PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mr Hotspot (ranked 2513 p4p, 756 weight class) and Sami Rantanen (ranked 342 p4p, 108 weight class). Sami Rantanen has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mr Hotspot's chin.

Hotspot
vs
Rantanen

182 cm
21
200
1 - 1 - 0

186 cm
27
185
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mr Hotspot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sami Rantanen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hotspot shoots in and drives through. Rantanen sprawls well.
Rantanen stuffs the takedown attempt from Hotspot. Hotspot gets slowly back to his feet.
A little jabbing left from Rantanen on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rantanen misses with a body shot.
Hotspot attempts a counter takedown but Rantanen avoids it well and moves away.
Rantanen scores with a decent looking hook.
Rantanen swinging wildly here.
Rantanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Hotspot tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rantanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've been informed that Rantanen has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Rantanen misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hotspot has a takedown stuffed.
Hotspot looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mr Hotspot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danga de danga de dang - Rantanen scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Mr Hotspot has been cut.
Hotspot takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hotspot takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hotspot fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rantanen avoids it really well and circles away.

Hotspot gets a double leg takedown into Rantanen's guard.
Hotspot won't allow Rantanen to sweep him here.
Rantanen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hotspot controls Rantanen momentarily but Rantanen frees himself.
Hotspot pulls Rantanen in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rantanen postures up and lands a big shot to Hotspot's brow.
Rantanen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hotspot preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hotspot is on top in guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rantanen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hotspot is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hotspot'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.
Hotspot throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rantanen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hotspot is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rantanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Rantanen, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hotspot gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hotspot fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rantanen avoids it really well and circles away.
Hotspot wants to clinch but Rantanen slips to the side
and Rantanen counters with a straight right hand.
A lazy left from Rantanen finds it's target.
Rantanen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hotspot is looking to clinch.
Hotspot darts in looking for a takedown but Rantanen gets double underhooks and turns Hotspot into the cage.
Rantanen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rantanen tries to throw a body punch but Hotspot avoids it by throwing Rantanen back against the cage.
Hotspot is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rantanen is defending well.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rantanen.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Rantanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mr Hotspot's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Rantanen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Hotspot closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rantanen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rantanen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hotspot.
Rantanen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hotspot.
Rantanen seems a little lost for a moment, as Hotspot dominates the positioning.
Rantanen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rantanen is letting Hotspot control him for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hotspot wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rantanen keeps working.
The referee asks Hotspot politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hotspot prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hotspot is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rantanen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hotspot sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rantanen is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hotspot is looking to take a break and control but Rantanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hotspot advances nicely into full mount.
A nice elbow there by Hotspot.

Hotspot is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Rantanen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Rantanen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rantanen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rantanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hotspot lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hotspot controlling from the top position.
Hotspot pushing down on Rantanen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Mr Hotspot overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hotspot trying to control the action but Rantanen is working from the bottom.
Hotspot not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hotspot controlling the pace.
Rantanen is doing well to control the position and prevent Hotspot from advancing to side control.
Rantanen is staying active underneath Hotspot, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hotspot perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hotspot works his way into full mount!
Hotspot controlling the position easily from mount.
Rantanen is squirming around, avoiding Hotspot's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hotspot misses with a head shot.
Hotspot tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hotspot pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Hotspot is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Rantanen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hotspot takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rantanen is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mr Hotspot dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mr Hotspot's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rantanen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hotspot was well out of range. Poor timing from Rantanen.
Mr Hotspot is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hotspot shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rantanen as he avoids it easily.
A nice side step and Rantanen releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hotspot takes one to the side of the head.
Hotspot shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rantanen defends it nicely.
Hotspot changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rantanen tries to avoid it but Hotspot manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rantanen to the ground. Rantanen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rantanen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mr Hotspot. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rantanen looks to land a combination but Hotspot avoids it well.
Hotspot takes one to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hotspot takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hotspot shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rantanen but Rantanen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hotspot fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rantanen lands with a nice body punch.
Rantanen sizes up Hotspot with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rantanen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hotspot stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hotspot fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hotspot takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rantanen cracks Hotspot with a good jab.
Hotspot looks to clinch
and Rantanen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hotspot tries to clinch but Rantanen moves out of range.
Rantanen throws a counter combo.
Hotspot takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sami Rantanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hotspot tries for a takedown but Rantanen circles away easily
and Rantanen counters with a nice body shot.
Rantanen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hotspot rather than just go for the knockout.
A jab lands there for Rantanen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hotspot misses with a takedown
and Rantanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rantanen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hotspot takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hotspot tries to clinch but Rantanen moves away
and Rantanen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Rantanen lands a body shot.
Rantanen connects with a body shot that sends Hotspot's belly button to the back.
Rantanen scores with a nice head shot.
Sami Rantanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Rantanen cracks Hotspot with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Hotspot looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Rantanen finish him?

Hotspot is rocked!
Rantanen lands a body shot.
Oh Hotspot is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hotspot tries for a takedown but Rantanen circles away easily
and Rantanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hotspot doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hotspot takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rantanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Hotspot looks up at the clock. Bad move! Rantanen lands a right hand from hell, dropping Hotspot. Rantanen pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sami Rantanen!