PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zack Hairi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Vipunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hairi
vs
Vipunen

178 cm
25
153 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

160 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Zack Hairi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antero Vipunen!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vipunen scores with a nice right hand.
Vipunen scores with a jab to the head.
Vipunen catches Hairi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Hairi shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vipunen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Vipunen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hairi controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vipunen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vipunen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hairi controls the pace.
Hairi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Vipunen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vipunen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hairi.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Vipunen connects with a single shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hairi tries to move into range but Vipunen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

It looks like Zack Hairi has been cut.
Vipunen punishes Hairi's body with a nice straight punch.
Vipunen lands a nice hook to Hairi's body. Hairi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vipunen scores with a jab to the body.
A big right from Vipunen misses.
Hairi ducks right into an uppercut from Vipunen.
Vipunen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Vipunen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
No luck for Hairi with that takedown attempt.
Vipunen feints the counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hairi moves away.
Vipunen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Hairi moves into the clinch.
Hairi keeps control of Vipunen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hairi with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A bit of stalling here from Hairi.

Hairi jumps guard.
Vipunen looking to pass the guard.
Vipunen looking to sit in guard and control but Hairi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hairi is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Vipunen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hairi has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hairi won't allow Vipunen to sweep him here.
Hairi cracks Vipunen with a solid left hand.
Vipunen controls Hairi momentarily but Hairi frees himself.
Hairi controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Vipunen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zack Hairi's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vipunen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vipunen misses with a looping right.
Vipunen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vipunen lands a nice shot that snaps Hairi's head back.
Antero Vipunen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vipunen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vipunen.
Hairi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vipunen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vipunen scores with a nice right hand.
Antero Vipunen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vipunen scores with a jab. Hairi acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Vipunen connects with a looping right hand.
Hairi throws the left hand but Vipunen avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hairi is defended easily by Vipunen.

Vipunen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hairi to the mat! Hairi manages to get full guard.
Hairi controlling the position.
Hairi keeping moving, preventing Vipunen from controlling successfully.
Vipunen is fighting to break Hairi's control of his arms but Hairi is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hairi wants to sweep but no luck.
Hairi keeping full guard, as Vipunen tries to pass.
Vipunen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hairi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vipunen on the ground.
Vipunen throwing strikes from guard but Hairi blocks nicely.
Vipunen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice uppercut lands for Vipunen. That snapped Hairi's head back.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vipunen.
Vipunen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hairi in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hairi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vipunen fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hairi pulls guard effortlessly.
Vipunen trying to control but Hairi is working from the bottom.
Vipunen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vipunen trying to control but Hairi is working from the bottom.
Hairi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vipunen is controlling him.
Vipunen advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Hairi's thigh. Hairi counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Vipunen throws a big elbow that misses.
Vipunen wants to control from the top but Hairi keeps moving.
Hairi wants to sweep here but Vipunen controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vipunen tries to free his leg and advance position but Hairi is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Vipunen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zack Hairi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vipunen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hairi backs up against the cage.
Decent striking displayed by Vipunen there.
Vipunen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hairi's waist but Hairi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vipunen off to one side.
Vipunen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Vipunen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hairi.
Vipunen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Vipunen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hairi defends well and Vipunen ends up having to push Hairi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vipunen shoots in for a double leg but Hairi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Zack Hairi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antero Vipunen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vipunen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Hairi fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Vipunen sprawls well initially but Hairi persists and gets the 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!
Hairi not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vipunen punching from the bottom.
Vipunen wants to get back to full guard.
Hairi controlling the action here.
Vipunen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Hairi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vipunen tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Hairi has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Vipunen flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Vipunen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hairi postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Vipunen looks a forlorn figure.
Vipunen tries to lock up and control but Hairi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Vipunen working to try and regain half guard.
Hairi can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vipunen is looking to escape.
Vipunen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vipunen is trying desperately to improve position.
Hairi controlling the position easily from mount.
Hairi trying to control but Vipunen is having none of it.
Hairi controlling his opponent.
Antero Vipunen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Vipunen tries to hold on but Hairi postures up.
Zack Hairi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Hairi showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vipunen 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antero Vipunen!