PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Timo Hartunnen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takashi Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Timo Hartunnen had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Timo Hartunnen could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Takashi Yamamoto's chin.

Hartunnen
vs
Yamamoto

172 cm
25
144 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
33
140 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Hartunnen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Takashi Yamamoto!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yamamoto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Yamamoto wants it to stay on the feet.

Hartunnen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Hartunnen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Hartunnen is working for a kimura but Yamamoto is defending it quite comfortably.

Hartunnen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yamamoto has managed to free his arm - good work.

Hartunnen is working for a submission of some sort.

Hartunnen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hartunnen is thwarting Yamamoto's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto pushes Hartunnen off looking to stand but Hartunnen dives back in and keeps control.
Hartunnen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Yamamoto!
We've been hearing good reports from Hartunnen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Hartunnen working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Yamamoto wants to control but Hartunnen is having none of it.
Yamamoto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hartunnen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hartunnen is working for a guillotine from mount but Yamamoto frees his head quite easily.

Hartunnen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Yamamoto is surviving well by controlling Hartunnen's body position as best he can.
Yamamoto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hartunnen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hartunnen looking to secure an arm triangle but Yamamoto defends it well.

Hartunnen looking for a guillotine from mount but Yamamoto is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hartunnen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Yamamoto can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Hartunnen working for a guillotine from mount but Yamamoto is in no mood to give up.

Hartunnen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Hartunnen looking to secure an arm triangle but Yamamoto defends it well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hartunnen is breathing heavily.
Yamamoto is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Hartunnen wants to control the pace but Yamamoto is squirming around nicely.
Yamamoto bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to stand but Hartunnen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hartunnen is trying to keep Yamamoto in close.

Yamamoto got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hartunnen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Yamamoto has managed to get both his arms back between Hartunnen's legs - danger averted.

Hartunnen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yamamoto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yamamoto tries to stand but Hartunnen is controlling from the bottom.

Hartunnen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yamamoto defends it easily.
Yamamoto sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Yamamoto has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Hartunnen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Yamamoto wants to get up but he can't break Hartunnen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Yamamoto looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Hartunnen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Yamamoto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Yamamoto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Yamamoto must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hartunnen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Yamamoto defends it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Yamamoto is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Hartunnen dominated that round.
That's time! Hartunnen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hartunnen gets the takedown into side control.
Hartunnen throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Hartunnen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Yamamoto is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hartunnen asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Hartunnen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Hartunnen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Yamamoto has escaped the position, nice work there.
Yamamoto manages to get back to half guard.
Yamamoto wants to control but Hartunnen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yamamoto is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hartunnen wants to work for an arm triangle but Yamamoto is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Hartunnen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Yamamoto is just riding it out for now. Hartunnen eventually gives up the hold.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Yamamoto trying to control from the bottom.

Hartunnen is looking for a kimura but Yamamoto is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hartunnen to get the leverage.
Hartunnen prevents Yamamoto from standing back up.
Yamamoto tries to roll over but Hartunnen keeps him under control.

Hartunnen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto is controlling Hartunnen's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Hartunnen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Yamamoto is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hartunnen jumps into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Hartunnen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Hartunnen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Yamamoto, who protects the arm well.
Yamamoto is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hartunnen off and has taken his back!
Hartunnen tries to roll but Yamamoto sticks to his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartunnen has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Yamamoto.
Hartunnen tries to break free.
Good control from Yamamoto.
Hartunnen trying to control the hands but Yamamoto won't let him.

Yamamoto working for the choke.
Hartunnen rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Hartunnen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hartunnen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hartunnen is staying active underneath Yamamoto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Yamamoto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Hartunnen actively working from the bottom here.

Hartunnen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Hartunnen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hartunnen is not content to let Yamamoto control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yamamoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Yamamoto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Hartunnen dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Yamamoto goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Yamamoto scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Hartunnen 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.

Hartunnen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Hartunnen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Yamamoto has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Yamamoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hartunnen advances to half guard.

Hartunnen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Yamamoto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hartunnen.

Hartunnen is working for a kimura but Yamamoto is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto wants to get back to his feet.

Hartunnen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Yamamoto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hartunnen is working away from the top position though.
Hartunnen trying to control the action but Yamamoto is working from the bottom.

Hartunnen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Hartunnen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Yamamoto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto pushes Hartunnen off looking to stand but Hartunnen dives back in and keeps control.

Hartunnen is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Yamamoto is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Timo Hartunnen!
Our winner, Timo Hartunnen, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.