PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jason Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henkka Seppala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tanner kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Realest - Issues. Jason Tanner could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Henkka Seppala's chin.

Tanner
vs
Seppala

184 cm
29
190 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

182 cm
38
187 lbs
25 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
World class MT
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jason Tanner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Henkka Seppala!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanner throws a wild body kick that Seppala sees coming a mile off.
Tanner misses the shot to the body.
Tanner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Seppala throws out the jab.
A big left from Tanner misses.
Tanner looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tanner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A low kick from Tanner misses

and Seppala counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Seppala.
Seppala looking to pass the guard.
Seppala being controlled here momentarily.
Seppala postures up.
Seppala wants to control from the top but Tanner keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner seems keen to control Seppala's posture.
Seppala controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tanner controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Seppala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tanner trying to control the position here.
Tanner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Seppala tries to free his leg and advance position but Tanner is retaining full guard.
Seppala scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Seppala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Seppala postures up.
Seppala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanner is keeping the position for now.
Tanner has Seppala pulled in close to control his posture.

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.
Seppala postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Tanner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Seppala.
Tanner tries a low kick but Seppala avoids it.
Jason Tanner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tanner blocks a jab.
Seppala tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Tanner.
Tanner misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tanner throws a shot from downtown. Seppala moves away and avoids it.
Tanner throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tanner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tanner, right into the meat.
Tanner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tanner misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner misses with a hook to the body

and Seppala decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tanner's guard.
Seppala postures up in Tanner's guard and throws a big left but Tanner blocks it.
Seppala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Seppala working some strikes from top position.
Tanner has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Tanner controls Seppala momentarily but Seppala frees himself.
Seppala tries to free his leg and advance position but Tanner is retaining full guard.
Seppala postures up.
Seppala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tanner controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seppala landing some decent shots from guard.
Tanner has Seppala pulled in close to control his posture.
Seppala postures up and lands a big shot to Tanner's brow.
Seppala postures up.
Tanner avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tanner preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tanner seems keen to control Seppala's posture.
Tanner has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Seppala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tanner is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Seppala postures up.
Seppala stops Tanner from standing up.
Seppala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Henkka Seppala will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tanner misses with a hook. Seppala ducked under it nicely.
Seppala closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tanner circles away.

Seppala throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tanner tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Seppala is in Tanner's guard.
Seppala postures up in Tanner's guard and throws a big left but Tanner blocks it.
Tanner pulls Seppala in close to his closed guard and prevents Seppala from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tanner trying to keep a closed guard but Seppala is proving a slippery customer.
Tanner is controlling Seppala's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner controls Seppala momentarily but Seppala frees himself.
Tanner is adopting a defensive guard.
Tanner is trying to keep Seppala in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seppala wants to control from the top but Tanner keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Seppala shoots in for a takedown but Tanner shows good takedown defense.
Jason Tanner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Seppala throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tanner stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Seppala moves out of range of the body kick.
Tanner slaps away a takedown attempt from Seppala, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jason Tanner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henkka Seppala.
Seppala takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Seppala lands a really nice looking cross but Tanner seems unphased.
Tanner misses with a wild combination.
Tanner misses with a wild body shot.
Tanner throws out a loose jab but Seppala uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Seppala sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And Seppala tries to counter it with a takedown but Tanner pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Tanner leaves Seppala with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Seppala scores with a leg kick.
Seppala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tanner.
Seppala drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Tanner defends it well.
Tanner turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jason Tanner is winning the standup battle so far.

Seppala changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tanner looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Seppala lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Seppala working away.
Tanner tries to buck Seppala off but Seppala is having none of it.
Seppala connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Tanner some visible discomfort.
Tanner struggling a bit here.
Seppala is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner can't do much from the bottom here.
Tanner stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Seppala lands a nice forearm strike.
Check out the look on Seppala's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
You can see the frustration on Tanner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Henkka Seppala has got the better of the ground game so far.
Seppala trying to control the action but Tanner is working from the bottom.
Tanner tries to escape but Seppala is in control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seppala is looking to take a break and control but Tanner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Seppala working away.
Seppala throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Seppala working the ground and pound but Tanner is defending the strikes.
Tanner can't do much from the bottom here.
Tanner is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Seppala working the ground and pound.
Tanner on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Seppala has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tanner is trying to control Seppala's posture but Seppala avoids it.
Seppala controls the position from side control.
The ground and pound from Seppala seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henkka Seppala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Seppala has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Tanner.
Seppala uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tanner.
Seppala moves out of range of the leg kick from Tanner.
Seppala tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Seppala tries for a takedown but Tanner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tanner looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Tanner leaves Seppala with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tanner cracks Seppala with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Seppala 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.
Tanner has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Tanner looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Seppala is in close to Tanner's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Tanner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Seppala.
Tanner pulls Seppala in close to prevent any damage.
Seppala is working Tanner over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Seppala.
Tanner is pulling down on Seppala's head to control his posture.
Tanner continues to stall.
Seppala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tanner is pulling down on Seppala's head to control his posture.
Seppala advances position into side control!
You can see the frustration on Tanner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Seppala scoring with punches and elbows.
Jason Tanner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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Tanner can't do much from the bottom here.
Seppala fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tanner tries to escape but Seppala is in control.
Tanner wants to control but Seppala postures up.
Tanner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Seppala working away.
Tanner tries to bench press Seppala off him but Seppala keeps the position.
Tanner has one of Seppala's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Tanner can't do much from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seppala is looking to take a break and control but Tanner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Seppala scoring with punches from side control.
Seppala is working Tanner over with some ground and pound from side control.
I wouldn't like to be where Tanner is right now.
Seppala is working Tanner over with some ground and pound from side control.
Tanner wants to control but Seppala postures up.
Tanner on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Seppala in side control, throwing shots but Tanner defends.
Seppala scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tanner to see if he's OK.
Seppala lands a few punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Tanner's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seppala wants to control but Tanner is keeping him busy.
Tanner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Seppala works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Seppala is looking to take a break and control but Tanner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tanner is trying to control Seppala's posture but Seppala avoids it.
Seppala cracks Tanner with a big elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henkka Seppala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Seppala winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henkka Seppala!
A very excited looking Henkka Seppala made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.