PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Heikki Holopainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Badr Hari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Holopainen
vs
Hari

180 cm
19
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

197 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Likes ground

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Heikki Holopainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Badr Hari!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hari pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Holopainen has closed the distance and engaged Hari in a clinch.

Holopainen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hari uses from the top position.
Hari won't allow Holopainen to get back to his feet.
Holopainen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hari stopping the sweep attempt from Holopainen.
Hari wants to stand but Holopainen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hari trying to control the position from guard on top but Holopainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hari won't allow Holopainen to sweep him here.
Hari throwing strikes but missing.

Holopainen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hari gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holopainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hari forces Holopainen back against the cage and clinches.
Hari misses with a knee to the head.
Hari lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Hari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hari instigates a clinch.
Hari with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Hari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hari tries to clinch

and Holopainen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Holopainen.
Hari digs a right hand into Holopainen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Holopainen's gas tank.
Holopainen is breathing heavily.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Hari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hari tries to clinch up but Holopainen circles away and keeps his distance.

Hari closes the distance and clinches.

Hari's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hari closes the distance but Holopainen moves to the side

and Holopainen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hari's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hari scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Hari has closed the distance and engaged Holopainen in a clinch.
Hari goes for a takedown in the clinch but Holopainen prevents it.
Hari lands a knee to the head.
Holopainen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hari slowing the pace effectively.
Hari with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Holopainen letting Hari take a breather here.
Hari with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holopainen breaks from the clinch.
Holopainen throws a head kick that misses.
Hari wants to clinch up but Holopainen keeps it at a distance.

Hari moves into the clinch successfully.
Hari throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Holopainen blocks it with crossed arms.
Hari throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hari throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Holopainen blocks it with crossed arms.
Holopainen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hari pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hari tries to clinch there but Holopainen circles away.
Hari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Holopainen scores a takedown into full mount!
Hari keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hari is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Holopainen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hari keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hari wants to hold on but Holopainen pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Holopainen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Heikki Holopainen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Holopainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hari is looking to clinch.
Holopainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hari gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hari tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Holopainen smiles and moves away.

Hari takes the fight into the clinch.

Hari breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hari wants to clinch but Holopainen slips to the side

and Holopainen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hari!
Hari is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holopainen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hari can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Holopainen scoring with strikes but Hari is staying in there.
Holopainen controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hari is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hari tries to hold on but Holopainen pushes him away.

That's two 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.
Hari tries to reverse the position but Holopainen maintains control.
Hari is squirming around, avoiding Holopainen's attempts to control the action.
Hari tries to lock up and control but Holopainen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Holopainen wants to finish this one by submission but Hari is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Holopainen.
Holopainen wants to control the pace but Hari is squirming around nicely.
Hari sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hari wants to get back to full guard.
Hari tries to kick Holopainen off but Holopainen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hari trying to control but Holopainen postures up.
Hari is looking to get back to is feet but Holopainen passes into side control.
Hari tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hari struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Hari can't do much from the bottom here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Holopainen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hari tries to clinch but Holopainen moves away

and Holopainen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hari!
Holopainen trying to control but Hari is having none of it.
Hari is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heikki Holopainen dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hari lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Hari wants to clinch.
Hari tries to close the distance and clinch but Holopainen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hari throws a sloppy head kick

and Holopainen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hari's guard now.

Holopainen stands up from Hari's guard - Holopainen perhaps looking for a knockout.

Holopainen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Holopainen won't allow Hari to sweep him here.

Hari looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hari is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Holopainen is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holopainen throwing strikes but missing.
Hari tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hari looking to control but Holopainen passes into half guard.
Hari is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hari wants to clinch
and Holopainen counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hari tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Holopainen counters with a shoot takedown. Hari fights it but they end up in guard.

Hari kicks Holopainen off and gets to his feet.

Hari moves into the clinch.
Hari tries to land knees in the clinch but Holopainen avoids the damage to the body.
Hari lands a right hand.
Holopainen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hari goes for a takedown attempt but Holopainen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Badr Hari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hari clinches up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Holopainen is trying to stall.
Hari tries a knee to the head but Holopainen blocks it.
Hari throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Holopainen blocks it with crossed arms.
Hari with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hari lands a right hand that snaps the head of Holopainen backwards.
Hari using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Holopainen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hari lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hari tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Badr Hari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Holopainen letting Hari take a breather here.

Hari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Hari as Holopainen shoots in.
Both fighters circling a little - Holopainen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Holopainen shoots in for a double leg but Hari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heikki Holopainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hari misses with a takedown attempt

and Holopainen counters with a shoot takedown. Hari fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen landing with the ground and pound.
Hari is looking to stand up but Holopainen isn't so interested in that idea.

Hari scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hari closes the distance but Holopainen moves to the side

and Holopainen counters with a single leg into guard. Hari didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Holopainen gets to his feet. Hari looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hari tries to clinch up

and Holopainen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heikki Holopainen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Holopainen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heikki Holopainen!