PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Efriam Haldi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justina Vanovcan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vanovcan has chosen Moskau as his entrance music. Efriam Haldi has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Haldi
vs
Vanovcan

167 cm
24
144 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

153 cm
35
130 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Good elbows
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Efriam Haldi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Justina Vanovcan!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanovcan wants to clinch.

Vanovcan closes the distance and pushes Haldi back into the cage.
Vanovcan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Vanovcan lands a hook that snaps the head of Haldi backwards.
Vanovcan tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Haldi lands on the inside with an uppercut.

Vanovcan jumps into guard, dragging Haldi to the mat.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Vanovcan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Haldi wants to control from the top but Vanovcan keeps moving.
Haldi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vanovcan is proving hard to escape from.
Haldi preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haldi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vanovcan is keeping the position for now.

Vanovcan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Haldi defends well.
Haldi looking to pass the guard.
Vanovcan keeping moving, preventing Haldi from controlling successfully.
Haldi wants to get up but he can't break Vanovcan's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Vanovcan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Efriam Haldi just wasn't active enough.
Haldi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Haldi throws a solid leg kick but Vanovcan takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Haldi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haldi throws a big shot that misses.
Vanovcan tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Haldi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vanovcan's knee momentarily.
Vanovcan avoids the head kick by Haldi.
Vanovcan fakes the leg kick and cracks Haldi in the body.
Vanovcan throws a lazy body kick

and Haldi counters by moving into the clinch.
Vanovcan tries to throw a body punch but Haldi avoids it by throwing Vanovcan back against the cage.
Vanovcan missing with knees to the body.
Vanovcan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Haldi avoids it.
Haldi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vanovcan avoids it.
Haldi scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vanovcan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Haldi.
Vanovcan trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Vanovcan.
Vanovcan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vanovcan scores a nice knee to the body.
Vanovcan jumps guard but Haldi stands there with Vanovcan around his waist. Vanovcan gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Haldi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vanovcan backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanovcan tries to pull guard but Haldi holds him up against the cage and eventually Vanovcan drops back down to his feet.
Vanovcan avoiding damage as Haldi throws knees to the body.
Haldi avoids a wild elbow strike from Vanovcan.
Vanovcan is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Haldi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Efriam Haldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justina Vanovcan.
Vanovcan lands a damaging elbow.
Haldi blocks an elbow strike from Vanovcan.
Vanovcan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Haldi scores a nice knee to the body.
Haldi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vanovcan is defending well for now.
Haldi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vanovcan's face.
Haldi unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Haldi blocks an elbow strike.
Haldi misses with an elbow over the top.
Haldi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Haldi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Vanovcan pulls guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Haldi wanted to stand there but Vanovcan had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Haldi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Vanovcan misses with a takedown attempt - Haldi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Haldi keeps the fight on the outside.
Haldi pivots, looking for a leg kick but Vanovcan is out of range and Haldi settles back down.
Efriam Haldi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haldi blocks the body kick.
Vanovcan tries to close the distance and clinch but Haldi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Haldi.
Vanovcan pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Haldi thuds his shin into the meat of Vanovcan's side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efriam Haldi dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Vanovcan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haldi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vanovcan misses with a combination
and Haldi counters with a head kick.
Haldi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vanovcan shoots in looking for a takedown. Haldi tries to sprawl out of it but Vanovcan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Haldi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Vanovcan moves into the clinch successfully.
Vanovcan missing with knees to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Haldi.
Vanovcan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Haldi is defending well for now.
Vanovcan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vanovcan takes an elbow to the temple.
A knee to the head by Haldi.
Haldi leaning his opponent against the cage.
Vanovcan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Haldi avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Haldi.
Haldi lands an elbow inside.
Vanovcan can't find room to land a body shot as Haldi controls the action.
Haldi missing with knees to the body.
Haldi stalls.
Haldi avoids the elbow strike from Vanovcan, against the cage.
Vanovcan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Haldi.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Haldi.
Haldi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vanovcan blocks an elbow strike.
Vanovcan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Haldi.
Haldi misses with an elbow strike.
Vanovcan drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Haldi unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haldi misses with a knee strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Vanovcan.
Vanovcan missing with knees to the body.
Haldi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Haldi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Vanovcan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Haldi is trying to maintain a safe position but Vanovcan gets an underhook and turns Haldi into the cage.
Haldi holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Vanovcan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanovcan trying to land knees to the body.
Vanovcan tries to land knees in the clinch but Haldi avoids the damage to the body.
Efriam Haldi has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vanovcan lands an elbow that stopped Haldi in his tracks for a moment.
Vanovcan goes for a takedown in the clinch but Haldi prevents it.
Efriam Haldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justina Vanovcan.
Vanovcan tries for a takedown. No joy.
Haldi blocks a body shot from Vanovcan.
Vanovcan trying to land knees to the body.
Vanovcan throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haldi crunches a lovely knee into Vanovcan's ribcage.
Vanovcan is breathing heavily.
Haldi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Haldi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Haldi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vanovcan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Haldi lands a good knee to the midsection. Vanovcan won't want to take too many of those.
Knees to the body from Haldi.
Vanovcan takes a knee to the side of the body.
Vanovcan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Haldi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Haldi is stalling here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Haldi.
Haldi lands a damaging elbow.
Vanovcan pushes off an throws an elbow but Haldi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Haldi managing to block the knees to the body from Vanovcan.
Vanovcan takes a knee to the side of the body.
Haldi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vanovcan's face.

Vanovcan is rocked!

It looks like Justina Vanovcan has been cut.
Haldi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Vanovcan is still on wobbly legs! Can Haldi finish him?
Vanovcan managing to block the knees to the body from Haldi.
Haldi slows down the pace here.
Vanovcan seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanovcan trying to land knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Haldi.
Haldi avoiding damage as Vanovcan throws knees to the body.
Haldi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vanovcan misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Haldi's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Vanovcan misses with a punch to the body.
Haldi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vanovcan misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vanovcan fails to pull guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vanovcan tries to land knees in the clinch but Haldi avoids the damage to the body.
Haldi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vanovcan's elbow.
Vanovcan wants a takedown but no success here.
Vanovcan works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A left hand lands to the body for Haldi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Efriam Haldi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justina Vanovcan's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Haldi pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vanovcan moves in looking to clinch but Haldi pushes him off.
Haldi avoids a kick to the body.
A head kick from Haldi lands but Vanovcan takes it in his stride.
Haldi looks to land a left hand but Vanovcan moved out of range nicely.
Haldi motions for Vanovcan to come forward. Haldi throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vanovcan avoids the head kick by Haldi.
Haldi avoids the body shot from Vanovcan.
Haldi throws a leg kick which misses Vanovcan's front leg but catches the back leg as Vanovcan tries to avoid it.
Vanovcan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Haldi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Vanovcan checks it well.

Vanovcan clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haldi taking a breather.
Vanovcan throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Haldi scores with a shot to the side of Vanovcan's head.
Vanovcan drops down looking for an ankle pick but Haldi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Haldi keeps the fight on the outside.
Justina Vanovcan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vanovcan checks a leg kick nicely.
Vanovcan darts in trying to clinch
and Haldi counters with an outside leg kick.
Haldi throws a sloppy head kick and Vanovcan moves out of range easily.
Good work by Vanovcan as he checks the leg kick.
Vanovcan looks to clinch
and Haldi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Vanovcan's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vanovcan. Haldi does a little dance to reset his feet.
A clash of legs there as Vanovcan blocks the low kick.
Haldi swats away the attempt to clinch by Vanovcan.
Vanovcan throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Haldi's waist but Haldi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vanovcan off to one side.
Efriam Haldi is winning the standup battle so far.
Haldi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Haldi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Haldi is looking to chop away at Vanovcan's legs.
Vanovcan tries to clinch up.
Vanovcan doesn't manage to clinch there - Haldi circles away.
Vanovcan wants to clinch but Haldi slips to the side
and Haldi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vanovcan moves in looking to clinch but Haldi pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanovcan takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Vanovcan shoots in and drives through. Haldi sprawls well.
Efriam Haldi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justina Vanovcan.
Haldi moves out of range of the leg kick from Vanovcan.
Vanovcan swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vanovcan closes the distance looking to clinch
and Haldi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Justina Vanovcan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vanovcan throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Haldi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vanovcan misses with a body shot.
Haldi stuffs the takedown.
Vanovcan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vanovcan wants to clinch but Haldi slips to the side
and Haldi counters with a body kick that stops Vanovcan in his tracks momentarily.
Vanovcan throws a body punch but Haldi moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanovcan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Haldi as he jumps to the side.
Vanovcan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vanovcan misses with a hook to the body
and Haldi counters with a body kick that stops Vanovcan in his tracks momentarily.
Haldi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Haldi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Vanovcan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanovcan throws a series of punches but Haldi moves out of range.
Haldi thumps Vanovcan with a low kick.
A head kick from Haldi lands but Vanovcan takes it in his stride.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haldi throws a quick inside leg kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Haldi.
Efriam Haldi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Haldi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Efriam Haldi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Haldi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Efriam Haldi!
Efriam Haldi decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.