PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Clayton Atkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tapio Sammalkorpi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tapio Sammalkorpi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Atkinson
vs
Sammalkorpi

183 cm
22
172 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

177 cm
29
176 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Perkele!
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Clayton Atkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tapio Sammalkorpi!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Phil Schofield and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atkinson dips to his left and cracks Sammalkorpi with an uppercut!
Sammalkorpi shoots in for a takedown but Atkinson shows good takedown defense.
Sammalkorpi misses with an uppercut. Atkinson saw that one coming.
Atkinson feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Atkinson lands a right hook to the body.
Sammalkorpi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Atkinson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Atkinson connects with an inside leg kick.
Atkinson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Sammalkorpi scores with a takedown into Atkinson's guard.
Sammalkorpi stops Atkinson from standing up.
Atkinson working a defensive guard here.
Sammalkorpi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sammalkorpi is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Atkinson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sammalkorpi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sammalkorpi won't allow Atkinson to get back to his feet.
Atkinson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sammalkorpi on the ground.
Sammalkorpi trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sammalkorpi throws a big elbow that misses.
Sammalkorpi works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Sammalkorpi is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Atkinson wants to control but Sammalkorpi is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sammalkorpi looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi prevents Atkinson from standing back up.
Sammalkorpi throwing shots but Atkinson is blocking nicely.
Atkinson taking some punishment here, with Sammalkorpi in his half guard.
Atkinson wants to get back to his feet.
Atkinson wants to control but Sammalkorpi is keeping busy.
Atkinson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Still in half guard, Sammalkorpi seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sammalkorpi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Atkinson is defending against the submission attempts here by Sammalkorpi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi working Atkinson over with strikes.
Sammalkorpi slips a nice elbow through Atkinson's hands, connecting with Atkinson's forehead.
Atkinson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sammalkorpi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Atkinson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Atkinson wants to stand and escape but Sammalkorpi is having none of it.
Sammalkorpi controlling from the top position.
Sammalkorpi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi trying to control but Atkinson is working from the bottom.
Sammalkorpi postures up in Atkinson's guard and throws a big left but Atkinson blocks it.
Atkinson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sammalkorpi slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Sammalkorpi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Atkinson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sammalkorpi tries to score with some ground and pound. Atkinson controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sammalkorpi happy to just control the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sammalkorpi connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Atkinson some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tapio Sammalkorpi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Sammalkorpi.
Atkinson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Sammalkorpi has a takedown stuffed.
Sammalkorpi shoots in for a double leg but Atkinson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Clayton Atkinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tapio Sammalkorpi.
Atkinson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Atkinson scores with the left hand. Sammalkorpi knows he should have avoided that one.
Atkinson connects with an inside leg kick.
Sammalkorpi dives in and grabs Atkinson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Atkinson pushes down on Sammalkorpi's head and hops out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sammalkorpi tries for a takedown but Atkinson circles away easily
and Atkinson counters with a thumping low kick.
Atkinson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Atkinson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sammalkorpi shoots in but Atkinson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
As Sammalkorpi backs away, Atkinson returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atkinson stuffs the takedown.
Sammalkorpi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Atkinson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sammalkorpi's calf.
Atkinson throws a leg kick which misses Sammalkorpi's front leg but catches the back leg as Sammalkorpi tries to avoid it.
Sammalkorpi shoots and misses
letting Atkinson counter with a right hand.
Sammalkorpi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Atkinson defends it nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Atkinson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Atkinson.
Atkinson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sammalkorpi's sensitive parts.
Sammalkorpi shoots in but no luck this time.
Atkinson half committed to a counter leg kick.
Sammalkorpi shoots in for a double leg but Atkinson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sammalkorpi shoots in and drives through. Atkinson sprawls well.
Sammalkorpi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Atkinson counters with a left and a right that stings Sammalkorpi.
Clayton Atkinson is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
That kick from Atkinson tenderised Sammalkorpi's leg. Sammalkorpi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sammalkorpi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Atkinson counters with an outside leg kick.
Atkinson works over Sammalkorpi's head and body with a nice combination.
Atkinson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sammalkorpi can do to turn this around?
Sammalkorpi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Atkinson pinned against the cage. Atkinson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sammalkorpi is breathing heavily.
Sammalkorpi tries for a takedown but Atkinson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Atkinson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Atkinson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sammalkorpi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Atkinson but Atkinson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Atkinson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Atkinson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Atkinson cracks the inside of Sammalkorpi's front leg.
Atkinson lands with a right hand.
Tapio Sammalkorpi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sammalkorpi loads up on a big right hand but Atkinson slips the punch.
Atkinson feints and then cracks Sammalkorpi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sammalkorpi down.
Atkinson works Sammalkorpi's body with a nice hook.
Atkinson throws a head kick but Sammalkorpi moves out of range.
Atkinson throws a head kick that half lands.

Sammalkorpi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Atkinson!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sammalkorpi throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sammalkorpi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Atkinson struggling a bit here.
Sammalkorpi fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atkinson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Sammalkorpi is trying to get an arm triangle but Atkinson is defending well.
Sammalkorpi lands some shots froms side control.
Atkinson has one of Sammalkorpi's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

Sammalkorpi has hold of Atkinson's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Atkinson tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Sammalkorpi cranks the arm and Atkinson screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Atkinson, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Tapio Sammalkorpi!
Our winner, Tapio Sammalkorpi, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.