PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tuomo Koivisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Obolon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Koivisto
vs
Obolon

188 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tuomo Koivisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Obolon!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivisto fails with the takedown.
Koivisto shoots in but Obolon avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Koivisto tries for a takedown but Obolon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tuomo Koivisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice defenses there by Obolon.
Obolon keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Koivisto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Obolon is looking to escape.
Ground and pound from Koivisto.
Koivisto is thwarting Obolon's attempts to control the position.
Koivisto is tying to control. Obolon wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koivisto fails with the takedown.
Koivisto has a takedown stuffed.
Koivisto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Obolon circles away.
Koivisto is breathing heavily.
Obolon misses with a wild combination.
Koivisto fails with the takedown.
Obolon tries to clinch but Koivisto is having none of it.
Some wild striking there from Obolon.
Koivisto tries for a takedown but Obolon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Obolon moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Obolon moves into the clinch.

Obolon manages to break the clinch.
Obolon misses with a two punch combination.
Ivan Obolon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Obolon connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koivisto darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Obolon wants to get back to his feet.
Obolon is trying to control but can't.

Obolon has one foot on Koivisto's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Obolon tries to close the distance and clinch but Koivisto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A punch combination from Obolon misses.
Obolon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Koivisto looks to clinch
and Obolon counters with a leg kick.

Koivisto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Obolon is in all sorts of trouble here.
Koivisto controlling the position easily from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Obolon is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Obolon bucks up and throws Koivisto to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Nice takedown defense from Obolon. No joy for Koivisto on that attempt.
Koivisto throws a lazy head kick
and Obolon counters with a leg kick.
Koivisto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Koivisto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Koivisto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ivan Obolon is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koivisto looks to land a combination but Obolon avoids it well.
Obolon throws a series of punches but Koivisto moves out of range.
Koivisto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Obolon but Obolon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Obolon misses with a double jab

and Koivisto counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Koivisto won't allow Obolon to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obolon has a closed guard, preventing Koivisto from standing up.
Obolon wants to stand up but Koivisto is controlling him.
Obolon keeping moving, preventing Koivisto from controlling successfully.
Obolon wants to stand and escape but Koivisto is having none of it.
Koivisto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koivisto closes the distance and clinches up with Obolon, looking for a takedown. Koivisto pushes Obolon against the cage but Obolon circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Koivisto looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Obolon!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Obolon is trying to stand.
Obolon is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuomo Koivisto dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Obolon gets caught flat footed, as Koivisto shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Obolon scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Koivisto shoots for a takedown but Obolon saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Koivisto tries to clinch there but Obolon circles away.
Obolon tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Koivisto counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Obolon keeping moving, preventing Koivisto from controlling successfully.
Obolon keeping full guard, as Koivisto tries to pass.

Obolon manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Koivisto tries for a takedown but Obolon circles away easily
and Obolon counters with a nice leg kick.
Koivisto shoots in looking for a takedown. Obolon tries to sprawl out of it but Koivisto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Obolon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tuomo Koivisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koivisto misses with a takedown attempt - Obolon sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivisto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Koivisto takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Obolon throws a nice looking combination but Koivisto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koivisto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Obolon but Obolon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Obolon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koivisto swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Obolon has Koivisto up against the cage in a clinch.

Obolon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Obolon swinging wilding here.
Obolon throws a series of punches but Koivisto moves out of range.
Koivisto showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Obolon.
Koivisto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Obolon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Obolon tries to clinch up.
Koivisto tries for a takedown but Obolon circles away easily
and Obolon counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto swats away the attempt to clinch by Obolon.
Koivisto shoots in for a takedown but Obolon shows good takedown defense.
Koivisto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Koivisto throws a push kick but Obolon slaps the foot to one side.
Obolon throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Koivisto's head.

Koivisto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Obolon to the mat! Obolon manages to get full guard.

Obolon uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Koivisto dodges the punch combination from Obolon.
Koivisto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Obolon but Obolon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Obolon throws a left and a right that both miss

and Koivisto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Koivisto is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Obolon is trying to stand back up but Koivisto is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto passes the guard and advances to mount!
Obolon tries to buck Koivisto off but he can't manage it.

Obolon somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Obolon looks to land a combination but Koivisto avoids it well.
Obolon throws a series of punches but Koivisto avoids them all with ease.
Obolon scoring well with a low kick there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Obolon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Obolon tries to clinch but Koivisto moves out of range.
Obolon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Obolon is looking to slow Koivisto down with leg kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Obolon pinned against the cage. Obolon gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Obolon throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Obolon closes the distance looking to clinch

and Koivisto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Koivisto.
Koivisto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Obolon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Koivisto advances to half guard.
Obolon is trying to stand.
Koivisto moves into full mount! Obolon won't be happy about that!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Obolon is squirming around, avoiding Koivisto's attempts to control the action.
Koivisto lands a big elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuomo Koivisto dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Koivisto has his takedown stuffed
and Obolon counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Obolon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tuomo Koivisto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Obolon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koivisto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Obolon fails in his attempt to clinch.
Koivisto avoids a kick to the body.
Koivisto circles away from the clinch attempt.

Koivisto gets a takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Koivisto there.
Obolon wants to get back to his feet.
Koivisto controlling the action here.
Koivisto is nestled in close to Obolon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Obolon takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obolon is looking for a sweep. Koivisto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Koivisto gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Koivisto tries for a takedown but Obolon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Obolon lands with a slapping head kick.
Obolon throws a series of punches but Koivisto moves out of range.
Obolon throws a series of punches but Koivisto avoids them all with ease.
Obolon throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Obolon swinging wilding here.

Obolon clinches up against the cage.

Obolon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Obolon rushes Koivisto and presses him up against the cage.
Obolon drops down looking for an ankle pick but Koivisto pulls his leg out and moves away.
Koivisto takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Koivisto keeps the fight on the outside.

Obolon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Obolon breaks from the clinch.

Obolon rushes Koivisto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Obolon landing knees to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Obolon manages to break the clinch.
Obolon lands a head kick!

Koivisto looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Obolon!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Obolon can do anything to dispel that myth.
Obolon is working to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Obolon that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Koivisto tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Koivisto dominating with strikes here.

Obolon is rocked!
Koivisto controlling the pace for now.
Obolon is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto avoids the attempt from Obolon to control.
Koivisto trying to control but Obolon is having none of it.
Koivisto putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Obolon is trying to stand.
Koivisto lands with some strikes.
Obolon really wants to buck Koivisto off and get back to his feet.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Koivisto cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Koivisto can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Obolon is looking to escape.
Koivisto fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto controlling from mount.
Tuomo Koivisto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Obolon is looking to get to half guard.
Koivisto content just to control the position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Obolon trying desperately to get to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tuomo Koivisto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Koivisto, 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tuomo Koivisto!