PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tapio Sammalkorpi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Sloan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Sammalkorpi
vs
Sloan

177 cm
26
176 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

185 cm
26
180 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Sully's Bar & Grill

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tapio Sammalkorpi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tom Sloan!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sammalkorpi feints and as Sloan raises his hands in defense, Sammalkorpi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Sammalkorpi's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Sloan wants to get back to his feet but Sammalkorpi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Sammalkorpi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sloan wants to get back to his feet but Sammalkorpi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sloan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sammalkorpi's guard.

Sammalkorpi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sammalkorpi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sammalkorpi looking for a sweep. Not yet Sammalkorpi, not yet.
Sammalkorpi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sloan's guard.

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sloan can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sloan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sammalkorpi controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sammalkorpi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sammalkorpi chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloan controls Sammalkorpi momentarily but Sammalkorpi frees himself.
Sloan told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Sloan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sammalkorpi is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sammalkorpi's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sloan is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sloan looking for subs off his back but Sammalkorpi has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sammalkorpi takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Sammalkorpi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sloan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sammalkorpi trying to control the pace.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sloan wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloan is trying to get back to full guard.
Sammalkorpi is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sloan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sammalkorpi scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sloan keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Sammalkorpi working the head and body with strikes.
Sloan strikes from the bottom but Sammalkorpi uses the opportunity to move to side control.

Sammalkorpi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sloan is trying to control Sammalkorpi's posture but Sammalkorpi avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi working the body and head with strikes.
Sloan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sammalkorpi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sloan is looking for a sweep.
Sammalkorpi lands some shots froms side control.
You can see the frustration on Sloan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloan is looking to reverse the position.
Sammalkorpi lands a nice forearm strike.
Sloan takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sammalkorpi trying to control the position but Sloan is working away.
Sloan tries to escape but Sammalkorpi is in control.
Sloan takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sloan is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Sammalkorpi is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Sammalkorpi looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Sloan is desperately trying to improve his position but Sammalkorpi has a good base and remains in mount.
Sammalkorpi lands with some strikes.
Sloan tries to lock up and control but Sammalkorpi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sloan is trying to escape the mount.
Sammalkorpi landing strikes from the mount.

It looks like Tom Sloan has been cut.
Sammalkorpi punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sloan is trying desperately to improve position.
Sammalkorpi looking to control but Sloan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sammalkorpi lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sloan hang on?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tapio Sammalkorpi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Sloan's cut.
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.

Sammalkorpi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sammalkorpi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Sloan to counter with a crisp jab.
Sloan loads up on a big right hand but Sammalkorpi slips the punch.
Sloan slaps away a takedown attempt from Sammalkorpi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A nice side step and Sloan releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tapio Sammalkorpi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sloan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sammalkorpi fails with the takedown
enabling Sloan to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab lands there for Sloan.
Sammalkorpi misses with a takedown
and Sloan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sammalkorpi shoots and misses
and Sloan cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi shoots for a double leg takedown but Sloan sprawls well. He's pushed Sammalkorpi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sammalkorpi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sloan can do to turn this around?
Nice shot by Sloan.
Sloan has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sammalkorpi has his takedown stuffed
and Sloan counters with a nice uppercut.
Tapio Sammalkorpi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloan's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sammalkorpi under the eye.
Sloan connects with the punch.
Sammalkorpi shoots in and drives through. Sloan sprawls well.
Tom Sloan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sammalkorpi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Sloan connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sammalkorpi misses with a takedown attempt
and Sloan counters with a nice uppercut.

Sloan gets caught napping as Sammalkorpi dives in and scores a takedown. Sloan manages to retain guard.
Sloan is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Sammalkorpi dives 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!

You can see the frustration on Sloan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloan taking a bit of punishment here - Sammalkorpi scoring with strikes.
Sloan throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Sammalkorpi is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sloan will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Sloan wants to get back to his feet.

Sammalkorpi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Sammalkorpi scoring with punches from side control.
Sammalkorpi passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Sloan!
Sloan is squirming around, avoiding Sammalkorpi's attempts to control the action.
Sammalkorpi avoids the attempt from Sloan to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi lands a heavy elbow.
Sammalkorpi scoring with strikes but Sloan is staying in there.
Sammalkorpi lands a heavy elbow.
Sloan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Sammalkorpi is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Sloan to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Sloan shrugs it off.
Sloan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sloan tries to get to full guard but Sammalkorpi has control of the leg.
Sloan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Sammalkorpi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sloan's head.
Sammalkorpi 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.
Sloan trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Sloan keeping moving, preventing Sammalkorpi from controlling successfully.

Sloan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sammalkorpi cracks Sloan with a solid left hand.
Sammalkorpi makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Sammalkorpi landing some decent shots from guard.
Sammalkorpi is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sammalkorpi wants to control from the top but Sloan keeps moving.
Sammalkorpi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tom Sloan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tom Sloan's cut.
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.

Sammalkorpi changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sloan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sammalkorpi is putting a hurting on Sloan here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sloan takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Sloan wants to control but Sammalkorpi postures up.
Sammalkorpi landing strikes.
Sloan throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Sammalkorpi working the head and body with strikes.
Sloan is trying to get back to his feet.
Sloan is looking for a sweep.
Sloan gets back to half guard.
Sammalkorpi is trying to control. Sloan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sammalkorpi lands with a punch from half guard.
Sloan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Sammalkorpi scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloan is looking to improve his position.
Sloan keeping control of the position.
Sammalkorpi is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Sloan is trying to stand up here but Sammalkorpi is controlling him well.

Sammalkorpi is working for a kimura but Sloan is defending it quite comfortably.
Sammalkorpi lands with a punch from half guard.
Sammalkorpi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Sammalkorpi is nestled in close to Sloan, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sammalkorpi passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sloan!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Sammalkorpi.
Sloan is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sammalkorpi landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sloan swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Sammalkorpi landing punches.
Sammalkorpi trying to control but Sloan is having none of it.

Sammalkorpi working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sammalkorpi pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Sammalkorpi raining down hammerfists from mount.
Sloan tries to reverse the position but Sammalkorpi maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sloan defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sammalkorpi.
Sloan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sloan taking shots to the head.

Sloan is rocked!
Sloan flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Sammalkorpi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Sammalkorpi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sloan looks a forlorn figure.
Sloan is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Sammalkorpi prevents Sloan from getting the reversal.
Sammalkorpi lands with some strikes.
Sloan is still in real trouble! Can Sammalkorpi finish him?
Sloan wants to hold on but Sammalkorpi pushes him away.
Sloan seems to have recovered his senses.
Sloan is trying desperately to improve position.
Sloan is squirming around, avoiding Sammalkorpi's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloan swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Sloan is squirming around, avoiding Sammalkorpi's attempts to control the action.
Sloan holds on for dear life.
Sloan is working to get back to half guard.
The referee warns Sloan that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Sloan can't escape the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sloan is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Sammalkorpi landing strikes from the mount and Sloan is in trouble!
Sloan tries to hold on but Sammalkorpi postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tapio Sammalkorpi clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Sloan's cut.
That's time! Sammalkorpi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sammalkorpi shoots in but no luck this time.
Sammalkorpi fails with the takedown
and Sloan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sammalkorpi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sloan counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tapio Sammalkorpi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sloan slaps away a takedown attempt from Sammalkorpi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sammalkorpi closes the distance and clinches up with Sloan, looking for a takedown. Sammalkorpi pushes Sloan against the cage but Sloan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sammalkorpi darts in looking for a takedown but Sloan gets double underhooks and turns Sammalkorpi into the cage.
Sloan lands a nice shot that snaps Sammalkorpi's head back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sammalkorpi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sloan counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sammalkorpi with a poor takedown
and Sloan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sloan jabs Sammalkorpi right on the nose. Sammalkorpi blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi misses with a takedown attempt
and Sloan makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Sloan lands a jab.
Sloan scores with a three punch combo!
Sammalkorpi misses with a takedown attempt
and Sloan counters with a right hand to the body.
Sammalkorpi misses with a takedown
and Sloan counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sammalkorpi tries for a takedown but Sloan circles away easily
enabling Sloan to counter with a crisp jab.
Sammalkorpi shoots for a double leg takedown but Sloan sprawls well. He's pushed Sammalkorpi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Sloan lands a jab.
Sammalkorpi has his takedown stuffed
and Sammalkorpi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sammalkorpi on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Sammalkorpi looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Sammalkorpi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Sloan counters with a stiff right hand.
Tom Sloan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sloan bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sammalkorpi's head.

Sammalkorpi is rocked!
Sloan might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A cross from Sloan lands.
Oh Sammalkorpi is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sloan walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Sammalkorpi drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Sloan swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Sammalkorpi's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tom Sloan!
Tom Sloan is the new welterweight champion!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Tom Sloan made sure he mentioned Sully's Bar & Grill, along with how happy he was to win his fight.