PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kaapo Hannuksela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drake Barry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hannuksela comes to the cage accompanied by The Sex Pistols - Submission. The crowd seem to be enjoying Barry's choice of entrance music: 3 AM. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hannuksela
vs
Barry

190 cm
20
198 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

180 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaapo Hannuksela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Drake Barry!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hannuksela leaves Barry with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hannuksela gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Barry counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hannuksela's guard now.
Barry thows a big elbow that misses.
Barry scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

It looks like Kaapo Hannuksela has been cut.
Hannuksela trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barry throwing strikes from guard but Hannuksela blocks nicely.

Hannuksela has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barry can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barry trying to control but Hannuksela is working from the bottom.
Barry has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hannuksela looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Barry puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hannuksela makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hannuksela.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barry accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barry stands up over Hannuksela, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barry in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hannuksela has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Barry can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barry loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Barry seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Barry wants to stand but Hannuksela is controlling his posture from full guard.
Barry is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Barry trying to control but Hannuksela is working from the bottom.
Hannuksela manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Barry manages to get himself to full guard.
Barry manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hannuksela manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hannuksela throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Barry gets to his feet - Hannuksela follows without any prompting.
Barry with a poor takedown

and Hannuksela decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barry's guard.
Hannuksela is breathing heavily.
Barry wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barry is on top in guard.
Hannuksela manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hannuksela wants to control the pace but Barry is squirming around nicely.
Barry wants to control but Hannuksela is having none of it.
Barry is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hannuksela looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hannuksela can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Barry is looking to escape.
Barry wants to control but Hannuksela is having none of it.
Barry is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hannuksela lands with some strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hannuksela landing punches.

Hannuksela is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Barry has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Barry regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Barry manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hannuksela won't allow Barry to sweep him here.
Barry is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Hannuksela is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hannuksela pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barry is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Drake Barry will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kaapo Hannuksela's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Barry gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hannuksela counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barry's guard now.
Barry keeping full guard, as Hannuksela tries to pass.
Hannuksela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hannuksela won't allow Barry to sweep him here.
Barry is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Barry trying to strike off his back.
Hannuksela loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hannuksela accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barry looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Barry with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hannuksela counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Barry's guard now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barry looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hannuksela is one step ahead there.
Barry manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Barry wants to control but instead Hannuksela manages to regain half guard.

Barry wants to work for an arm triangle but Hannuksela is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hannuksela manages to get to full guard.
Barry trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Hannuksela had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Barry is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Hannuksela Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Barry's back instead.
Kaapo Hannuksela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Barry manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hannuksela's guard. Nice work there by Barry.
Barry won't allow Hannuksela to sweep him here.
Barry with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Barry working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hannuksela looking for a sweep. Not yet Hannuksela, not yet.

Barry avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Barry postures up and lands a big shot to Hannuksela's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hannuksela looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Barry puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Barry is trying to control. Hannuksela wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hannuksela wants to get back to full guard.

Hannuksela is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Barry pulls his head out easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Barry looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hannuksela throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hannuksela controls Barry momentarily but Barry frees himself.

Barry avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hannuksela looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barry is one step ahead there.
Barry trying to control but Hannuksela is working from the bottom.
Barry lands a couple of digs.
Hannuksela keeping moving, preventing Barry from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hannuksela with a lazy takedown attempt

and Barry counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Barry.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hannuksela is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Barry stays in close to Hannuksela's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaapo Hannuksela dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kaapo Hannuksela's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Barry shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hannuksela is trying to defend but Barry finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hannuksela blocking the ground and pound attempt from Barry.
Hannuksela makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hannuksela.
Barry throwing strikes but missing.
Barry chips away with some ground and pound.

Hannuksela is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Barry pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hannuksela is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barry working some strikes from top position.
Barry postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Barry stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hannuksela swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hannuksela keeping moving, preventing Barry from controlling successfully.

Hannuksela looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hannuksela wants to sweep but no luck.
Barry trying to control but Hannuksela is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barry's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barry won't allow Hannuksela to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Barry stands up and waves to Hannuksela to follow him.
Barry fails with the takedown

and Hannuksela counters with a shoot takedown. Barry fights it but they end up in guard.
Hannuksela throwing strikes from guard but Barry blocks nicely.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barry is on top in guard.
Hannuksela manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Barry in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Barry slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hannuksela is thwarting Barry's attempts to control the position.
Barry is looking for a sweep. Hannuksela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barry regains full guard. Nicely done.

Barry looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hannuksela throws a big right hand that misses.
Barry keeping moving, preventing Hannuksela from controlling successfully.
Barry keeping full guard, as Hannuksela tries to pass.
Barry is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hannuksela is looking to improve his position.

Hannuksela looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hannuksela is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hannuksela has hold of Barry's hands but Barry slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Barry drops an elbow to the side of Hannuksela's head.
Hannuksela is looking to improve his position.
Barry is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Barry scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Barry blocks the strikes from Hannuksela.
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. Barry connects with a nice short shot to Hannuksela's temple.
Ground and pound from Barry.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Drake Barry.
I think Barry has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drake Barry!