PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Demetrius Farmer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lauri Tikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lauri Tikka is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Farmer
vs
Tikka

170 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Demetrius Farmer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lauri Tikka!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Farmer throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tikka's waist but Tikka gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Farmer off to one side.
Tikka has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Farmer is landing a low percentage of strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tikka.
Tikka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Farmer but Farmer pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tikka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Farmer circles away.
Demetrius Farmer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauri Tikka.
Tikka looks winded!
Tikka goes for a double leg but Farmer avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Farmer continues to drive forward.
Farmer shoots in but Tikka avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Farmer really is a fat lump.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Farmer drives through with a takedown into Tikka's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Farmer stays in close to Tikka's body and controls the position.
Tikka is trying to control the position but Farmer postures up.
Farmer has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farmer controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tikka is looking to sweep but instead, Farmer has passed into half guard.
Farmer slows the pace down in half guard.
Tikka is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Farmer jumps into side control!
Tikka is looking for a sweep.
Farmer is looking to take a break and control but Tikka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Farmer controlling the position from side mount.
Farmer working away.
Farmer just content to control the position.
Tikka tries to improve position but can't.
Farmer taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tikka is trying to get back to half guard.
Tikka can't do much from the bottom here.
Tikka is looking for a sweep.
Farmer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tikka on the ground.
Farmer slows the pace down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tikka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Farmer happy to just control the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Farmer has a takedown stuffed.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Farmer shoots in and drives through. Tikka sprawls well.
Farmer shoots for a takedown but Tikka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demetrius Farmer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Demetrius Farmer's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tikka misses with a takedown attempt - Farmer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Farmer half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Tikka scores with a takedown into Farmer's guard.
Farmer throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Farmer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tikka is one step ahead there.

Farmer is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tikka controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tikka is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Farmer is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tikka defends well.
Tikka passes Farmer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Tikka is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Farmer sees it coming and defends easily.
Tikka stops Farmer from getting back to his feet.
Tikka prevents Farmer from improving his position.

Tikka is looking for a kimura here.

Tikka is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Tikka is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Farmer is trying to stand back up but Tikka is controlling him
Demetrius Farmer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tikka winds up and cracks Farmer with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Farmer is trying to get back to full guard.
Farmer is not content to let Tikka control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farmer is looking to improve his position.
Farmer is trying to maintain the position but Tikka is very close to passing his half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Tikka is working for a kimura but Farmer is defending it quite comfortably.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tikka stuffs the takedown.
And Tikka tries to counter it with a takedown but Farmer pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Tikka with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Farmer counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Farmer shoots in and drives through. Tikka sprawls well.

Tikka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Farmer!

Tikka tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Tikka is trying to get an arm triangle but Farmer is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tikka tries to advance to mount but Farmer denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lauri Tikka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Demetrius Farmer's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Farmer gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Farmer jumps guard and drags Tikka to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Farmer is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Farmer is looking to stand up but Tikka isn't so interested in that idea.
Tikka with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tikka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Farmer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tikka drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Farmer dives on top into guard.

Tikka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tikka tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tikka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Farmer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Farmer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Farmer controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Farmer preventing the sweep.

Tikka is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Tikka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tikka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Tikka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Farmer gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tikka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Farmer showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tikka keeping moving, preventing Farmer from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice sprawl there from Tikka as Farmer shoots in.
Tikka fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Farmer feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Tikka as Farmer shoots in.
Tikka has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farmer tries to close the distance and clinch but Tikka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Farmer tries for a takedown but Tikka circles away easily

and Tikka counters with a shoot takedown. Farmer fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Demetrius Farmer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tikka pushes down on Farmer's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tikka scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tikka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Farmer keeps working.

Farmer is defending against the submission attempts here by Tikka.
Farmer wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tikka is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Tikka is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Farmer is trying to stand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Tikka is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Farmer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tikka.
Farmer wants to improve his position but Tikka is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lauri Tikka.
I think Tikka 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lauri Tikka!
After winning the bout, Lauri Tikka thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.