PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin Cardenas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eero Haapasaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cardenas
vs
Haapasaari

173 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Martin Cardenas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Haapasaari!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cardenas gets caught napping as Haapasaari dives in and scores a takedown. Cardenas manages to retain guard.

Haapasaari stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Eero Haapasaari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Haapasaari instigates a clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Haapasaari.

Haapasaari breaks the clinch.
Haapasaari doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cardenas counters with a series of strikes. Haapasaari will be more careful next time no doubt.

Haapasaari rushes Cardenas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Haapasaari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Haapasaari drives through with a takedown into guard.
Cardenas is wriggling around but Haapasaari manages to pass to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Cardenas looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haapasaari is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cardenas sees it coming and defends easily.
Cardenas wants to get back to full guard.
Cardenas wants to control but Haapasaari is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Cardenas throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Haapasaari performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Haapasaari stands up and beckons Cardenas to join him on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A head kick from Cardenas lands but Haapasaari takes it in his stride.

Haapasaari closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cardenas to the mat! Cardenas manages to get full guard.
Haapasaari passes Cardenas's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Cardenas trying to hold on to Haapasaari's head to control him but Haapasaari postures up.
Cardenas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Haapasaari on the ground.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Haapasaari lands a nice short elbow.
Haapasaari stalling.
Haapasaari's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas trying to control from the bottom.

Haapasaari is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cardenas doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Haapasaari.
Haapasaari is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four 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.
Ground and pound from Haapasaari.

Haapasaari is looking for a kimura but Cardenas is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Haapasaari to get the leverage.
Cardenas is trying to maintain the position but Haapasaari is very close to passing his half guard.
Haapasaari is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Haapasaari is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Cardenas defends it well.
Haapasaari trying to control the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Haapasaari dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Cardenas tries to clinch but Haapasaari moves out of range.

Haapasaari shoots in and gets a takedown into Cardenas's guard.

Cardenas has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Haapasaari has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Haapasaari changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cardenas fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Haapasaari closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Cardenas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cardenas shoots in but no luck this time.

Haapasaari has managed to clinch.
Cardenas jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Haapasaari walks away with a smile on his face. Cardenas gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardenas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haapasaari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Haapasaari throws a lazy head kick
and Cardenas counters with a three punch combo that has Haapasaari backing up. Haapasaari nods at Cardenas to acknowledge the strikes.
Haapasaari throws out a leg kick but Cardenas moves out of range and Haapasaari only half commits.
Haapasaari throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cardenas counters with a three punch combo that has Haapasaari backing up. Haapasaari nods at Cardenas to acknowledge the strikes.
A head kick misses from Cardenas.

Haapasaari rushes Cardenas and presses him up against the cage.

Haapasaari successfully pulls guard.
Haapasaari throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Haapasaari looking for a sweep. Not yet Haapasaari, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Haapasaari pushes Cardenas off and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haapasaari with a poor takedown
and Cardenas counters with a left and a right that stings Haapasaari.
Haapasaari throws the kick towards the body but Cardenas avoids it.
Haapasaari tries for a takedown but Cardenas circles away easily
and Cardenas counters with a two punch combo.
Martin Cardenas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eero Haapasaari.
Haapasaari is breathing heavily.
Cardenas closes this distance looking for a takedown but Haapasaari circles away.
Haapasaari appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Haapasaari fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cardenas, pushing him back against the cage.
Haapasaari is trying to force a seperation but Cardenas has the dominant position.
Haapasaari tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Haapasaari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Cardenas is trying to break the clinch but Haapasaari has him pressed against the cage.
Haapasaari stalling in the clinch but Cardenas improves position.

Haapasaari wants the takedown. Cardenas is fighting it off but Haapasaari persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Cardenas's guard against the cage.

Cardenas pushes Haapasaari off and gets back to his feet.
Haapasaari shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cardenas counters with a left and a right that stings Haapasaari.
Cardenas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cardenas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haapasaari follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Haapasaari steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Cardenas. That one must have hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cardenas counters with a three punch combo that has Haapasaari backing up. Haapasaari nods at Cardenas to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cardenas darts in looking for a takedown but Haapasaari gets double underhooks and turns Cardenas into the cage.
Haapasaari leaves Cardenas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Haapasaari closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cardenas did well to prevent Haapasaari getting side control.
Cardenas is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Haapasaari lands with a punch from half guard.
Haapasaari slips a nice elbow through Cardenas's hands, connecting with Cardenas's forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Cardenas dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cardenas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Haapasaari jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cardenas walks away with a smile on his face. Haapasaari gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Haapasaari fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Cardenas sprawls well initially but Haapasaari persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Cardenas wants to control but Haapasaari is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haapasaari works his way into side control.
Haapasaari scores with a couple of short elbows.

Haapasaari is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Cardenas is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardenas regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haapasaari sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Cardenas trying to control but Haapasaari postures up.
Haapasaari working Cardenas over with strikes.
Haapasaari prevents Cardenas from improving his position.
Haapasaari lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Haapasaari looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Haapasaari stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Cardenas to get to his feet.

Haapasaari shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cardenas's guard.
Haapasaari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Haapasaari is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Haapasaari gets to his feet. Cardenas looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas throws a head kick that half lands.

Haapasaari closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Haapasaari lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Haapasaari postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Haapasaari sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Cardenas working for submissions but it's allowed Haapasaari to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari 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.
Cardenas is trying to maintain the position but Haapasaari is very close to passing his half guard.

Haapasaari stands up out of the half guard.

Haapasaari fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cardenas to the ground. Haapasaari is now in Cardenas's guard.
Haapasaari slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Cardenas looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haapasaari slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eero Haapasaari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Haapasaari 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eero Haapasaari!