PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Benny Bengbula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Haapasalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haapasalo is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Korpiklaani - Let's Drink . These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bengbula
vs
Haapasalo

210 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
245 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Benny Bengbula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Haapasalo!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bengbula wants to clinch.

Bengbula gets a clinch.
Bengbula takes a shot to the head.
Haapasalo taking a breather.

Bengbula's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bengbula looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Haapasalo scores with a jab.

Haapasalo instigates a clinch.
Bengbula tries to score a body lock takedown but Haapasalo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Haapasalo prevents Bengbula from breaking the clinch.
Haapasalo blocks an uppercut.
Haapasalo stalling the fight.
Haapasalo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bengbulas head.
Bengbula working aggressively here.

Haapasalo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Bengbula closes the distance and clinches.
Haapasalo looking for a takedown.
Bengbula digs a right hand underneath Haapasalo's ribcage. Haapasalo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Haapasalo looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haapasalo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Haapasalo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bengbula paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bengbula tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Haapasalo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Haapasalo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bengbula tries to clinch but Haapasalo is having none of it.
Haapasalo wants to clinch.
Haapasalo tries to clinch but Bengbula moves out of range.
Haapasalo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Haapasalo is looking to clinch but Bengbula is avoiding it.
Antti Haapasalo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haapasalo fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Haapasalo misses.
Bengbula showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Haapasalo.
Haapasalo misses with a few strikes there.
Bengbula wants to clinch
and Haapasalo counters with a left and a right that stings Bengbula.
Haapasalo's corner calls for a 1-2. Haapasalo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Haapasalo.

Bengbula is rocked!
Haapasalo looks gassed!
Haapasalo throws a right hand that Bengbula ducks under and follows up with a left that Bengbula also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bengbula falls off balance throwing a combination
and Haapasalo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bengbula tries to clinch but Haapasalo moves out of range.
Bengbula tries to close the distance and clinch but Haapasalo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bengbula tries to clinch but Haapasalo moves out of range.
Haapasalo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Bengbula holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Bengbula breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Haapasalo looks to score with a jab to the body but Bengbula is just out of range.
Bengbula is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Haapasalo slips a jab and a cross from Bengbula.

Bengbula gets a clinch.
Bengbula is trying to break free.
Haapasalo is pressed up against the cage. Bengbula has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Haapasalo down to the mat. Haapasalo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Haapasalo leaves Bengbula with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Bengbula. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haapasalo throws a series of punches but Bengbula moves out of range.
Bengbula takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bengbula has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Haapasalo tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bengbula tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bengbula takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Bengbula scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Haapasalo dodges the ground and pound from Bengbula.
Haapasalo is being controlled here.
Bengbula is looking to take a break and control but Haapasalo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bengbula will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Haapasalo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Bengbula thows a huge punch but Haapasalo dodges it nicely.
Haapasalo regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bengbula.
Bengbula with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bengbula throwing strikes but missing.
Bengbula working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bengbula trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bengbula trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bengbula with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Haapasalo has momentary wrist control but Bengbula slips an elbow through the middle.
Bengbula trying to control but Haapasalo is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bengbula wants to stand but Haapasalo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Haapasalo is pulling down on Bengbula's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Haapasalo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bengbula moves into range and clinches up with Haapasalo.

Haapasalo breaks the clinch.
Bengbula fails with an attempt to clinch.

Haapasalo takes the fight into the clinch.
Bengbula wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Haapasalo has him pressed against the cage.

Haapasalo breaks from the clinch.
Bengbula moves in looking to clinch but Haapasalo pushes him off.
A jab from Haapasalo does it's job there.
A nice combination there by Haapasalo.
Bengbula is looking to clinch.
It's a brutal combination of punches from Haapasalo! Bengbula is backing up but he can't get away as Haapasalo lands with one final shot to the jaw that drops Bengbula and ends the fight. Great knockout.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Antti Haapasalo!