaaja swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Apila.
Turpaansaaja throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila avoids the body shot from Turpaansaaja.
Turpaansaaja slips under a jab from Apila.
Apila misses the shot to the body.
That kick from Turpaansaaja tenderised Apila's leg. Apila is trying to keep his angry face on.
Turpaansaaja scores with a three punch combo!
Turpaansaaja fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Apila looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Apila takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Apila dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Turpaansaaja chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Turpaansaaja displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Apila throws out the jab.
Turpaansaaja misses with a body shot
and Apila counters with a nice uppercut.
Turpaansaaja dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Turpaansaaja throws out a powerful jab.
Turpaansaaja swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Apila to counter with a crisp jab.
Turpaansaaja with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Severi Turpaansaaja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Turpaansaaja wants to land a leg kick but Apila is out of range.
Turpaansaaja misses with a hook. Apila ducked under it nicely.
Turpaansaaja fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Apila looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Turpaansaaja misses with a body shot.
Turpaansaaja uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Apila.
Apila ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turpaansaaja throws a leg kick that is checked
and Apila cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Apila scores with a decent looking hook.
Apila misses with a wild body shot.
Turpaansaaja fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Apila throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Turpaansaaja connects with the punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Apila shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Turpaansaaja manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Apila postures up in Turpaansaaja's guard and throws a big left but Turpaansaaja blocks it.
Turpaansaaja throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Turpaansaaja wants to stand and escape but Apila is having none of it.
Turpaansaaja not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Turpaansaaja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Apila trying to control but Turpaansaaja is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turpaansaaja working a defensive guard but Apila manages to pass into side control anyway.
Apila sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Turpaansaaja is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Apila has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Turpaansaaja is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Turpaansaaja tries to lock up and control but Apila gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Apila will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Apila throws a wild left hand from mount and Turpaansaaja manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
Turpaansaaja blocking the ground and pound attempt from Apila.
Apila not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Turpaansaaja is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Apila scores with a couple of nice shots.
Apila lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Turpaansaaja is looking to control Apila's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Turpaansaaja avoid being mounted?
Turpaansaaja slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Apila takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A slow jab from Apila misses its intended target.
Turpaansaaja throws a head kick but Apila moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Apila.
Turpaansaaja is looking to slow Apila down with leg kicks.
Good standup being displayed there by Turpaansaaja as he connects with a hook.
Turpaansaaja fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Apila.
Turpaansaaja uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Apila.
Turpaansaaja defending well as Apila loads up on a big left hand.
Turpaansaaja takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Apila scores with a shot to the body.
Apila misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Turpaansaaja feints and then cracks Apila's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Apila down.
Turpaansaaja looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Turpaansaaja misses with a looping right.
Apila misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Turpaansaaja.
Turpaansaaja feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Apila's calf.
Apila throws a front kick aimed at Turpaansaaja's knee but Turpaansaaja avoids it well.
Turpaansaaja uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Apila.
Turpaansaaja blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila throws a left and a right that both miss
and Turpaansaaja counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Apila thinking.
Apila throws a hook to the side of Turpaansaaja's head but Turpaansaaja sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Severi Turpaansaaja seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A shot to the liver by Apila. Beautiful body shot.
Turpaansaaja looks to land a right hand but Apila moved out of range.
Good exchange - Turpaansaaja coming out on top.
Apila misses the shot to the body.
Apila throws a hook to the side of Turpaansaaja's head but Turpaansaaja sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Turpaansaaja takes a swing at Apila's ribcage but misses.
Apila misses with a body punch
and Apila takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Apila avoids the body shot from Turpaansaaja.
A nice inside leg kick there by Turpaansaaja. That's going to slow Apila down.
Apila is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Turpaansaaja throws a head kick that misses
and Apila makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Turpaansaaja misses the shot to the body.
Turpaansaaja turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Apila thows a body shot but no joy.
Turpaansaaja throws a quick inside leg kick.
Turpaansaaja stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Turpaansaaja fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
The fighters circling - Turpaansaaja throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turpaansaaja lands a lovely overhand right.
Apila misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Turpaansaaja.
Apila has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Apila uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Turpaansaaja.
Apila misses with a hook to the body
and Turpaansaaja makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Turpaansaaja falls off balance throwing a combination
and Apila counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Turpaansaaja. Apila does a little dance to reset his feet.
Apila is looking to wear down Turpaansaaja with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Turpaansaaja digs a good body shot into Apila's ribs.
Apila is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Turpaansaaja.
Apila on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Apila stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Turpaansaaja.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Turpaansaaja cracks Apila with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Turpaansaaja feints and then cracks Apila's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Apila down.
Apila lands a nice shot to the body.
No joy there for Apila, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Turpaansaaja swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Apila counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Apila blocks a low kick nicely.
Turpaansaaja misses the jab.
Turpaansaaja throws a head kick that Apila semi-blocks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Apila throws a body punch but Turpaansaaja moves out of range.
Turpaansaaja misses with a hook. Apila ducked under it nicely.
Apila fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Turpaansaaja avoids it really well and circles away.
Turpaansaaja tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Apila was well out of range. Poor timing from Turpaansaaja.
Turpaansaaja throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Good work by Apila as he checks the leg kick.
Turpaansaaja throws a head kick that misses.
Apila lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Severi Turpaansaaja has been cut.
Good leg kick by Turpaansaaja there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Apila fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Turpaansaaja manages to avoid it.
Turpaansaaja is looking to chop away at Apila's legs.
Apila throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Turpaansaaja on the side of the head.
Nice shot by Turpaansaaja.
Turpaansaaja misses with a low kick.
Turpaansaaja jabs at Apila's body.
Turpaansaaja looks to score with a jab to the body but Apila is just out of range.
A shot to the liver by Turpaansaaja. Beautiful body shot.
Apila on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turpaansaaja moves out of range as Apila strikes.
Turpaansaaja misses with a low kick as Apila jumps back.
Turpaansaaja lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Apila throws a right and a left that Turpaansaaja avoids nicely.
Turpaansaaja ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Apila moves away.
Apila changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Turpaansaaja tries to avoid it but Apila manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Turpaansaaja to the ground. Turpaansaaja escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Turpaansaaja throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Turpaansaaja misses with a head kick.
A shot to the body from Apila misses
and Apila takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Turpaansaaja takes a swing at Apila's ribcage but misses.
Turpaansaaja is looking to slow Apila down with leg kicks.
Apila gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Turpaansaaja.
Apila jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Turpaansaaja pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Turpaansaaja throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Apila looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Turpaansaaja pivots, looking for a leg kick but Apila is out of range and Turpaansaaja settles back down.
Turpaansaaja pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Turpaansaaja fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Apila.
Turpaansaaja lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Severi Turpaansaaja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Severi Turpaansaaja's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Turpaansaaja throws a series of punches but Apila moves out of range.
Apila on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Turpaansaaja throws out a powerful jab.
Turpaansaaja avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Turpaansaaja misses with a combination
and Apila counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Turpaansaaja lands a slapping body shot.
Turpaansaaja slips under a jab from Apila.
Turpaansaaja ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Turpaansaaja jabs at Apila's body.
Turpaansaaja throws a head kick but Apila moves out of range.
Turpaansaaja throws a lazy right hand but Apila sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Apila avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A cross from Turpaansaaja lands.
Turpaansaaja scores with a jab to the body.
Turpaansaaja lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Apila closes the distance and clinches up with Turpaansaaja, looking for a takedown. Apila pushes Turpaansaaja against the ropes but Turpaansaaja circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Turpaansaaja.
Apila steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Turpaansaaja.
Jab by Turpaansaaja.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Apila ducks under a wild hook from Turpaansaaja.
Apila misses with an uppercut.
Apila finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Turpaansaaja feints and then cracks Apila's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Apila down.
Turpaansaaja throws a sloppy head kick and Apila moves out of range easily.
Turpaansaaja cracks the inside of Apila's front leg.

Apila shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Turpaansaaja's guard.
Turpaansaaja working a defensive guard here.

Turpaansaaja pushes Apila off and scrambles back to his feet.
Turpaansaaja steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Apila.
Jussi Apila has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apila slips a jab from Turpaansaaja.
Turpaansaaja throws a body punch but Apila moves out of range.
Turpaansaaja lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Apila scores with a jab to the head.
Turpaansaaja digs a good body shot into Apila's ribs.
Turpaansaaja looks to throw the jab but Apila is out of range.
Apila uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Turpaansaaja.
Turpaansaaja wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Apila misses with a body shot.
Apila throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Turpaansaaja lands an overhand right.
Turpaansaaja misses with a shot to the body
and Apila counters with a stiff right hand.
Turpaansaaja on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Turpaansaaja 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.
Turpaansaaja feints and then cracks Apila's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Apila down.
Turpaansaaja misses with a straight right.
Apila pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Turpaansaaja misses with a double jab

and Apila counters with a takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Turpaansaaja is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turpaansaaja controls the position for a moment.
Apila is working Turpaansaaja over with some ground and pound from side control.
Severi Turpaansaaja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Apila throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Turpaansaaja can't do much from the bottom here.
Apila cracks Turpaansaaja with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Apila 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Apila goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Turpaansaaja has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Apila but great work by Turpaansaaja.
The ground and pound from Turpaansaaja seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The strikes coming from Turpaansaaja are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Turpaansaaja works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Apila trying to remain calm as Turpaansaaja controls from the top position.
Jussi Apila overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Let's hope that Turpaansaaja has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Apila is not content to let Turpaansaaja control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Turpaansaaja looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Apila is avoiding damage well.

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 Jussi Apila.
I think Turpaansaaja has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Severi Turpaansaaja!