PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Holden Topokrs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esa Koskela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Topokrs
vs
Koskela

190 cm
25
225 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

193 cm
20
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Holden Topokrs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esa Koskela!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koskela fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Topokrs gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koskela tries to improve position but can't.
Koskela should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Topokrs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Koskela on the ground.
Koskela manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Topokrs is not content to let Koskela control the position.
Topokrs is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Topokrs is trying to stand back up but Koskela is controlling him
Koskela trying to control the action but Topokrs is working from the bottom.
Koskela throwing shots but Topokrs is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topokrs is controlling Koskela's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Koskela thows a huge punch but Topokrs dodges it nicely.
It looks like Koskela is going to stand back up.
Topokrs tries to roll over but Koskela keeps him under control.
Koskela not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Topokrs is trying to stand back up but Koskela is controlling him
Topokrs is controlling Koskela's position as best he can from this difficult position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Topokrs shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Koskela's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koskela looking for a sweep. Not yet Koskela, not yet.
Koskela trying to control the position.
Topokrs tries to free his leg and advance position but Koskela is retaining full guard.
Topokrs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Koskela is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Topokrs defends well.
Koskela not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topokrs stays in close to Koskela's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koskela shoots in for a takedown but Topokrs shows good takedown defense.

Topokrs looking to score a takedown here. Koskela is defending well but Topokrs drives through and ends up in Koskela's guard.
Topokrs sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Topokrs stopping the sweep attempt from Koskela.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Topokrs sitting in guard here, content to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Holden Topokrs.

Topokrs shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Topokrs showed some decent athleticism there.
Koskela 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.

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

Koskela has his takedown stuffed

and Topokrs counters with a shoot takedown. Koskela fights it but they end up in guard.
Topokrs wants to pass the guard but Koskela is keeping the position.
Topokrs won't allow Koskela to get back to his feet.
Koskela being controlled here, momentarily.
Topokrs wants to pass the guard but Koskela is keeping the position.
Topokrs throwing strikes from guard but Koskela blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topokrs looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Koskela tries a head kick but it misses.

Koskela darts in and clinches Topokrs up against the cage.
Koskela misses with a hook to the ribs.
Topokrs is trying to push Koskela away but Koskela has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Topokrs is trying to pull guard but Koskela has him pressed against the cage.
Koskela gets underhooks to prevent Topokrs's takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Topokrs wants to get back to striking at distance but Koskela won't allow it.
Koskela lands a body shot.
Koskela cracks Topokrs with a nice body shot.
Topokrs is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Koskela changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Topokrs fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Holden Topokrs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esa Koskela.
Topokrs keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Koskela is breathing heavily.
Topokrs fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Koskela keeps the fight on the outside.
Koskela slaps away a takedown attempt from Topokrs, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topokrs shoots in for a takedown but Koskela shows good takedown defense.
Koskela moves in looking to clinch but Topokrs pushes him off.

Topokrs shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Topokrs was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Koskela is in all sorts of trouble here.
Koskela bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Topokrs is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topokrs can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Koskela controls the pace.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Topokrs holds on and takes a little breather.
Koskela forces his way into half guard.
Koskela sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Topokrs defending well though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Topokrs is looking to control Koskela's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Topokrs avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Holden Topokrs will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Koskela tries to clinch there but Topokrs circles away.
Koskela tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Koskela looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Topokrs looking to score a takedown here. Koskela is defending well but Topokrs drives through and ends up in Koskela's guard.
Koskela throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Topokrs stops Koskela from standing up.
Koskela keeping full guard, as Topokrs tries to pass.
Topokrs not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Topokrs seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Koskela for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Holden Topokrs.
Koskela tries to score a power double leg takedown but Topokrs sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Koskela somewhat.
Koskela takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Koskela circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Topokrs looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Topokrs doesn't manage to clinch there - Koskela circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koskela doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Topokrs counters with a takedown into side control.
Holden Topokrs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esa Koskela.
Koskela is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Topokrs has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Koskela manages to get back to half guard.
Topokrs controlling the action here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Koskela manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topokrs postures up.
Koskela is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Topokrs controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Topokrs has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Holden Topokrs just wasn't active enough.

Topokrs changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Koskela looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Topokrs gets to mount! Koskela was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Topokrs takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Holden Topokrs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koskela tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Holden Topokrs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Topokrs, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Holden Topokrs!