PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Driver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iiro Seppanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Iiro Seppanen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Driver
vs
Seppanen

190 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Driver!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iiro Seppanen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Seppanen is looking to clinch.
Seppanen throws a right and a left that Driver avoids nicely.

Driver gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Seppanen jumps guard but Driver stands there with Seppanen around his waist. Seppanen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Driver wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Seppanen has him pressed against the cage.
Seppanen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Seppanen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Seppanen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Driver is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mike Driver has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iiro Seppanen.
Driver blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Driver tries to score a body lock takedown but Seppanen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Driver has had enough of the clinch but Seppanen keeps him there for the moment.

Seppanen has clasped his hands together around Driver's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Driver tries to buck Seppanen off but Seppanen is having none of it.
Seppanen wants to stand but Driver has his arm trapped.
Seppanen working away.
Driver manages to work his way to half guard, despite Seppanen's best efforts.

Driver looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seppanen prevents Driver from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Driver clinches up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Driver as Seppanen tries to tie him up.

Seppanen breaks from the clinch.
Seppanen darts in trying to clinch
and Driver counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Seppanen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Driver cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Seppanen swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Driver counters with a single leg into guard. Seppanen didn't expect that.
Seppanen is pulling down on Driver's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seppanen can't keep his opponent in guard - Driver advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Seppanen trying to hold on to Driver's head to control him but Driver postures up.
Driver missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Driver has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Seppanen defend it? Driver steps over the head and cranks it - Seppanen is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Driver!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Mike Driver!