PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matto Monni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harri Vahva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Monni might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Minutemen - Corona. Vahva has chosen Hammerfall - Let the Hammer Fall as his entrance music. Matto Monni has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Monni
vs
Vahva

188 cm
25
225 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

198 cm
20
280 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matto Monni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Vahva!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vahva works the jab nicely.
Monni tries to clinch but Vahva moves out of range.
Vahva closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Matto Monni has been cut.
Vahva lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Monni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vahva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Monni misses with a wild combination.

Vahva bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vahva scoring with punches and elbows.
Monni is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Monni is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Vahva scores with punches from side control.
Monni is looking to regain half guard here but Vahva keeps moving and retains side control.
Vahva scoring with punches from side control.
Vahva is working Monni over with some ground and pound from side control.
Monni is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Vahva connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Monni some visible discomfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vahva wants to control but Monni is keeping him busy.
Monni is looking for a sweep.
Vahva in side control lands a decent elbow.
Monni manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Monni is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vahva pulls his head out easily.
Monni is breathing heavily.
Vahva wants to control but Monni is keeping him busy.

Monni looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nice strikes from Vahva there.
Vahva thows a huge punch but Monni dodges it nicely.
Vahva is trying to control. Monni wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vahva scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Vahva prevents Monni from improving his position.

Monni looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monni on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Monni is refusing to be controlled, as Vahva sits in half guard.
Monni moves into full guard.
Vahva keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Monni's head.
Vahva chips away with 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!
Monni is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Monni is looking for a kimura here.

Monni is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vahva is just riding it out for now. Monni eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monni is looking for a kimura but Vahva is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Monni to get the leverage.
Vahva is looking to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vahva can do anything to dispel that myth.
Monni is thwarting Vahva's attempts to control the position.
Vahva tries to get to full guard but Monni has control of the leg.
Vahva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Monni. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vahva is positioning himself well to prevent Monni advancing to mount.
Vahva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Monni's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Monni's back!
Monni tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Monni is trying desperately to improve position.
Vahva fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monni is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vahva has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Monni's face.
Vahva landing punches.
Vahva can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Monni is looking to escape.
Monni regains half guard.
Vahva sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Monni defending well though.

Monni looking for submissions off his back.
Vahva scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Monni is looking for a sweep. Vahva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Vahva there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harri Vahva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matto Monni's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Vahva keeps the fight on the outside.
Vahva with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vahva moves in looking to clinch but Monni pushes him off.
Monni will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vahva uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Monni has time to react.
Vahva moves into range and connects with a jab.
Vahva throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Monni.
Monni shoots in for a double leg but Vahva sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Monni rushes Vahva and presses him up against the cage.
Vahva misses with some punches.
Vahva goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Monni just leaning against Vahva, taking a breather.
Monni is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vahva is keeping busy.
Vahva stops a takedown attempt from Monni.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matto Monni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Monni takes a shot to the head.
Monni taking a breather.
A frustrated look appears on Monni's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Monni blocks an uppercut.
Monni drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vahva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vahva lands a jab to Monni's midsection.
A nice combination there by Vahva.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vahva lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vahva drops Monni with a beautiful combination! Monni stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Vahva is looking for the KO!

Monni is rocked!

Vahva closes the distance and clinches.
Oh Monni is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A right hook to the body lands for Vahva.
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!
Vahva scores with a hook to the body.
Vahva is working Monni over against the cage.
Monni seems to have got his legs back now.
Vahva lands a nice shot to the body.
Vahva stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vahva lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Monni.
Vahva makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vahva lands a shoulder strike.
Vahva scores with a hook to the body.
Vahva wants to stall.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vahva creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vahva creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Monni is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Vahva gets through Monni's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vahva softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Vahva lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Monni or not.
Nice body punch from Vahva.
Vahva stops a takedown attempt from Monni.
Vahva lands a shot to the body.
Vahva looking to throw knees to the head but Monni is blocking nicely.
Monni has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vahva avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Vahva.
Vahva taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Monni takes a shot to the head.
Vahva lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Monni tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vahva taking a breather.
A hook to the body from Vahva.
Vahva is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Still in the clinch, Vahva scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vahva lands a right hand.
A body shot lands from Monni.
Monni avoiding damage as Vahva throws knees to the body.
Monni is trying to drag Vahva to the mat but Vahva just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Monni stalls.
Vahva tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vahva is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Monni makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Monni drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vahva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Vahva lands a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vahva shoots in and bounces Monni off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Monni escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vahva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Vahva with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vahva postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Monni is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vahva trying to control but Monni is working from the bottom.

Monni is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vahva's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Monni avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Monni looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vahva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vahva preventing the sweep.
Vahva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Monni tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Monni is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vahva is aware though and is defending well.
Vahva lands a couple of digs.

Monni is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vahva is aware though and is defending well.
Vahva lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Monni looking for a sweep. Not yet Monni, not yet.

Monni is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vahva defends well.
Vahva tries to free his leg and advance position but Monni is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harri Vahva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matto Monni's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Vahva takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Monni is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Vahva.
Monni tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Vahva counters with a straight right hand.
Vahva thuds a left hand into Monni's body.
A punch lands to the side of Monni 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Harri Vahva is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vahva shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Monni as he jumps to the side.
Vahva misses with a series of wild punches.
Monni on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vahva lands an overhand right.
Vahva lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Vahva.

Vahva drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Monni is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vahva cracks Monni with a solid left hand.
Vahva connects with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vahva landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monni looking for a triangle here. Vahva is fighting it but it looks tight! Monni pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Vahva is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Matto Monni!