PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Char Xiu (ranked 1884 p4p, 198 weight class) and Harri Haaparanta (ranked 1764 p4p, 189 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Xiu
vs
Haaparanta

170 cm
23
155 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

181 cm
23
157 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Char Xiu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Haaparanta!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haaparanta takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Haaparanta rushes Xiu and presses him up against the cage.
Haaparanta throws an elbow that misses.
Haaparanta throws a punch but it's blocked by Xiu.
A nice left hand lands by Xiu.
Xiu throws a punch but it's blocked by Haaparanta.
Haaparanta throws a punch but it's blocked by Xiu.
Nice body punch from Xiu.
Xiu throws a head punch that misses.

Xiu successfully pulls guard.
Haaparanta wants to stand but Xiu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Xiu is pulling down on Haaparanta's head to control his posture.
Haaparanta must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Xiu's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haaparanta has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Xiu is proving hard to escape from.
Xiu is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Xiu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Haaparanta wants to stand but Xiu has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Haaparanta clinches up with Xiu and pushes him back against the cage.
Xiu managing to block the knees to the body from Haaparanta.
Haaparanta stalling the fight.
Haaparanta missing with knees to the body.
Haaparanta tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Xiu.
Xiu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Haaparanta's elbow.

Xiu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Xiu shoots in and bounces Haaparanta off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Haaparanta looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Xiu lands a couple of elbows.
Xiu throwing strikes but missing.
Xiu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Haaparanta's head.
Xiu connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Xiu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Xiu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Haaparanta can do anything to dispel that myth.
Haaparanta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Haaparanta preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Xiu postures up.
Xiu scoring with some ground and pound.
Xiu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Haaparanta wants to stand up but Xiu is controlling him.
Xiu throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haaparanta wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Xiu manages to pass to side control.
Xiu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Xiu scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Haaparanta really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Xiu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Haaparanta has hold of Xiu's hands but Xiu slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Xiu is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Haaparanta blocking the ground and pound attempt from Xiu.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A combination from Haaparanta does no damage.
Xiu tries to work over Haaparanta's front leg with a kick but Haaparanta checks it.
Harri Haaparanta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Haaparanta drives through and clinches with Xiu against the cage.

Xiu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Haaparanta throws the kick towards the body but Xiu avoids it.
Xiu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Xiu turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Haaparanta moves into the clinch successfully.
Haaparanta misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Haaparanta misses with a short punch on the inside.
Xiu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Xiu digs a right hand underneath Haaparanta's ribcage. Haaparanta let out a lung full of air as it connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Xiu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Xiu takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Xiu circles away from the clinch attempt.

Haaparanta has closed the distance and engaged Xiu in a clinch.
Haaparanta is struggling to control the position.
Xiu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Haaparanta's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haaparanta throws an elbow that misses.
Haaparanta misses with a knee to the head.
Xiu stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Xiu digs a right hand underneath Haaparanta's ribcage. Haaparanta let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Haaparanta misses with a hook to the ribs.
Xiu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short left from Haaparanta.
Xiu struggles to land a body shot inside as Haaparanta controls his hands.
Haaparanta tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Xiu manages to break the clinch.
A nice leg kick lands there from Xiu.
Haaparanta fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Xiu lands a lovely overhand right.
Xiu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Haaparanta moves away.
Haaparanta fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haaparanta takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Xiu checks a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xiu digs a good hook to Haaparanta's body.
Xiu scores with a punch to the head.
Xiu looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Haaparanta is looking to score with low kicks.
Haaparanta tries to clinch but Xiu is having none of it.
Haaparanta fails with an attempt to clinch.
Xiu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Haaparanta.
The fighters circle momentarily. Xiu darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Haaparanta throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Xiu is looking to slow Haaparanta down with leg kicks.
Haaparanta throws a shot from downtown. Xiu moves away and avoids it.
Xiu thows a left - swing and a miss!
A little jabbing left from Haaparanta on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Haaparanta gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Haaparanta.

It looks like Char Xiu has been cut.
Haaparanta misses with the head strike.
Xiu lands with a short shot to the head.
Haaparanta tries to land knees in the clinch but Xiu avoids the damage to the body.
Xiu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Xiu can't find room to land a body shot as Haaparanta controls the action.
Harri Haaparanta seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Xiu tries to throw a body punch but Haaparanta avoids it by throwing Xiu back against the cage.
Xiu misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Xiu.
Knees to the body from Haaparanta.
Xiu presses Haaparanta against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Xiu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Xiu tries to throw a body punch but Haaparanta avoids it by throwing Xiu back against the cage.
Xiu lands a body punch in the clinch.
Xiu avoids the elbow strike from Haaparanta, against the cage.
Xiu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiu misses with a body punch.
Haaparanta lands a nice knee to the body.
Haaparanta throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Xiu.
Haaparanta struggles to land a body shot inside as Xiu controls his hands.
Xiu takes an elbow to the temple.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Haaparanta lands an elbow just above Xiu 's eye.
Haaparanta tries to land a knee to the head but Xiu blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Haaparanta.
Xiu misses with a punch to the body.
Haaparanta misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Xiu.
Haaparanta lands a shoulder strike.
Haaparanta with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Xiu tries to throw a body punch but Haaparanta avoids it by throwing Xiu back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Harri Haaparanta will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Char Xiu's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Haaparanta tries to clinch but Xiu moves out of range.
Xiu throws a nice inside leg kick.
Xiu stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Haaparanta.
Xiu throws an overhand right that lands on Haaparanta's shoulder, as Haaparanta tries to avoid the shot.
Xiu keeps the fight on the outside.
Haaparanta wants to clinch.
Xiu scores with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Xiu shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Xiu showed some decent athleticism there.
Xiu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xiu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Xiu is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Haaparanta has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Xiu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Haaparanta's head.
Haaparanta keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xiu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Haaparanta is trying to maintain the position but Xiu is very close to passing his half guard.
Xiu throwing shots but Haaparanta is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xiu thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Xiu lands strikes from half guard.
Haaparanta wants to get back to his feet.
Xiu winds up and cracks Haaparanta with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Xiu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Xiu.
Haaparanta is looking for a sweep. Xiu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Haaparanta is looking to escape.
Xiu works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xiu landing strikes, looking to finish!
Xiu is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Haaparanta can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Xiu landing strikes, looking to finish!
Haaparanta is trying to escape the mount.
Haaparanta is still trying to improve position.
Xiu is landing with some decent strikes but Haaparanta is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Xiu working Haaparanta over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xiu is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Haaparanta is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Xiu with the ground and pound from mount.
Haaparanta is still in real trouble! Can Xiu finish him?
Haaparanta takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Xiu's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Char Xiu!
During a confident post fight interview, Char Xiu thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.