PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Haukka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paavo Junttila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haukka's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Samuel Barber - Adagio for Strings. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Haukka
vs
Junttila

180 cm
36
163 lbs
17 - 26 - 1

173 cm
26
165 lbs
2 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
KO power

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite 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 17 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Haukka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Junttila!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Junttila throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Junttila lands a lovely overhand right.
Haukka swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Haukka wants to clinch.
Junttila throws out a counter right but Haukka avoids it with no problem.

Haukka has closed the distance and engaged Junttila in a clinch.
Haukka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Junttila avoids it.
Haukka holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haukka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Junttila blocks it with crossed arms.
Haukka looking to stall.
Junttila is trying to maintain a safe position but Haukka gets an underhook and turns Junttila into the cage.
Haukka misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haukka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Haukka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Haukka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Junttila.
Haukka avoiding damage as Junttila throws knees to the body.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Junttila avoids it.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Junttila avoids it.
Haukka managing to block the knees to the body from Junttila.
Haukka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Junttila has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Haukka trying to land knees to the body.
Haukka avoiding damage as Junttila throws knees to the body.
Haukka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Junttila has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Haukka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Junttila trying to stall but Haukka improves his position.
Haukka crunches a lovely knee into Junttila's ribcage.
Junttila cracks Haukka with a nice body shot.
Junttila using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Haukka has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Junttila struggles to land a body shot inside as Haukka controls his hands.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junttila takes a knee to the side of the body.
Haukka pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Haukka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Junttila.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee is keeping an eye on Haukka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Haukka trying to land knees to the body.
Haukka utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Junttila has Haukka pushed against the cage.
Junttila is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Haukka is keeping busy.
Haukka pushes off an throws an elbow but Junttila leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Haukka misses with a knee to the head.
Junttila dodges an elbow strike from Haukka.
Junttila lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haukka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Haukka scores a nice knee to the body.
Junttila misses with a body punch.
Junttila lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Haukka or not.
Haukka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Junttila has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Junttila avoids the elbow strike from Haukka, against the cage.
Haukka taking a breather.
Haukka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Junttila in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Junttila stalling against the cage.
Haukka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Junttila.
Junttila trying to stall but Haukka improves his position.
Haukka blocks an elbow strike.
Haukka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haukka tries to stall but Junttila uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Junttila pushes Haukka back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Junttila lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Junttila managing to block the knees to the body from Haukka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junttila is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Haukka to keep the fight standing.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Haukka landing knees to the body.
Haukka missing with knees to the body.
Junttila is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Haukka is defending well for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haukka misses with a punch to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Haukka obliges.
Haukka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Junttila.
Haukka can't find room to land a body shot as Junttila controls the action.
Junttila tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Haukka avoids it.
Haukka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Junttila is defending well for now.
Knees in the clinch landing for Haukka.
Junttila looks winded!
Junttila managing to block the knees to the body from Haukka.
Junttila blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Haukka just misses with a elbow thrown towards Junttila's brow.
Junttila managing to block the knees to the body from Haukka.
Haukka is looking to control Junttila's arms but Junttila gets an underhook and turns him. Now Haukka has his back to the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Haukka doesn't manage to clinch there - Junttila circles away.
Haukka tries to bum rush Junttila with a series of wild strikes but Junttila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Haukka is looking to clinch.
A nice side step and Junttila releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Junttila misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As Junttila looks to move away, Haukka throws a big counter combo bu Junttila just gets out of the way.
A nice inside leg kick there by Haukka. That's going to slow Junttila down.
Daniel Haukka is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A nice inside leg kick there by Haukka. That's going to slow Junttila down.
Haukka throws a chopping leg kick but Junttila manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Junttila keeps the fight on the outside.
Junttila throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Haukka closes the distance but Junttila moves to the side
and Junttila connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Haukka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Haukka is looking to clinch but Junttila is avoiding it.
Junttila just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haukka tries to clinch up but Junttila circles away and keeps his distance.
Haukka is looking to clinch but Junttila is avoiding it.

Haukka darts in and clinches Junttila up against the cage.
Junttila lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Junttila on the inside.
Junttila lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Haukka backwards.
Haukka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Junttila is keeping busy.
Junttila blocks the elbow strike.
Haukka trying to land knees to the body.
Junttila goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Junttila misses with a body punch.
Junttila swings wildly with an uppercut but Haukka uses good head movement to avoid it.
Haukka trying to land knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Junttila just misses with a elbow thrown towards Haukka's brow.
Haukka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Junttila.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Haukka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Junttila blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Haukka trying to land knees to the body.
Junttila digs a right hand underneath Haukka's ribcage. Haukka let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Haukka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haukka's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Junttila digs a right hand underneath Haukka's ribcage. Haukka let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Haukka looking to throw knees to the head but Junttila is blocking nicely.
Junttila blocks an elbow strike from Haukka.
Haukka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Junttila throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Haukkas head.
Junttila tries to land knees in the clinch but Haukka avoids the damage to the body.
Haukka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Junttila on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Haukka with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junttila has Haukka pushed against the cage.
Junttila stalling in the clinch but Haukka improves position.
Junttila managing to block the knees to the body from Haukka.
Haukka putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Junttila in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Junttila throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haukka avoids a wild elbow strike from Junttila.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Junttila.
Haukka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Junttila is keeping busy.
Haukka tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Junttila avoiding damage as Haukka throws knees to the body.
Junttila tries to stall but Haukka uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Junttila gets through Haukka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Junttila looking to stall.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the head but Junttila blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junttila misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Junttila lands a right hand.
Junttila lands a body punch in the clinch.
Haukka trying to land knees to the body.
Haukka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Junttila can do to turn this around?
Junttila lands with a short shot to the head.
Haukka using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Junttila has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Haukka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Haukka tries to land knees in the clinch but Junttila avoids the damage to the body.
Haukka'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.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haukka creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Junttila's defenses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Haukka looking to throw knees to the head but Junttila is blocking nicely.
Haukka throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paavo Junttila will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Junttila swats away the attempt to clinch by Haukka.
Haukka tries to clinch up but Junttila circles away and keeps his distance.
Junttila avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Haukka moves to clinch but Junttila breaks away
and Junttila counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've been told by Haukka's head coaches at CEC Underdark that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Haukka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Haukka closes the distance but Junttila moves to the side
and Junttila counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Haukka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Haukka misses.
Junttila ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Haukka moves away.
Paavo Junttila seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Haukka wants to clinch up but Junttila keeps it at a distance.
Junttila throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Haukka instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haukka unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Junttila avoiding damage as Haukka throws knees to the body.
Haukka misses with a knee to the head.
Junttila tries to throw a body punch but Haukka avoids it by throwing Junttila back against the cage.
Junttila lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Haukka backwards.
Haukka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Junttila avoiding damage as Haukka throws knees to the body.
Haukka missing with knees to the body.
Junttila gets through Haukka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Junttila avoiding damage as Haukka throws knees to the body.
Haukka tries to land knees in the clinch but Junttila avoids the damage to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haukka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haukka taking a breather.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Junttila avoids it.
Junttila lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Haukka or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haukka controlling the action here for a moment.
Haukka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Haukka looking to slow down the pace here.
Junttila missing with knees to the body.
Junttila tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Haukka is pushing Junttila up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Haukka is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Junttila is defending well for now.
Junttila blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Haukka is looking to control Junttila's arms but Junttila gets an underhook and turns him. Now Haukka has his back to the cage.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Junttila avoids it.
A right handed body shot lands from Junttila.
Haukka looking to slow down the pace here.
Daniel Haukka has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junttila scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Junttila on the inside.
Haukka connects with a knee to the head.
Junttila'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.
A bit of stalling here from Junttila.
Haukka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Haukka landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Haukka tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Haukka missing with knees to the body.
Haukka with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Junttila gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Junttila is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haukka trying to control but Junttila postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haukka is trying to stand back up but Junttila is controlling him
Junttila throwing shots but Haukka is blocking nicely.
Junttila with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Haukka avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Junttila.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paavo Junttila comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Junttila 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paavo Junttila!