PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Ass (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Vanhala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vanhala comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bad Religion - Generator kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Ass
vs
Vanhala

180 cm
24
196 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
197 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Nordic Nutrition (160 Recovery $150)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Ass!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Vanhala!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanhala throws a hook but Ass blocks it.
Ass looks to throw the jab but Vanhala is out of range.
Jack Ass seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ass is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vanhala sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Vanhala closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ass to the mat! Ass manages to get full guard.
Vanhala throws and elbow that misses. Ass uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vanhala's guard. Nice move by Ass!
Vanhala is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Ass avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vanhala is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vanhala is on top in guard.
Ass is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ass keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Vanhala is trying to get back to full guard.
Vanhala regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ass not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ass passes into half guard.
Vanhala tries to get to full guard but Ass has control of the leg.
Vanhala manages to get to full guard.
Vanhala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vanhala is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ass trying to control but Vanhala is working from the bottom.

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.
Ass stopping the sweep attempt from Vanhala.
Ass showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Jack Ass wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Vanhala throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Vanhala throws a predictable looking body shot

and Ass counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ass.
Ass postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ass throws a big right hand that misses.
Ass trying to control the position from guard on top but Vanhala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ass is really struggling to control Vanhala but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Vanhala bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ass's guard.
Vanhala trying to control but Ass is working from the bottom.
Ass is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ass keeping moving, preventing Vanhala from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jack Ass will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ass throws a combination that misses
and Vanhala counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ass tries to clinch up.
Ass throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vanhala tries for a takedown but Ass sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vanhala misses with a hook.
Ass moves out of range of the strikes.
Vanhala keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vanhala lands with a right hand.
Vanhala throws a lazy right hand but Ass sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ass lands a lovely overhand right.
Ass fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vanhala manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ass misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Vanhala counters by clinching up.
Vanhala drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ass changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vanhala fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Vanhala keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanhala misses with a few strikes there.
Ass swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vanhala takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ass ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vanhala moves away.
Vanhala throws a body punch but Ass moves out of range.
Ass has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Ass. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ass shoots and misses
and Vanhala counters with a left and a right that stings Ass.

Vanhala shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ass's guard.
Ass wants to sweep but no luck.
Ass keeping moving, preventing Vanhala from controlling successfully.
Vanhala is looking to work some ground and pound but Ass has wrist control.
Ass is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vanhala makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ass manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vanhala manages to get himself to full guard.
Vanhala is trying to keep Ass in close.
Vanhala can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ass controls the pace.
Ass is pushing down on Vanhala's leg trying to pass to half guard. Vanhala is fighting to maintain full guard but Ass has managed to sneak the leg through.
Vanhala wants to improve his position but Ass is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala is trying is best to control the position here.

Vanhala looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vanhala trying to control from the bottom.
Ass perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ass is looking to take a break and control but Vanhala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ass works his way into side control.
Vanhala taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ass is looking to take a break and control but Vanhala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vanhala dodges the ground and pound from Ass.
Vanhala is not content to let Ass control the position.
Vanhala tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ari Vanhala will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Vanhala connects with a nice looking jab.
Vanhala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A jab from Vanhala finds it's way through Ass's defenses.
Ass keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vanhala misses with a right hand
and Ass cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ass scores with a body shot.
Vanhala keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A swing and a miss from Ass.

Vanhala drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ass can't do much from the bottom here.
Ass tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vanhala wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vanhala scores with punches from side control.
Ass stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ass being controlled for a moment.
Vanhala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ass keeps working.
Vanhala throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Ass sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ass is controlling Vanhala's trapped leg to prevent Vanhala from advancing to side control.
Vanhala controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ass is controlling Vanhala's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ass sizes up Vanhala with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Vanhala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vanhala fails to land with a series of punches.
Vanhala moves out of range as Ass strikes.
Vanhala moves in looking to clinch but Ass pushes him off.
Vanhala connects with a looping right hand.
Vanhala scores with a nice strike.
A nice combination there by Vanhala.
Vanhala tries to clinch up
and Ass connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ass sprawls well. Ass wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vanhala gets slowly back to his feet.
Vanhala fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ass slips under a jab from Vanhala.
Ass throws a leg kick but Vanhala sees it coming and moves out of range.
Ass looks to throw the jab but Vanhala is out of range.
Ass thuds a left hand into Vanhala's body.
Vanhala misses with a straight right.
Ass swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vanhala checks a leg kick.
Ass tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vanhala sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ass somewhat.
Vanhala stuffs the takedown attempt from Ass. Ass gets slowly back to his feet.
Vanhala throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vanhala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ass misses with an uppercut. Vanhala saw that one coming.
Ass falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Vanhala counter with a right hand.
Ass throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vanhala counters with a one-two to the body.
Ass bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vanhala swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ass counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ass throws a sloppy body shot
and Ass takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ass throws out a leg kick but Vanhala moves out of range and Ass only half commits.
Ass tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vanhala sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ass somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Ass. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ass is looking to land body kicks.
Vanhala swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ass counters with a stiff right hand.
Vanhala steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ass.
Vanhala misses with the combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Vanhala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vanhala 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ari Vanhala!