PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harri Haikala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Richards
vs
Haikala

185 cm
18
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
19
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ben Richards!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Haikala!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Richards doesn't manage to clinch there - Haikala circles away.
Richards throws a jab when Haikala was well out of range.

Haikala drops Richards with a left right combo! Haikala follows him down to the ground into side control.

It looks like Ben Richards has been cut.
Richards struggling a bit here.
Haikala is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Richards's shoulder. That is not cool.
Richards defending against the ground and pound.
Haikala tries to score with some ground and pound. Richards controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Richards manages to work his way to half guard, despite Haikala's best efforts.
Haikala wants to pass the guard but Richards is defending well.
Haikala with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Richards wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Richards trying to control from the bottom.
Richards is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Well, if Haikala is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Haikala trying to mount his opponent but Richards defends it.
Richards trying to control here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Richards is defended easily by Haikala.

Haikala drops Richards with a big left hand and mounts him. Richards is in big trouble!
Haikala controlling from the full mount.
Haikala misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haikala thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Haikala takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Richards on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Richards tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haikala's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Haikala looking to finish with strikes here!
Richards is looking to get to half guard.
Haikala controlling his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Harri Haikala just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Haikala stuffs the takedown attempt from Richards. Richards gets slowly back to his feet.
The fighters circling - Richards throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Haikala lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Richards is breathing heavily.
Nice shot lands for Haikala.

Haikala drops Richards with a big left hand and mounts him. Richards is in big trouble!

Richards is rocked!
Haikala sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Oh Richards is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haikala unloads with some shots from mount but Richards bucks and avoids them well.
Richards seems to have got his legs back now.
Haikala controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harri Haikala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Richards's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Haikala connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Haikala darts in and lands a big hook, right on the button! Richards's legs crumble underneath him as he falls to the canvas! The ref tackles Haikala before he gets to land any more shots to his stricken foe.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:16 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Harri Haikala!