PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eero Haapasaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrej Nicitel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eero Haapasaari has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Haapasaari
vs
Nicitel

182 cm
25
179 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

179 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Haapasaari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andrej Nicitel!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicitel dodges the punch combination from Haapasaari.

Nicitel gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nicitel is looking to control Haapasaari's arms but Haapasaari gets an underhook and turns him. Now Nicitel has his back to the cage.
Nicitel misses with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nicitel stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Haapasaari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nicitel has a couple of punches blocked by Haapasaari.
Nicitel's coach down at MMA Sanok Training Center was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Nicitel's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Haapasaari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haapasaari shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Haapasaari was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Nicitel taking punishment in the form of punches.
Nicitel prevents Haapasaari from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Nicitel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Haapasaari decides to stand back up.
Nicitel doesn't manage to clinch there - Haapasaari circles away.

Haapasaari decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Nicitel has one foot on Haapasaari's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Haapasaari drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nicitel is wriggling around but Haapasaari manages to pass to half guard.

The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Haapasaari seems to be looking for submissions.
Haapasaari landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicitel is trying to control but can't.

Haapasaari stands up out of the half guard.
Nicitel doesn't manage to clinch there - Haapasaari circles away.
Haapasaari misses with a few strikes there.

Nicitel closes the distance and pushes Haapasaari back into the cage.

Haapasaari pulls guard effortlessly.
Haapasaari wants to sweep but no luck.
Haapasaari pulls Nicitel in close to prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Haapasaari is on top in guard.

Haapasaari pushes down on Nicitel's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari stalling.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nicitel is looking to escape.

Haapasaari wants to work for an arm triangle but Nicitel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Haapasaari sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Haapasaari is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Nicitel manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Haapasaari avoids the head kick by Nicitel.
Haapasaari attempts a counter takedown but Nicitel avoids it well and moves away.
Nicitel dives in and grabs Haapasaari's left leg, looking for a takedown. Haapasaari pushes down on Nicitel's head and hops out.

Haapasaari feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Haapasaari stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Haapasaari closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Haapasaari 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.

Nicitel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Haapasaari sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Haapasaari misses its intended target.

Haapasaari changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nicitel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Nicitel is trying to control Haapasaari's posture but Haapasaari avoids it.

Haapasaari stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Nicitel tries to clinch but Haapasaari moves out of range.
Nicitel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haapasaari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nicitel doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Haapasaari moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haapasaari lands a takedown into guard.
Haapasaari passes easily into side control. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Haapasaari decides to stand up, so the ref orders Nicitel to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapasaari closes the distance and clinches up with Nicitel, looking for a takedown. Haapasaari pushes Nicitel against the cage but Nicitel circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Eero Haapasaari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nicitel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little feinted left hand from Haapasaari on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nicitel tries to close the distance and clinch but Haapasaari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Haapasaari feints and as Nicitel raises his hands in defense, Haapasaari changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nicitel is wriggling around but Haapasaari manages to pass to half guard.

Nicitel looking for subs from the bottom but Haapasaari mounts him!
Nicitel is breathing heavily.
Haapasaari controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicitel gets back to half guard.
Nicitel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Haapasaari. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Haapasaari is looking to advance position but Nicitel won't allow it.
Haapasaari keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Haapasaari is thwarting Nicitel's attempts to control the position.
Haapasaari sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Haapasaari is trying to work for a kimura but Nicitel is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari stalling.
Haapasaari works his way into side control.

Haapasaari is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Nicitel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Haapasaari decides to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nicitel takes the fight into the clinch.

Haapasaari breaks from the clinch.
Haapasaari throws a shot to the body.

Haapasaari closes the distance and clinches.

Haapasaari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nicitel lands with a cross.
Nicitel misses with the combination.

Haapasaari gets a double leg takedown into Nicitel's guard.
Nicitel wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Haapasaari manages to pass to side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Still in half guard, Haapasaari seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Haapasaari dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Haapasaari looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Haapasaari working over Nicitel with some ground and pound. Nicitel looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Nicitel looking for submissions off his back.
Still in half guard, Haapasaari seems content to control.

Haapasaari is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Nicitel is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Eero Haapasaari!