PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johannes Paavi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hovi
vs
Paavi

195 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
203 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Improved boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Hovi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johannes Paavi!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hovi misses with a few strikes there.
Hovi tries to clinch up but Paavi circles away and keeps his distance.
Hovi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hovi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hovi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Paavi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Paavi shoots in looking for a takedown. Hovi tries to sprawl out of it but Paavi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hovi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Paavi slips a jab and a cross from Hovi.
Hovi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Paavi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hovi lands a two punch combo.
No joy there for Hovi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hovi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Paavi.
Paavi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hovi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Paavi looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Hovi throws a right and a left that Paavi avoids nicely.
Hovi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Paavi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hovi doesn't manage to clinch there - Paavi circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paavi moves into the clinch.
Hovi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Paavi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hovi is pressed up against the cage. Paavi has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hovi down to the mat. Hovi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Seppo Hovi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johannes Paavi.
Hovi tries to clinch but Paavi moves away

and Paavi counters with a single leg into guard. Hovi didn't expect that.
Paavi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Paavi throws a strike but Hovi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hovi won't allow Paavi to sweep him here.
Paavi keeping moving, preventing Hovi from controlling successfully.
Paavi looking for a sweep. Not yet Paavi, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paavi trying to strike off his back.
Paavi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hovi is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Paavi slips a jab and a cross from Hovi.
Paavi slips a straight right by Hovi.
Hovi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Paavi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hovi's guard now.
Paavi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hovi is keeping the position for now.
Paavi postures up in Hovi's guard and throws a big left but Hovi blocks it.
Paavi wants to stand but Hovi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Paavi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Paavi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hovi is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hovi keeping full guard, as Paavi tries to pass.
Paavi preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Paavi looks for a takedown but Hovi sprawls well.

Paavi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Paavi wants to control for a moment but Hovi uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Hovi prevents Paavi from improving his position.
Paavi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hovi throws a left and a right that both miss

and Paavi counters by clinching up.
Paavi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hovi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hovi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hovi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Paavi prevents Hovi from breaking the clinch.
Paavi can't get the takedown.
Hovi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hovi wants to break the clinch but can't.
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 Seppo Hovi will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hovi throws a series of punches but Paavi moves out of range.
Hovi tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Paavi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Paavi crunches a lovely knee into Hovi's ribcage.
Hovi wants to break free but Paavi has control.
Hovi wants to get back to striking at distance but Paavi won't allow it.
Hovi tries for a takedown. No joy.
Paavi lands a knee to the body.
Hovi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Paavi is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hovi can't fight it off and eventually Paavi manages to take the fight to the floor. Hovi looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Paavi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hovi is keeping the position for now.

Paavi stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Hovi has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Paavi manages to get his head free but now Hovi has transitioned to an armbar! Paavi grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Hovi! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Seppo Hovi!