PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harri Haikala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ignatius J (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Haikala
vs
J

195 cm
21
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
285 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Haikala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ignatius J!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
J misses with a hook
and Haikala connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Haikala misses with a telegraphed body shot
and J counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Haikala thinking.
Haikala misses with a double jab.
Haikala rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and J moves into the clinch.
Haikala tried to land a shot to the body but connects with J's elbow.
Haikala tried to land a shot to the body but connects with J's elbow.
J stalling in the clinch.
Haikala blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Haikala creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Haikala gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from J.
J tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
J misses with a hook to the ribs.
J content to slow the pace in the clinch.
J misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Haikala.
J stalling in the clinch but Haikala improves position.
J lands a nice shot to the body.
Haikala misses with a body punch.
J is trying to drag Haikala to the mat but Haikala just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Haikala breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
J thows a body shot but no joy.
Haikala takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Harri Haikala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haikala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Haikala wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
J looks gassed!
Haikala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
J takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Haikala cracks J with a good jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haikala is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by J.
Haikala throws a lazy uppercut

and J counters with a nice double leg into side control. Haikala won't be happy with that.
Haikala is trying to control J's posture but J avoids it.
Haikala is looking to reverse the position.

J tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no J has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
J tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haikala struggling a bit here.
Haikala wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Haikala is not content to let J control the position.
Haikala on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Haikala tries to get out of the position.
Haikala is trying to get back to half guard.
J sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Haikala is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

J tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no J has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Haikala tries to improve position but can't.
Haikala is pushing J's head away, looking to escape. J manages to hold on to the position though.

J tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no J has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
J throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Haikala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for J on the ground.
J tries to move to mount but Haikala blocks the move with his legs.
You can see the frustration on Haikala's face as J controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
J moves into full mount!

J looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
J lands a big shot there that rocks Haikala but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

J get's back to his feet.
J misses with a body shot.
Haikala ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haikala feints a jab promting J to slip. Haikala then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. J slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Ignatius J has been cut.
A big right from Haikala misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Haikala throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
J wants to clinch.
Haikala with a body punch. A glancing blow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harri Haikala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ignatius J's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Haikala misses with a two punch combination.
Harri Haikala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
J avoids a punch combination nicely.
J shoots for a takedown but Haikala saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

J clinches with his opponent.
J blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Haikala blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Haikala lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Haikala pushes J back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Haikala looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Haikala lands a left hand that snaps the head of J backwards.
Haikala wants to break the clinch but can't.
J is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Haikala is defending well for now.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from J.
Haikala digs a right hand underneath J's ribcage. J let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Haikala is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but J is keeping busy.
Haikala works on J's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right from Haikala on the inside.
J is breathing heavily.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Haikala as J tries to tie him up.
Haikala taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haikala on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Haikala lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Haikala.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Haikala.
Haikala throws a punch but it's blocked by J.
J stalling in the clinch but Haikala improves position.
Haikala lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of J backwards.
Haikala scores with a shoulder strike.
Good body shot from Haikala.
A short left from Haikala.
Haikala is leaning against J and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Haikala manages to break the clinch.
Haikala swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A telegraphed right hand from Haikala misses the target.
A telegraphed right hand from Haikala misses the target.
Harri Haikala is winning the standup battle so far.
Haikala misses with a double jab
and J counters with a lovely shot to the body.
J defending well as Haikala loads up on a big left hand.
Haikala uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from J.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haikala throws an off balance right hand
letting J counter with a right hand.
Haikala scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A swing and a miss from Haikala.
J misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Haikala.
Harri Haikala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
J throws a hook to the side of Haikala's head but Haikala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Haikala misses with a series of wild punches.
Haikala takes one to the chin there.
Haikala swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and J counters with a left to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
J staying out of range there.
J is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Haikala rather than just go for the knockout.
J tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Haikala was well out of range. Poor timing from J.
Haikala rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and J counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
J throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
J is pushing Haikala up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Haikala avoiding damage as J throws knees to the body.
J tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Haikala smiles and moves away.
J misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Haikala counters with a one-two to the body.
J swings for the body but Haikala moves out of range.
Haikala throws a combination that misses
enabling J to counter with a crisp jab.
Haikala scores with a jab. J acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

J is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Haikala's half guard.
Haikala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Haikala blocking the ground and pound attempt from J.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
J uses his free foot to push down on Haikala's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Haikala.
J working away from the top, dropping strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
J tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
J lands a heavy elbow.
J tries to control but Haikala wriggling away.
J punching from mount but Haikala doing a good job of avoiding damage.
J postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Haikala looks a forlorn figure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
J raining down hammerfists from mount.
Haikala is desperately trying to improve his position but J has a good base and remains in mount.
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 Harri Haikala will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ignatius J's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

J takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Haikala misses with a hook

and J counters by clinching up.
J trying to land knees to the body.
J tries for a takedown. No joy.

Haikala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Haikala bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of J's head.
Haikala connects with a looping right hand.
Haikala jabbing away but nothing is landing.
J gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

J is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Haikala fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. J looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Haikala looks to throw the jab but J is out of range.
Haikala feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Js jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
J is still on wobbly legs! Can Haikala finish him?
Haikala throws a poor cross that misses
and J counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
J seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haikala looks to throw the jab but J is out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haikala swings widly with a right hand

and J counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Haikala is pressed up against the cage. J has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Haikala down to the mat. Haikala avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
J slips a straight right by Haikala.
Haikala throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
J takes a swing at Haikala's ribcage but misses.
J avoids the body shot from Haikala.
J uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Haikala.
J fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Haikala avoids it really well and circles away.
Harri Haikala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ignatius J.
J slips a straight right by Haikala.
Haikala misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Haikala looks to throw the jab but J is out of range.
Haikala throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Haikala takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Haikala lands with a cross.
J slips a jab from Haikala.
J thows a body shot but no joy.
J throws a body punch but Haikala moves out of range.
J defending well as Haikala loads up on a big left hand.

J looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Haikala is not content to let J control the position.
J prevents Haikala from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haikala won't allow J to pass to mount.
Haikala has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. J is working away from the top position though.
J works his way into full mount!
J tries to control but Haikala wriggling away.
J is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Haikala can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Haikala tries to reverse the position but J maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
J controlling from mount.
J tries to control but Haikala wriggling away.
J controlling the pace for now.
J can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Haikala is looking to escape.
Ignatius J has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harri Haikala is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ignatius J has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
J moves out of range as Haikala strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harri Haikala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Haikala, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harri Haikala!