PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between optimus Prime (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harri Holopainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Holopainen has chosen Fintelligens - Hoida Homma as his entrance music. Harri Holopainen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Prime
vs
Holopainen

200 cm
21
260 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

207 cm
22
273 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, optimus Prime!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Holopainen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Prime does no damage.

Holopainen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Holopainen wants to free his trapped foot but Prime is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Prime is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Holopainen throwing shots but Prime is blocking nicely.
Prime avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Holopainen.
Prime moves into full guard.
Prime has Holopainen pulled in close to control his posture.
Holopainen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Holopainen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Prime looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Holopainen throws a big right hand that misses.
Holopainen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Prime working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holopainen.
Holopainen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Prime. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prime is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Prime is looking for a kimura but Holopainen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Prime to get the leverage.
Holopainen is looking to improve his position.
Prime trying to control from half guard but Holopainen is working away.
Holopainen wants to get back to full guard.
Prime missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Prime works his way into side control.
Prime trying to control the action but Holopainen is working from the bottom.
Holopainen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Prime wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Holopainen misses with a takedown attempt - Prime sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Holopainen looks gassed!

Prime clinches up against the cage.

Prime turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Prime manages to end up in side control.
The ground and pound from Prime seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Holopainen is not content to let Prime control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Holopainen is looking for a sweep.

Prime working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Holopainen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Holopainen is being controlled here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Prime has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Prime lands a really nice looking cross but Holopainen seems unphased.

Prime shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Holopainen's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holopainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Prime slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Prime working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Prime avoids the strikes from the bottom by Holopainen.

Prime tries for a kimura but Holopainen is defending well.
Prime trying to control the position but Holopainen is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen is looking for a sweep.

Prime tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Prime trying to control the action but Holopainen is working from the bottom.
Holopainen is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

optimus Prime dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Prime decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Prime wants to lay and pray for a moment but Holopainen keeps working.

Prime is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Prime wants to take a breather but Holopainen is having none of it.
Holopainen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Holopainen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Prime wants to control from the top but Holopainen keeps moving.
Holopainen looking for a sweep. Not yet Holopainen, not yet.
Holopainen is breathing heavily.
Prime postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Prime shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Prime was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Holopainen is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Prime with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Holopainen is trying desperately to improve position.
Holopainen gets back to half guard.

Prime is working for a submission of some sort.
Holopainen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Prime is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Holopainen is just riding it out for now. Prime eventually gives up the hold.
Holopainen is in trouble now - Prime has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Prime looking to control but Holopainen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Holopainen tries to reverse the position but Prime maintains control.
Prime misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Prime trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Prime looking to ground and pound but Holopainen is blocking nicely.
Prime throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Holopainen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Prime looking to control and managing it successfully.
Prime looking to ground and pound but Holopainen is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Prime misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Prime gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Prime gets the takedown into side control.

Prime is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Holopainen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
optimus Prime overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holopainen is being controlled here.
Holopainen is not content to let Prime control the position.
Holopainen seems a little lost for a moment, as Prime dominates the positioning.
Holopainen tries to bench press Prime off him but Prime keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Prime creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Prime tries to score with some ground and pound. Holopainen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Prime looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Holopainen is looking to regain half guard here but Prime keeps moving and retains side control.
Prime trying to control the action but Holopainen is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

optimus Prime dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Holopainen tries for a takedown but Prime circles away easily

and Prime counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Holopainen keeping full guard, as Prime tries to pass.
Holopainen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Prime is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Prime is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Prime stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holopainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Prime preventing the sweep.
Prime slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Holopainen is looking to reverse the position.
Holopainen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Holopainen is not content to let Prime control the position.
Prime uses his free foot to push down on Holopainen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Holopainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Prime throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Holopainen because Prime loaded up on that one.
Holopainen is looking to get to half guard.
Holopainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Prime is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Holopainen is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Holopainen flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Prime anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Holopainen and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Prime slips an arm under Holopainen chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Prime has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Prime is squeezing on Holopainen like an anaconda would it's prey. Holopainen fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). optimus Prime!