PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ciro Ghetta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helmeri Haapasaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Helmeri Haapasaari has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ciro Ghetta's chin.

Ghetta
vs
Haapasaari

195 cm
20
250 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
27
254 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Likes comics

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ciro Ghetta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Helmeri Haapasaari!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haapasaari rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ghetta cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A punch combination from Haapasaari misses.
Ghetta tries to clinch up but Haapasaari circles away and keeps his distance.
Ghetta connects with a nice looking jab.
Haapasaari throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ghetta was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ghetta is looking to clinch.
Ghetta has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Haapasaari displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ghetta.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghetta wants to clinch

and Haapasaari counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ghetta won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapasaari scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ghetta to see if he's OK.
Ghetta takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Ghetta is looking to regain half guard here but Haapasaari keeps moving and retains side control.
Haapasaari cracks Ghetta with a big right hand but Ghetta just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Haapasaari is looking to take a break and control but Ghetta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Haapasaari looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ghetta struggling a bit here.
Ghetta gets back to half guard.
Haapasaari is looking to advance position but Ghetta won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari blocks the strikes from Ghetta.
Ghetta works his way to full guard. Good work.
Haapasaari stays in close to Ghetta's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haapasaari wants to pass the guard but Ghetta is keeping the position.

Ghetta has an active guard here but Haapasaari has managed to pass into half guard.
Ghetta is looking for a sweep. Haapasaari is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ghetta moves into full guard.
Ghetta throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Haapasaari works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ghetta missing with punches from the bottom.

Haapasaari is looking for a kimura but Ghetta is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Haapasaari to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghetta tries to roll over but Haapasaari keeps him under control.
Ghetta flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Haapasaari takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ghetta is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Haapasaari landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ghetta moves into full guard.
Haapasaari missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Ghetta is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Haapasaari is aware though and is defending well.
Ghetta lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ghetta throws a strike but Haapasaari rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Haapasaari looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Ghetta looking for a guillotine here but Haapasaari defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ghetta keeping full guard, as Haapasaari tries to pass.
Haapasaari throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ghetta works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Haapasaari with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ghetta doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ghetta looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Haapasaari lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Haapasaari drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Haapasaari jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Haapasaari makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Haapasaari chips away with some ground and pound.
Ghetta looking for a sweep. Not yet Ghetta, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helmeri 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.

Haapasaari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ghetta tried to counter with a leg kick but Haapasaari avoided it.

Ghetta forces Haapasaari back against the cage and clinches.
Haapasaari is trying to force a seperation but Ghetta has the dominant position.

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

Ghetta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Haapasaari gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Haapasaari with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ghetta is trying to keep Haapasaari in close.

Ghetta is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Haapasaari keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ghetta's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapasaari pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ghetta is keeping the position for now.

Haapasaari drops back looking for a leg! Ghetta is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ghetta manages to kick Haapasaari off! Haapasaari jumps back into Ghetta's guard.
Haapasaari keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ghetta's head.
Haapasaari has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Ghetta is looking for a triangle but Haapasaari pushes his legs off easily.
Ghetta keeping moving, preventing Haapasaari from controlling successfully.
Haapasaari lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Haapasaari trying to control but Ghetta is working from the bottom.
Haapasaari stopping the sweep attempt from Ghetta.
Helmeri Haapasaari has got the better of the ground game so far.
Haapasaari wants to control from the top but Ghetta keeps moving.
Haapasaari looking to pass the guard.

That's two 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 won't allow Ghetta to sweep him here.
Ghetta trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Haapasaari wants to control from the top but Ghetta keeps moving.
Ghetta keeping full guard, as Haapasaari tries to pass.

Ghetta is looking for a triangle but Haapasaari pushes his legs off easily.
Ghetta looking for a sweep. Not yet Ghetta, not yet.
Haapasaari connects with a couple of short punches.
Haapasaari in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Haapasaari landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghetta is trying to control the position but Haapasaari postures up.
Haapasaari makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ghetta keeping moving, preventing Haapasaari from controlling successfully.
Haapasaari must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Haapasaari lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Ghetta is looking for a triangle but Haapasaari pushes his legs off easily.

Ghetta looking for a guillotine here but Haapasaari defends easily.

Ghetta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Haapasaari gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Haapasaari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four 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.
Haapasaari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ghetta swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ghetta working for a triangle but Haapasaari defends it easily.

Ghetta has his foot on Haapasaari's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Haapasaari works his way back into a safe position though.
Haapasaari is working Ghetta over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ghetta utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Haapasaari with a nice head shot there.

Haapasaari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haapasaari trying to control the position from guard on top but Ghetta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ghetta bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Haapasaari's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Helmeri Haapasaari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Haapasaari misses with a combination
and Ghetta counters with a nice uppercut.
Haapasaari throws a sloppy body shot
and Ghetta counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ghetta tries to close the distance and clinch but Haapasaari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Ghetta gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ghetta lands with a short shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haapasaari lands a takedown into guard.

Ghetta working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Haapasaari doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Haapasaari manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ghetta keeping moving, preventing Haapasaari from controlling successfully.

Ghetta had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Haapasaari defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ghetta looking for a guillotine here but Haapasaari defends easily.

Ghetta looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Haapasaari wants to pass the guard but Ghetta is keeping the position.
Ghetta has momentary wrist control but Haapasaari slips an elbow through the middle.

Ghetta is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Ghetta has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Haapasaari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ghetta had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Haapasaari defends it easily.
Haapasaari trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Ghetta is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Haapasaari is aware though and is defending well.

Haapasaari thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Haapasaari cracks Ghetta with a solid left hand.
Ghetta thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Haapasaari trying to control but Ghetta is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari is in close to Ghetta's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Haapasaari lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Haapasaari stands up over Ghetta, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ghetta lands some strikes from the bottom.

Haapasaari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Haapasaari scoring with some ground and pound.

Ghetta has his foot on Haapasaari's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Haapasaari works his way back into a safe position though.

Haapasaari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ghetta wants to sweep but no luck.
Haapasaari is working Ghetta over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari trying to control the position from guard on top but Ghetta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haapasaari chips away with some ground and pound.

Ghetta is rocked!
Haapasaari arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Ghetta's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Helmeri Haapasaari!