PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dave Bower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karri Vahti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bower comes to the cage accompanied by When I'm With You. Karri Vahti has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Dave Bower's chin.

Bower
vs
Vahti

175 cm
33
188 lbs
30 - 12 - 0

180 cm
29
182 lbs
21 - 7 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition (160!)
Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Brute
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Bower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 7 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Karri Vahti!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body kick there by Vahti.
Bower misses with a takedown attempt - Vahti sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Vahti wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bower misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vahti.
Vahti throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bower counters with a nice uppercut.
Vahti lunges at Bower with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bower's hand.
Vahti is looking to slow Bower down with leg kicks.
Vahti connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bower momentarily.

Bower moves into the clinch successfully.
Bower lands a nice uppercut.
Bower cracks Vahti with a nice body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vahti lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bower looking to slow down the pace here.
A right hook to the body lands for Vahti.
A short right from Bower.
Vahti stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Bower tries a body shot but Vahti blocks it.
Bower swings wildly with an uppercut but Vahti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bower drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower throws a punch but it's blocked by Vahti.
Vahti tries to throw a body punch but Bower avoids it by throwing Vahti back against the cage.
Bower lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bower has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vahti avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Bower. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A body shot lands from Vahti.
Bower is trying to maintain a safe position but Vahti gets an underhook and turns Bower into the cage.
Bower fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vahti.
Vahti blocking some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Vahti throws an elbow but misses.

Vahti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bower throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vahti.
Vahti delivers a nice body kick.
A lazy left from Vahti finds it's target.
Vahti slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Bower fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bower uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vahti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vahti fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Vahti lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Vahti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bower moves away.

Bower takes the fight into the clinch.
Vahti tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bower avoids it.
Vahti has Bower pressed against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Vahti as Bower tries to tie him up.
Bower has a couple of punches blocked by Vahti.
Vahti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bower blocks a body shot from Vahti.
Vahti prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bower.
A head punch on the inside from Vahti fails to land.
Bower pressing his opponent against the cage.
Vahti pushes Bower back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A short right from Bower.
Bower lands a nice uppercut.
Vahti working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vahti blocking some punches.
Vahti gets through Bower's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Bower keeps control of Vahti as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bower slows down the pace here.
Bower lands a hook that snaps the head of Vahti backwards.
Bower tries to break free but Vahti pushes him back against the cage.
Vahti misses with a body punch.
Vahti scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stalling in the clinch from Vahti.

Vahti's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bower tries to close the distance and clinch but Vahti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bower takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vahti blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bower throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vahti throws a leg kick which misses Bower's front leg but catches the back leg as Bower tries to avoid it.
Karri Vahti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bower throws a nice inside leg kick.
Bower takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
An inside leg kick from Bower misses.
Vahti fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bower on the side of the head.
Vahti defending well as Bower loads up on a big left hand.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Vahti!
Vahti scores with a body shot.
Nice shot lands for Vahti.
Vahti throws a right and a left that Bower avoids nicely.
Bower gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bower fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Vahti checks it well.
Bower wants to clinch.

Bower rushes Vahti and presses him up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Karri Vahti will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vahti throws a body punch but Bower moves out of range.
Bower gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Vahti.
Bower shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Vahti connects with a jab.
Vahti scores with a decent looking hook.
Vahti checks a leg kick.
Bower ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Vahti throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bower on the side of the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vahti.
Vahti swats away the attempt to clinch by Bower.
Vahti misses with an uppercut. Bower saw that one coming.
Karri Vahti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bower takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vahti thows a body shot but no joy.
Bower misses with a straight left.
Vahti throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bower counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bower on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vahti looks to score with a jab to the body but Bower is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower is looking to clinch but Vahti is avoiding it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vahti. Bower does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vahti tries to clinch but Bower moves out of range.

Bower drives through and clinches with Vahti against the cage.
Bower scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bower misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vahti.

Bower's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vahti throws a body punch but Bower moves out of range.
Vahti connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A shot to the liver by Vahti. Beautiful body shot.
Vahti lands a nice shot that snaps Bower's head back.
Bower checks a leg kick.
Vahti tries a low kick but Bower avoids it.
Bower throws a lazy right hand but Vahti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vahti has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bower finds it's way round the side to connect with Vahti's head.
Vahti scores with a jab. Bower acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Vahti. That did some damage!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bower fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Karri Vahti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bower looks for a takedown but Vahti sprawls well.
An inside leg kick lands from Vahti.
Nice shot by Vahti.
Bower slips under a jab.
A punch combination from Vahti misses.
Vahti connects with the punch.
Vahti throws a chopping leg kick but Bower manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Vahti throws a jab when Bower was well out of range.
Vahti pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bower is out of range and Vahti settles back down.
Vahti takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bower will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bower misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vahti avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bower on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bower takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Vahti misses with a kick to the body.
Vahti scores with a decent looking hook.
Vahti throws a low kick but it's checked well by Bower.
Bower swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bower tries to clinch up but Vahti circles away and keeps his distance.
Bower misses the shot to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Vahti there.
Vahti bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bower's head backwards.
Nice body kick from Vahti.
Bower is looking to wear down Vahti with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bower jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vahti, right into the meat.
Vahti throws a head kick but Bower moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vahti avoids the body shot from Bower.
Bower takes a swing at Vahti's ribcage but misses.
Bower looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Vahti scores with a shot to the body.
Bower throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bower swings for the body but Vahti moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vahti misses with a low kick.
Vahti thumps Bower with a low kick.
Vahti throws a right and a left that Bower avoids nicely.
Vahti throws a hook but Bower blocks it.
Vahti misses with a few strikes there.
Vahti stuffs the takedown attempt from Bower. Bower gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Bower. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vahti throws an overhand right that lands on Bower's shoulder, as Bower tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vahti throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vahti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vahti lands a glancing blow to the side of Bower's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karri Vahti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vahti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bower has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Bower rushes Vahti and presses him up against the cage.
Vahti blocking some punches.

Vahti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bower scores with a body shot.
That kick from Vahti tenderised Bower's leg. Bower is trying to keep his angry face on.
Vahti scores with a leg kick.
Bower moves out of range of the body kick from Vahti.
Vahti looks to land a left hand but Bower moved out of range nicely.
Bower fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Vahti has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Bower shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Vahti working a defensive guard here.
Bower loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
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!
Bower wants to control from the top but Vahti keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bower throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bower keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vahti's head.
Bower missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bower postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vahti keeping moving, preventing Bower from controlling successfully.
Bower working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bower postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bower looking to sit in guard and control but Vahti gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Vahti preventing the sweep.
Vahti trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bower's guard.

Bower has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Vahti is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bower.
Dave Bower has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bower is looking to reverse the position.

Vahti stands up and beckons Bower to his feet.
Bower takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vahti will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Vahti misses with a two punch combination.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vahti.
Vahti slips a jab from Bower.
Vahti looks to score with a jab to the body but Bower is just out of range.
Bower throws a big shot that misses.
Vahti moves out of range of the leg kick from Bower.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bower tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Vahti is able to avoid easily.
Vahti moves away from the strike by Bower.
Vahti throws a wild body kick that Bower sees coming a mile off.
Bower scores with a hook.
Nice shot lands for Vahti.
Bower throws a push kick but Vahti slaps the foot to one side.
Bower shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Vahti misses with the combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vahti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bower tries to clinch up but Vahti circles away and keeps his distance.
Bower misses with a hook to the body
and Bower takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bower takes a kick to the side of the head.
Vahti lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bower's sensitive parts.
Bower is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Vahti moves out of range of the leg kick from Bower.
Karri Vahti is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vahti clobbers Bower with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

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 Dave Bower.
I think Vahti 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karri Vahti!
During a confident post fight interview, Karri Vahti thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.