PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maki Tantor (ranked 1773 p4p, 234 weight class) and Teuvo Turunen (ranked 2290 p4p, 286 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Tantor
vs
Turunen

182 cm
19
180 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

188 cm
20
179 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maki Tantor!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Teuvo Turunen!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Turunen.
Turunen has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Tantor is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Tantor slips a jab and a cross from Turunen.
Turunen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tantor circles away quickly and effectively.
Turunen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Turunen loads up on a big right hand but Tantor slips the punch.
Tantor slips under a jab from Turunen.
Tantor cracks Turunen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Turunen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Tantor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Turunen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tantor appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Tantor pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Turunen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tantor moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Donk. Turunen catches Tantor right on the button with a cross.
The crowd cheers as Turunen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Tantor doesn't seem phased though.
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!
Tantor thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tantor lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Turunen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tantor fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turunen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tantor stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tantor throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Turunen counters with a nice body shot.
Tantor misses with a looping right.
Tantor jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Turunen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Turunen misses with a double jab.
Tantor misses the jab.
Turunen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tantor can pounce on him.
Tantor lands with an overhand left.
Turunen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A lazy left from Tantor finds it's target.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Turunen throws a combination. Tantor tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Tantor throws a front kick that sends Turunen stumbling back into the cage.
Tantor ducks under a wild hook from Turunen.
Turunen just misses with a punch to the body.
And Tantor counters with a quick kick to the body but Turunen blocks it.
Tantor doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Turunen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turunen takes a swing at Tantor's ribcage but misses.
Turunen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tantor. Tantor obviously looking to wear him down.
Teuvo Turunen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Turunen misses with a hook.
Turunen throws a sloppy body shot
and Tantor counters with a leg kick.
Turunen misses with a body punch
and Tantor counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tantor connects with a solid leg kick.
Tantor thows a body kick. Turunen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
A big right from Tantor misses.
A nice side step and Turunen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Turunen scores with a shot to the body.
Tantor slips a jab and a cross from Turunen.
It looked like Tantor wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Tantor misses with a body kick.
Tantor misses with an uppercut.
Turunen walks into a straight right hand from Tantor.
Tantor walks into a stiff left hand from Turunen.
Tantor throws a chopping leg kick but Turunen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A jab from Tantor misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tantor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tantor uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Turunen.
Tantor scores with a leg kick.
Turunen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tantor throws a quick counter kick to the body but Turunen avoids it.
Turunen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tantor rather than just go for the knockout.
Turunen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tantor.
Turunen cracks Tantor with a good jab.
Turunen lands a slapping body shot.
Tantor is looking to land body kicks.
Turunen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tantor was well out of range. Poor timing from Turunen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Turunen. Tantor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Turunen jabs Tantor right on the nose. Tantor blinks but takes it well.
Tantor throws an overhand right that lands on Turunen's shoulder, as Turunen tries to avoid the shot.
Tantor is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Turunen throws a series of punches but Tantor moves out of range.
Turunen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Turunen just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice straight punches there by Tantor. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tantor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tantor throws a low kick but it's checked well by Turunen.
Turunen looks to land a left hand but Tantor moved out of range nicely.
Turunen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tantor tries to land a leg kick but Turunen saw it coming and moves away.
Turunen tries to bum rush Tantor with a series of wild strikes but Tantor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tantor defending well as Turunen loads up on a big left hand.
Turunen throws a shot from downtown. Tantor moves away and avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Turunen. Tantor does a little dance to reset his feet.
Turunen just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromTantor.
Tantor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tantor looks for the body kick but Turunen saw that one coming.
Tantor goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Turunen throws a nice looking combination but Tantor bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
An attempted straight right counter from Tantor misses the target.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Turunen.
Turunen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Tantor is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Tantor turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Turunen misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Teuvo Turunen will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Turunen throws a body shot but no joy.
Turunen takes one to the chin there.
Turunen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tantor takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A big right from Turunen misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Tantor misses the target.
Tantor throws a wild body kick that Turunen sees coming a mile off.
A punch combination from Turunen misses.
Tantor feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tantor slips under a jab.
Tantor avoids the body shot from Turunen.
Turunen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Turunen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tantor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Turunen is looking for the big counter here.
Tantor looks to land a left hand but Turunen moved out of range nicely.
Tantor ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Turunen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tantor cracks the inside of Turunen's front leg.
Turunen takes a swing at Tantor's ribcage but misses.
A left lands for Turunen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tantor throws out a powerful jab.
Good exchange - Tantor coming out on top.
Turunen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tantor connects with a jab.
Turunen tries to bum rush Tantor with a series of wild strikes but Tantor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tantor staying out of range there.
Turunen misses with a wild body shot.
A good leg kick by Tantor.
Turunen misses with an uppercut. Tantor saw that one coming.
Tantor swings for the body but Turunen moves out of range.
Turunen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Turunen swings widly with a right hand
and Tantor makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Turunen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Turunen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Tantor lands with a straight right. Turunen didn't see that one coming.
Tantor scoring well with a low kick there.
Turunen misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab by Turunen.
Maki Tantor is winning the standup battle so far.
Tantor scores with a nice right hand.
Tantor jabs Turunen right on the nose. Turunen blinks but takes it well.
Turunen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Turunen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tantor at a distance.
Tantor throws a chopping leg kick but Turunen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Tantor connects with a crisp jab.

Turunen is rocked!
Tantor takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Turunen just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Turunen. Tantor does a little dance to reset his feet.
As Turunen backs away, Tantor returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Turunen moves out of range as Tantor strikes.
A countering left hand to the body from Turunen misses.
Tantor throws an overhand right that lands on Turunen's shoulder, as Turunen tries to avoid the shot.
A nice side step and Turunen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Tantor shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Turunen scores with a body shot.
Tantor throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Turunen.
Turunen is still on wobbly legs! Can Tantor finish him?
Tantor avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tantor throws a shot from downtown. Turunen moves away and avoids it.
Turunen seems to have recovered his senses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tantor.
Tantor slips a jab from Turunen.
Turunen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Turunen tests Tantor's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Turunen throws a shot from downtown. Tantor moves away and avoids it.
Tantor with a jab.
Turunen moves away from the strike by Tantor.
Tantor has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Turunen.
Turunen throws a series of punches but Tantor avoids them all with ease.
Tantor tried to counter with a leg kick but Turunen avoided it.
Turunen moves out of range of the leg kick from Tantor.
Tantor lands a nice leg kick that just misses Turunen's sensitive parts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Turunen misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turunen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Turunen misses with a two punch combination.
Turunen throws a body punch but Tantor moves out of range.
Tantor works the jab nicely.
Tantor lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Turunen misses the shot to the body.
Tantor connects with a solid leg kick.
A big right from Tantor misses.
Turunen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tantor on the side of the head.
Turunen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tantor ducks right into an uppercut from Turunen.
Tantor moves away from the strike by Turunen.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Turunen misses with a lunging right hand
and Tantor counters with a nice low kick that buckles Turunen's knee momentarily.
Turunen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tantor manages to avoid it.
Tantor throws an overhand right that lands on Turunen's shoulder, as Turunen tries to avoid the shot.
Turunen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Tantor with a body shot.
Tantor misses with a wild body shot.
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 Maki Tantor will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Turunen throws a body shot but no joy.
Tantor is looking to land body kicks.
A little jabbing left from Turunen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Tantor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Turunen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Turunen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Tantor waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Turunen.
Tantor misses with a body kick.
Turunen throws a body punch but Tantor moves out of range.
Tantor misses with a leg kick.
Turunen just misses with a punch to the body.
Turunen misses with a straight left.
Turunen swings widly with a right hand
and Tantor counters with a thumping low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turunen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Tantor scoring well with a low kick there.
Turunen misses with an uppercut. Tantor saw that one coming.
Tantor jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Turunen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice shot by Tantor.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Turunen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turunen avoids the body shot from Tantor.
Turunen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Tantor misses with a low kick.
Turunen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Tantor takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Tantor avoids the body shot from Turunen.
Turunen tries to bum rush Tantor with a series of wild strikes but Tantor uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tantor lands a jab to Turunen's midsection.
Tantor drops his hands momentarily and Turunen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tantor. That's going to slow Turunen down.
Turunen throws a body shot but no joy.
Turunen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tantor.
Tantor misses with a looping right.
Tantor throws a head kick that misses.
Turunen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tantor ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Turunen looks to throw the jab but Tantor is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turunen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Tantor 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tantor is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Tantor dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tantor avoids the body shot from Turunen.
Tantor appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Turunen moves away from the strike by Tantor.
It seemed like Turunen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Turunen throws an off balance right hand

and Tantor counters by clinching up.
Tantor tries to stall but Turunen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tantor takes a shot to the head.

Tantor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Turunen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tantor sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tantor swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Tantor is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Turunen misses with a wild body shot.

Tantor closes the distance and pushes Turunen back into the cage.
Turunen tries a body shot but Tantor blocks it.

Tantor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turunen takes a swing at Tantor's ribcage but misses.
Tantor tried to counter with a leg kick but Turunen avoided it.
Tantor misses with a hook.
Turunen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Tantor uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Turunen.
Turunen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Tantor scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice uppercut lands for Tantor. That snapped Turunen's head back.
Tantor moves away from the strike by Turunen.
Tantor thinks about countering with a body kick.
Tantor feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Turunen's calf.
You can see that Turunen has visibly slowed down as a result of the leg kicks
Tantor throws a quick inside leg kick.
Tantor misses with a kick to the body
and Turunen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tantor keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tantor. That's going to slow Turunen down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Turunen misses with a looping right.
A little feinted left hand from Tantor on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Turunen looks to score with a jab to the body but Tantor is just out of range.
Tantor feints and then cracks Turunen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Turunen down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tantor takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Turunen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tantor moves away.
Tantor explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Turunen throws a series of punches but Tantor avoids them all with ease.
Turunen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Turunen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Turunen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Tantor.
Turunen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Turunen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tantor.
Turunen slips a jab from Tantor.
Turunen swinging wildly here.
Tantor feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Tantor ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Turunen moves away.
Turunen throws a combination. Tantor tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Turunen throws a looping overhand right but Tantor ducks down to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Tantor on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tantor throws a hook to the side of Turunen's head but Turunen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Turunen misses with a straight left.
Tantor throws a quick counter head kick but Turunen was just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Teuvo Turunen.
I think Turunen 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Teuvo Turunen!
Teuvo Turunen got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'