PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Timo Harjakainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cliff Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Harjakainen comes to the cage accompanied by Let's Go Fiesta . Richards is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Loch Lomond. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Harjakainen
vs
Richards

190 cm
21
212 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

195 cm
26
205 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Harjakainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cliff Richards!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harjakainen throws a hook but Richards blocks it.
Harjakainen moves out of range as Richards throws a body kick.
Richards throws a leg kick but Harjakainen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Harjakainen throws a hook but Richards avoids it easily.
Richards tries to work over Harjakainen's front leg with a kick but Harjakainen checks it.
A big left from Harjakainen misses.
Harjakainen scoring well with a low kick there.
Richards is looking to clinch but Harjakainen is avoiding it.
Richards throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Harjakainen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Harjakainen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A big left from Harjakainen misses.

Richards closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harjakainen misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right hand to the body from Harjakainen.

Harjakainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Harjakainen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Richards is out of range.
Harjakainen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Harjakainen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Richards shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Richards showed some decent athleticism there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Richards stands up out of the half guard.
Harjakainen misses with a looping left.
Richards wants to clinch
and Harjakainen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards slips a straight right by Harjakainen.
Harjakainen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Richards. Richards circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Richards scores with a hook to the body. Harjakainen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Harjakainen throws a looping overhand right but Richards ducks down to avoid it.
Harjakainen misses with a left hand

and Richards counters with a nice double leg into side control. Harjakainen won't be happy with that.

Richards stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Richards misses with a takedown attempt - Harjakainen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Harjakainen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Richardss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harjakainen swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Harjakainen lands with a right hand.
Richards throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Harjakainen.
Richards checks the leg kick.
Richards tries to clinch but Harjakainen moves out of range.
Harjakainen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Harjakainen throws a front kick aimed at Richards's knee but Richards avoids it well.
Richards tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harjakainen swivels and escapes.
Richards tries to clinch up.
Richards tries to clinch but Harjakainen is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richards moves out of range as Harjakainen strikes.
Harjakainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Harjakainen.
Timo Harjakainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Harjakainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Richards manages to avoid it.
Richards shoots in for a takedown but Harjakainen shows good takedown defense.
Timo Harjakainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Richards.
Harjakainen throws a right hand that misses
and Richards makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Harjakainen really felt that one!
Harjakainen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Harjakainen looks to land a combination. Richards sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Richards wants to clinch up but Harjakainen keeps it at a distance.
The fighters circling - Harjakainen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Richards gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Richards misses with a head kick.
Richards uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Harjakainen.
Richards fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harjakainen avoids it really well and circles away.
Harjakainen throws a series of punches but Richards moves out of range.
Harjakainen misses with a hook
and Richards counters with a three punch combo that has Harjakainen backing up. Harjakainen nods at Richards to acknowledge the strikes.
Richards walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Harjakainen throws an off balance right hand

and Richards counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Harjakainen!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harjakainen holds on, trying desperately to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Richards stands up from mount. Strange move.
Richards sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Richards dodges the punch combination from Harjakainen.
Harjakainen cracks a nice hook into Richards's ribs.
Richards avoids the body shot from Harjakainen.
Richards moves forwards but Harjakainen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Harjakainen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Richards closes the distance looking to clinch
and Harjakainen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Richards is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Richards 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Harjakainen, right into the meat.
Richards scores with a sloppy right hand. Harjakainen should have avoided that one.
Timo Harjakainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice body kick there by Harjakainen.
Harjakainen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Harjakainen misses with a hook.
Harjakainen misses with an uppercut
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Harjakainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Richards was well out of range. Poor timing from Harjakainen.
Richards tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Harjakainen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richards attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Richards shoots in looking for a takedown. Harjakainen tries to sprawl out of it but Richards keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harjakainen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Richards walks forward, straight into a front kick from Harjakainen.
Harjakainen sizes up Richards with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The fighters circle momentarily. Harjakainen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Harjakainen works the jab nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Richards.
Timo Harjakainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cliff Richards.
Nice body punch from Harjakainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harjakainen lands a body shot.
Harjakainen throws a hook but Richards blocks it.
Richards slips under a jab from Harjakainen.
Good work by Harjakainen as he checks the leg kick.
Harjakainen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Harjakainen misses with a two punch combination.
Harjakainen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Richards. Richards circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Harjakainen scores with a hook to the body. Richards takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Decent striking displayed by Harjakainen there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Harjakainen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Harjakainen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Harjakainen thows a body shot but no joy.
Richards avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Harjakainen looks for the body kick but Richards saw that one coming.
Richards walks into a stiff left hand from Harjakainen.
Richards fails with an attempt to clinch.
Harjakainen swats away the attempt to clinch by Richards.
Richards comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Harjakainen misses with a hook

and Richards counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harjakainen can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harjakainen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Richards is trying to stand back up but Harjakainen is controlling him
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

Harjakainen is looking for a kimura but Richards is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Harjakainen to get the leverage.
Richards is trying to stand up here but Harjakainen is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richards takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Harjakainen controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Timo Harjakainen wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Harjakainen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Richards.
Richards is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Harjakainen blocks a low kick nicely.
Richards ducks right into an uppercut from Harjakainen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harjakainen motions for Richards to come forward. Harjakainen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Richards has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Harjakainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good work by Richards as he checks the leg kick.
Richards uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Harjakainen.
A jab lands there for Harjakainen.
Harjakainen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Richards.
Harjakainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Richards is just out of range.
Cliff Richards has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Richards tries to clinch up.
Harjakainen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Harjakainen just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harjakainen blocks a head kick by Richards.
Harjakainen with a hook.
Harjakainen swings widly with a right hand
and Richards counters with a straight right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harjakainen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Richards shoots in but Harjakainen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Richards motions for Harjakainen to come forward. Richards throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cliff Richards is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Richards tries to clinch but Harjakainen moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harjakainen throws a hook but Richards blocks it.
Harjakainen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Richards has time to react.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timo Harjakainen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Harjakainen, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timo Harjakainen!
Timo Harjakainen thanked the fans post fight for their support.