PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joonas Mustonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hans Lankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lankari has chosen AC/DC - Thunderstruck as his entrance music. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Mustonen
vs
Lankari

167 cm
30
140 lbs
19 - 16 - 0

177 cm
37
142 lbs
18 - 27 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 19 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joonas Mustonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hans Lankari!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lankari closes the distance and clinches up with Mustonen, looking for a takedown. Lankari pushes Mustonen against the cage but Mustonen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Mustonen misses the target.
Jab from Mustonen.
Mustonen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mustonen wants it to stay on the feet.
Mustonen appears to be looking for a big counter.
Lankari fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mustonen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Lankari takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Mustonen connects with a crisp jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lankari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lankari fails with the takedown
and Mustonen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Joonas Mustonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Lankari.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mustonen thumps Lankari with a low kick.
Lankari throws a sloppy head kick
letting Mustonen counter with a right hand.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lankari or perhaps it was just good defense by Mustonen, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lankari will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lankari shoots in looking for a takedown. Mustonen tries to sprawl out of it but Lankari keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mustonen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Lankari clinches with his opponent.

Mustonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lankari misses the body punch
and Mustonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lankari moves to clinch but Mustonen breaks away
and Mustonen counters with a stiff right hand.
Mustonen misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lankari takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lankari looks for a takedown but Mustonen sprawls well.
Lankari fails with the takedown

and Mustonen counters with a nice right hand that sends Lankari toppling to the canvas! Lankari scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Mustonen finish him?!

Lankari is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mustonen throws a head kick that misses

and Lankari counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lankari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lankari scoring with some ground and pound.

Mustonen looking for a guillotine here but Lankari defends easily.
Lankari works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lankari drops an elbow to the side of Mustonen's head.
Lankari has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Mustonen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Lankari is looking for a kimura but Mustonen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lankari to get the leverage.
Mustonen misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Mustonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Mustonen is trying to stand back up but Lankari is controlling him

Lankari is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lankari trying to pass the guard but Mustonen defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Ground and pound from Lankari.
Mustonen trying to control but Lankari postures up.
Lankari wants to pass to mount but Mustonen is defending the position.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mustonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Lankari missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lankari working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mustonen trying to hold on to Lankari's head to control him but Lankari postures up.

Lankari is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mustonen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lankari.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joonas Mustonen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mustonen missing with a left hand there. Lankari was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Lankari feints the counter takedown.
Mustonen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lankari can do to turn this around?
The fight stays on the outside here - Lankari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice body kick there by Mustonen.
Lankari tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Mustonen defends well and Lankari ends up having to push Mustonen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mustonen is looking for a counter combo.
Hans Lankari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mustonen misses with a looping left.
Lankari is looking for the big counter here.
Mustonen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mustonen wants it to stay on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lankari is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Mustonen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Mustonen throws a series of punches but Lankari avoids them all with ease.

Mustonen gets tackled into the cage by Lankari. Lankari maintains the clinch.
Mustonen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Lankari backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mustonen throws an elbow that misses.

Mustonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Lankari fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Joonas Mustonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Lankari.

Lankari shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hans Lankari has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Mustonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Lankari is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mustonen sees it coming and defends easily.
My spies in Noble Intentions inform me that Lankari has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lankari is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mustonen is trying to stand back up but Lankari is controlling him

Mustonen actively working from the bottom here.
Mustonen trying to control but Lankari postures up.
Lankari throwing shots but Mustonen is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lankari is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mustonen is looking to escape.
Lankari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mustonen keeps working.

Lankari is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mustonen sees it coming and defends easily.

Lankari decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Lankari wants to clinch
and Mustonen counters with a straight right hand.
A slow jab from Mustonen misses its intended target.
Lankari shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mustonen but Mustonen pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mustonen lands with an uppercut that bounces Lankari off the cage and back into range.
Lankari gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lankari takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mustonen looks to land a combination but Lankari avoids it well.
Lankari is looking for the big counter here.
Lankari bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lankari is looking for the big counter here.
Mustonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Mustonen tries to sprawl but Lankari drives through with a takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lankari seems to be working for a kimura but Mustonen defends the submission attempt.
Mustonen wants to control but Lankari is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joonas Mustonen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mustonen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lankari's sensitive parts.
Nice defenses there by Lankari.

Lankari looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Lankari decides to return to a standing position.
Joonas Mustonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Lankari gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mustonen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mustonen misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lankari jabs at Mustonen's body.

Lankari shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lankari looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mustonen manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Mustonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lankari sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mustonen moves out of range as Lankari throws a body kick.
Mustonen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Mustonen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lankari counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Mustonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lankari fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lankari has a takedown stuffed.
Joonas Mustonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hans Lankari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mustonen throws a right and a left that Lankari avoids nicely.

Lankari shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lankari showed some decent athleticism there.
Lankari working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Mustonen looking for submissions off his back.
Mustonen is trying to maintain the position but Lankari is very close to passing his half guard.

Mustonen looking for submissions off his back.
Mustonen looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mustonen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lankari pulls his head out easily.

Lankari is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mustonen defends it well.
Mustonen wants to control but Lankari is keeping busy.
Lankari sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mustonen defending well though.
Lankari winds up and cracks Mustonen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Mustonen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Lankari is looking for a kimura but Mustonen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lankari to get the leverage.
Lankari missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lankari lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mustonen is looking to escape.
Nice strikes from Lankari there.

Lankari seems to be working for a kimura but Mustonen defends the submission attempt.
Hans Lankari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mustonen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lankari.
Joonas Mustonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mustonen actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hans Lankari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mustonen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joonas Mustonen!
A determined Joonas Mustonen didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!