PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Cole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eero Haapasaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cole
vs
Haapasaari

210 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
179 lbs
1 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nicolas Cole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Haapasaari!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Haapasaari looking to score a takedown here. Cole is defending well but Haapasaari drives through and ends up in Cole's guard.
Haapasaari throws a big right hand that misses.
Haapasaari controlling from the top position.
Cole is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Haapasaari is stalling in the full guard.
Cole trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haapasaari trying to control but Cole is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapasaari not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Haapasaari forces his way into half guard.
Haapasaari is looking to take a break and control but Cole is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Cole is trying to control but can't.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.

Haapasaari closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cole did well to prevent Haapasaari getting side control.
Haapasaari working over Cole with some ground and pound. Cole looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Haapasaari moves into full mount! Cole won't be happy about that!
Cole in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Haapasaari trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cole tries to hold on but Haapasaari postures up.

Haapasaari get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cole is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Haapasaari throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Cole half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Haapasaari throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cole tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Haapasaari is in Cole's guard.

Cole is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Haapasaari defends well.

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

Haapasaari moves into range and clinches up with Cole.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cole tries to pull guard but Haapasaari won't allow it.

Cole jumps guard and drags Haapasaari to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Haapasaari drops back looking for a leg! Cole is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cole manages to kick Haapasaari off! Haapasaari jumps back into Cole's guard.

Haapasaari gets to his feet. Cole looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Haapasaari clinches up with Cole and pushes him back against the cage.
Haapasaari stalls.
Haapasaari stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
The crowd are getting on Haapasaari's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Haapasaari is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Haapasaari gets a double leg takedown into Cole's guard.

Haapasaari drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Cole dives on top into guard.

Haapasaari will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cole slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haapasaari wants to sweep here but Cole controlling him for the moment.
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.
Haapasaari is pulling down on Cole's head. It's preventing any offense from Cole, at least for the moment.
Haapasaari wants to sweep but no luck.
Cole really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Cole wants to control from the top but Haapasaari keeps moving.
Haapasaari wants to stand but Cole is controlling the position.

That's two 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.
Haapasaari working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Cole looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Haapasaari wants to stand back up but Cole manages to pass into side control.
Haapasaari is looking to regain half guard here but Cole keeps moving and retains side control.
Cole controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari tries to buck Cole off but Cole is having none of it.
Cole takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Haapasaari to pass into mount.
Haapasaari tries to reverse the position but Cole maintains control.
Haapasaari sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari is trying is best to control the position here.

Cole moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Haapasaari.

Cole tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Haapasaari is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nicolas Cole will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Haapasaari closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cole's guard.
Haapasaari controlling from the top position.
Haapasaari stands and throws Cole's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haapasaari trying to control the action but Cole is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee asks Haapasaari politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Haapasaari prefers to stall for the moment though.
Cole is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Haapasaari's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Haapasaari is keen to just control but Cole is a slippery customer.
Cole has a hand on Haapasaari's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Haapasaari takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Cole is squirming around, avoiding Haapasaari's attempts to control the action.
Haapasaari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Haapasaari dominating with strikes here.
Haapasaari tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cole takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Cole working to try and regain half guard.
Haapasaari postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Cole looks a forlorn figure.
Haapasaari can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cole is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari content just to control the position here.

Haapasaari with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Haapasaari trying to control but Cole is having none of it.
Cole is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Haapasaari looking to control but Cole is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Haapasaari with a couple of short strikes.
Cole is trying desperately to improve position.
Haapasaari controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haapasaari scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Cole?

And that's the end of the fight!
Eero Haapasaari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Haapasaari has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:29

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