PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Haggar (ranked 41 p4p, 44 weight class) and Antti Railio (ranked 6 p4p, 1 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Antti Railio enters the cage!

Haggar
vs
Railio

202 cm
38
266
40 - 25 - 0

185 cm
33
260
23 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Threads
Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥

Shadow Realm Apparel
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Haggar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Railio!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Francis DeMontford and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haggar connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Railio looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Haggar moves out of range as Railio strikes.
Haggar feinted with a counter takedown.
Haggar ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Railio moves away.
Haggar avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Haggar fails with a takedown attempt.
Haggar misses with a lunging right hand
and Railio counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Railio feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Haggar sprawling to the canvas! Haggar rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Railio finish him?!

It looks like Mike Haggar has been cut.
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!
Railio lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Haggar at a distance.
Haggar dives in and grabs Railio's left leg, looking for a takedown. Railio pushes down on Haggar's head and hops out.
Railio swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A looping hook to the body misses from Haggar. Railio does a little dance to reset his feet.
Railio drops his hands momentarily and Haggar takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Haggar misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Railio.
Haggar looks to score with a jab to the body but Railio is just out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Haggar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haggar shoots in and gets a takedown into Railio's guard.
Haggar working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Railio really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Haggar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Haggar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Haggar throwing strikes from guard but Railio blocks nicely.
Haggar is working Railio over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Haggar postures up in Railio's guard and throws a big left but Railio blocks it.
Railio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Haggar.
Haggar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Haggar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Railio is trying to keep Haggar in close.
Haggar works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Haggar seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Haggar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Haggar not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Haggar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Haggar throwing shots but Railio is blocking nicely.
Haggar working over Railio with some ground and pound. Railio looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Haggar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Haggar wants to control but Railio is keeping him busy.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Railio has hold of Haggar's hands but Haggar slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Haggar slips a nice elbow through Railio's hands, connecting with Railio's forehead.
Haggar throwing shots but Railio is blocking nicely.
Haggar working Railio over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggar lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Railio is trying to get back to full guard.
Railio taking some punishment here, with Haggar in his half guard.
Haggar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Haggar misses with a head shot. Railio uses the momentum to regain guard.
Haggar is looking to work some ground and pound but Railio has wrist control.
Haggar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Railio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haggar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Haggar in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Haggar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haggar with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Railio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Haggar stands up over Railio, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haggar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Railio is keeping the position for now.
Haggar trying to control the position from guard on top but Railio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haggar landing with the ground and pound.
Haggar wants to control from the top but Railio keeps moving.
Haggar working some strikes from top position.
Railio avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Haggar stands up over Railio, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Haggar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Haggar'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.

Haggar works the jab nicely.
Haggar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Railio can do to turn this around?
Jab, jab by Haggar - just one landing.
Haggar is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Donk. Haggar catches Railio right on the button with a cross.
Nice body punch from Haggar.
Haggar tests Railio's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Haggar is trying hard to land a takedown here. Railio sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mike Haggar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haggar connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Railio momentarily.
Railio takes one on the button.
Railio misses the shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Haggar. Beautiful body shot.
Railio shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Railio takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Haggar scores with the left hand. Railio knows he should have avoided that one.
Haggar lands the left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar cracks Railio with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Haggar takes a jab right on the kisser.
Haggar fails with a takedown attempt.
Antti Railio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haggar ducks under a wild hook from Railio.

Haggar gets a double leg takedown into Railio's guard.
Haggar is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Railio keeping full guard, as Haggar tries to pass.
Railio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Haggar works over Railio with some ground and pound from guard.
Haggar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Railio is trying to keep Haggar in close.
Haggar will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggar throws a strike but Railio rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Haggar throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Haggar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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!
Railio avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Haggar.
Haggar tries to pass to full mount but Railio defends it.
Haggar looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Haggar thows a huge punch but Railio dodges it nicely.
Railio preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Haggar takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Haggar is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Haggar scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Haggar looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Railio with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Well, if Haggar 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.
Haggar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Haggar is looking to take a break and control but Railio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Railio wants to get back to full guard.
Railio on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mike Haggar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Haggar looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Haggar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Railio defending well though.
Haggar with the ground and pound but Railio uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Haggar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Haggar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haggar postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Railio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Haggar working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Haggar dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mike Haggar's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Haggar misses with a takedown
enabling Railio to counter with a crisp jab.

Haggar closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Railio quickly recovers to half guard.
Haggar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Haggar is taking a breather. Railio says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Haggar is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Railio defends it well.
Haggar lands strikes from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haggar stalling.
Railio trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar is nestled in close to Railio, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Railio is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Haggar scores with a couple of nice shots.
Haggar with the ground and pound but Railio uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Haggar controls from within his opponent's guard.
Haggar trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Haggar postures up.
Haggar connects with a couple of short punches.
Haggar is in close to Railio's body, working some short punches and elbows.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haggar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggar is pushing down on Railio's leg trying to pass to half guard. Railio is fighting to maintain full guard but Haggar has managed to sneak the leg through.
Haggar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Haggar is looking for a kimura here.
Railio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Haggar working over Railio with some ground and pound. Railio looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Haggar is looking to take a break and control but Railio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've been hearing that Haggar has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Haggar working over Railio with some ground and pound. Railio looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Railio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Haggar.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Haggar connects with a nice short shot to Railio's temple.
Railio is in trouble now - Haggar has advanced to mount!
Haggar looking to finish Railio with some ground and pound. This is bad for Railio!
Railio takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Haggar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Haggar with good strikes from the mount here!
Antti Railio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
BOOM! Haggar connects with a massive shot to the dome!
BOOM! Haggar connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Haggar fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Haggar is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Railio goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Haggar!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Mike Haggar!