PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between David Haggstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicholas Weichel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Haggstrom
vs
Weichel

183 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
26
162 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Haggstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nicholas Weichel!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Weichel misses with a takedown attempt - Haggstrom sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
David Haggstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haggstrom tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Weichel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Haggstrom tries to clinch but Weichel moves away

so Weichel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Haggstrom looking to control.
Haggstrom looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Haggstrom working a defensive guard but Weichel passes into half guard.
Weichel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Haggstrom defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haggstrom blocking the ground and pound attempt from Weichel.

Weichel is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Haggstrom has hold of Weichel's hands but Weichel slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Weichel wants to work for an arm triangle but Haggstrom is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Weichel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Weichel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Haggstrom defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weichel wants to control but Haggstrom is keeping him busy.
Haggstrom is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Weichel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Weichel's back!
A lull in the action here.
Weichel tries to escape but Haggstrom has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Weichel prevents Haggstrom from getting a body triangle.
Weichel rolls, trying to escape but Haggstrom keeps control of the position.
Haggstrom is looking to control Weichel but Weichel is wriggling around and keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom keeps control of the position as Weichel tries to break free.

Haggstrom tightening his grip on Weichel, looking for the choke.
Weichel looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Weichel covers up after that shot from Haggstrom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Haggstrom has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Weichel has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weichel staying busy and making it hard for Haggstrom to control.
Weichel trying to control the position but Haggstrom manages to sink in the hooks.
Haggstrom struggling to keep hold of the position.

Haggstrom is looking for the choke from the back position but Weichel is controlling his hands well.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Weichel is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Haggstrom gets his way!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Weichel's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Haggstrom lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Weichel can't escape the position.
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!
A lull in the action here.
Weichel trying to control the hands but Haggstrom breaks the grip.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haggstrom scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Can Weichel hold on?! Haggstrom is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Weichel is covering up but some of the strikes from Haggstrom are getting through and doing damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Haggstrom dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Haggstrom tries to clinch

and Weichel counters with a shoot takedown. Haggstrom fights it but they end up in guard.
Weichel trying to control the position from guard on top but Haggstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haggstrom is trying to control the position but Weichel postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Weichel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Weichel chips away with some ground and pound.
Haggstrom working a defensive guard here.
Haggstrom keeping moving, preventing Weichel from controlling successfully.
Haggstrom keeping full guard, as Weichel tries to pass.
Haggstrom wants to stand up but Weichel is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weichel working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Haggstrom's head.
Haggstrom trying to keep a closed guard but Weichel is proving a slippery customer.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Haggstrom keeping full guard, as Weichel tries to pass.

Haggstrom working for a triangle but Weichel defends it easily.
Haggstrom working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Weichel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weichel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Haggstrom wants to sweep but no luck.

Haggstrom working for a triangle but Weichel defends it easily.
Weichel wants to control from the top but Haggstrom keeps moving.
Weichel postures up in Haggstrom's guard and throws a big left but Haggstrom blocks it.
Haggstrom is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Weichel is in close to Haggstrom's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom working a defensive guard here.
Haggstrom can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Weichel controls the pace.
Haggstrom controls Weichel momentarily but Weichel frees himself.
Weichel is working Haggstrom over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Weichel pushes down on Haggstrom's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Weichel is trying to control. Haggstrom wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Haggstrom moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom keeping moving, preventing Weichel from controlling successfully.
Weichel working some strikes from top position.
Haggstrom looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Weichel puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Weichel wants to pass to mount but Haggstrom is defending the position.
Weichel scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Weichel missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Weichel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Haggstrom with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Weichel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Haggstrom is looking to control Weichel's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Haggstrom avoid being mounted?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicholas Weichel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Weichel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Haggstrom avoids it really well and circles away.
Weichel misses the shot to the body.

Weichel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Haggstrom looking to hit a scissor sweep but Weichel is one step ahead there.
Weichel trying to control the position from guard on top but Haggstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Weichel working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weichel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Haggstrom is keeping the position for now.
Weichel is still trying to improve position.
Weichel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Haggstrom is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Haggstrom looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Weichel wants to pass the guard but Haggstrom is keeping the position.
Weichel works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Haggstrom wants to get back to his feet.

Haggstrom is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Weichel pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Weichel is looking for a kimura but Haggstrom is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Weichel to get the leverage.

Haggstrom has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Weichel is on him like a limpet, forcing Haggstrom back against the cage.
Weichel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Haggstrom's efforts to push away.
Haggstrom wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Weichel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Haggstrom has him pressed against the cage.

Weichel gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
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!
Haggstrom has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Weichel is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom is staying active underneath Weichel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nicholas Weichel has got the better of the ground game so far.

Weichel is looking for a kimura here.
Haggstrom is trying to get back to full guard.
Haggstrom throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Haggstrom is trying to stand back up but Weichel is controlling him
Weichel is pressing down on Haggstrom's thigh, looking to free his foot. Haggstrom is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weichel trying to control the action but Haggstrom is working from the bottom.
Weichel is pressing down on Haggstrom's thigh, looking to free his foot. Haggstrom is holding on for now.
Haggstrom keeping hold of Weichel's head, controlling as best he can.
Weichel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haggstrom trying to control here.
Haggstrom is staying active underneath Weichel, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicholas Weichel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Weichel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicholas Weichel!