PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommi Hartola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarkko Nordlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hartola
vs
Nordlund

192 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Hartola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Nordlund!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Hartola throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Hartola lands a big head kick that sends Nordlund tumbling to the mat! Hartola takes a step backwards and waves Nordlund back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Jarkko Nordlund has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hartola.
Nordlund bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hartola fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Hartola.
Nordlund misses with a straight left.

Hartola lands a big head kick that sends Nordlund tumbling to the mat! Hartola takes a step backwards and waves Nordlund back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Nordlund is rocked!
Nordlund uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hartola.
Hartola tries to clinch there but Nordlund circles away.
Hartola circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hartola lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hartola tries a head kick but it misses.
Hartola throws a head kick but Nordlund moves out of range.
Nordlund looks for the body kick but Hartola saw that one coming.
Hartola tries a head kick but it misses.
Hartola throws a nice head kick!
Hartola throws a head kick but Nordlund moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartola misses with a wild body shot.
Hartola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nordlund blocks a head kick by Hartola.
Nordlund moves out of range of the body kick from Hartola.
Hartola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Nordlund shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hartola is trying to defend but Nordlund finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nordlund is nestled in close to Hartola, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hartola is staying active underneath Nordlund, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
It looks like Nordlund is going to stand back up.
Nordlund lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nordlund thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hartola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nordlund.
Hartola has hold of Nordlund's hands but Nordlund slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ground and pound from Nordlund.
Nordlund throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hartola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nordlund.
Nordlund scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nordlund working the head and body with strikes.
Hartola manages to get to full guard.
Hartola preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nordlund connects with a couple of short punches.
Nordlund is working Hartola over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hartola wants to sweep but no luck.
Nordlund in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hartola looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nordlund is one step ahead there.
Nordlund trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nordlund loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four 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.
Nordlund trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nordlund working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hartola's head.
Hartola avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hartola trying to keep a closed guard but Nordlund is proving a slippery customer.
Nordlund scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nordlund in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hartola trying to keep a closed guard but Nordlund is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommi Hartola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jarkko Nordlund's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hartola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hartola misses with a head kick.
Nordlund swings for the body but Hartola moves out of range.

Nordlund closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hartola to the mat! Hartola manages to get full guard.
Nordlund missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nordlund postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hartola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nordlund works over Hartola with some ground and pound from guard.
Nordlund postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hartola avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nordlund tries to free his leg and advance position but Hartola is retaining full guard.
Nordlund is looking to work some ground and pound but Hartola has wrist control.
Hartola trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nordlund missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nordlund missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hartola darts in trying to clinch

and Nordlund counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hartola!
Hartola manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nordlund tries to pass to full mount but Hartola defends it.
Hartola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nordlund.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nordlund lands a nice short elbow.
Nordlund trying to mount his opponent but Hartola defends it.
Jarkko Nordlund has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nordlund thows a huge punch but Hartola dodges it nicely.
Nordlund missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nordlund misses with a head shot. Hartola uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hartola controls Nordlund momentarily but Nordlund frees himself.
Nordlund thows a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hartola has momentary wrist control but Nordlund slips an elbow through the middle.
Hartola 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.

Hartola working for a triangle but Nordlund defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nordlund accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nordlund scoring with punches to the head and body.
Nordlund content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartola is trying to keep Nordlund in close.
Nordlund trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nordlund keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hartola's head.
Nordlund throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hartola works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Hartola is looking for a triangle but Nordlund pushes his legs off easily.
Nordlund working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nordlund postures up and lands a big shot to Hartola's brow.
Nordlund postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hartola looking for a sweep. Not yet Hartola, not yet.
Hartola trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Nordlund showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jarkko Nordlund's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hartola throws a leg kick which misses Nordlund's front leg but catches the back leg as Nordlund tries to avoid it.
Hartola closes the distance but Nordlund moves to the side
and Nordlund counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nordlund misses with a double jab.
Hartola closes the distance looking to clinch
and Nordlund counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hartola thinking.
Nordlund slips under a jab from Hartola.
A slow jab from Hartola misses its intended target.
Hartola looks to land a body kick but Nordlund moved away.
Hartola throws a leg kick which misses Nordlund's front leg but catches the back leg as Nordlund tries to avoid it.
Hartola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hartola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hartola misses with an attempted mid kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hartola tries to clinch

and Nordlund counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nordlund takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hartola on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Nordlund scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hartola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nordlund.
Nordlund throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hartola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Nordlund.
Nordlund seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nordlund is trying to control. Hartola wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hartola avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nordlund.
Hartola on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hartola tries to get out of the position.
Hartola keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nordlund sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hartola defending well though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hartola fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Nordlund.
Hartola throws a nice head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hartola tries a head kick but it misses.
Hartola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hartola tries to clinch

and Nordlund counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hartola trying to control here.
Nordlund seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nordlund throwing shots but Hartola is blocking nicely.
Nordlund seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hartola does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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. Nordlund connects with a nice short shot to Hartola's temple.
Nordlund seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nordlund not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hartola is staying active underneath Nordlund, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hartola keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hartola is looking to control Nordlund's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hartola avoid being mounted?
Nordlund thows a huge punch but Hartola dodges it nicely.

Hartola has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Nordlund escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Nordlund!
Nordlund in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartola prevents Nordlund from improving position.
Nordlund scoring with punches from side control.
Nordlund scoring with punches from side control.
Hartola can't do much from the bottom here.
Nordlund sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hartola is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hartola is looking to regain half guard here but Nordlund keeps moving and retains side control.
Hartola is trying to control Nordlund's posture but Nordlund avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarkko Nordlund comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nordlund 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarkko Nordlund!