PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Hanska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaapo Hannuksela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hanska's entrance music is Rytmihäiriö - Pakko Tappaa Ihminen . A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Hannuksela's choice of entrance music: The Sex Pistols - Submission. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hanska
vs
Hannuksela

188 cm
25
190 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

190 cm
21
198 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Hanska!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaapo Hannuksela!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanska ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hannuksela moves away.
Hanska throws a nice looking combination but Hannuksela bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Seppo Hanska seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hanska throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hannuksela stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hannuksela keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hanska.

Hannuksela looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hanska tries to roll over but Hannuksela keeps him under control.
Hannuksela is thwarting Hanska's attempts to control the position.
Hannuksela not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hanska trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Hannuksela manages to pass to mount!
Hanska tries to hold on but Hannuksela pushes him away.
Hanska is looking to improve his position but Hannuksela isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hannuksela working the ground and pound effectively.
Hannuksela thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hanska in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Poor strikes thrown by Hannuksela there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Hanska is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hannuksela landing strikes from the mount and Hanska is in trouble!
Hanska on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hanska tries to get out of the position.
Hannuksela working Hanska over with strikes here.
Hanska is looking to improve his position but Hannuksela isn't that keen on the idea.
Hanska slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hannuksela slips a nice elbow through Hanska's hands, connecting with Hanska's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanska moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hanska working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hannuksela.
Hanska wants to sweep here but Hannuksela controlling him for the moment.
Hannuksela missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hannuksela is stalling in the full guard.

Hannuksela drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hanska looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hanska looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hanska!
Hannuksela looks gassed!
Hanska lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hannuksela on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hannuksela takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanska cracks Hannuksela with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Hannuksela taking punishment in the form of punches.
Hanska lands some shots froms side control.
Hanska grinds an elbow into Hannuksela's temple.
Hanska scoring with punches and elbows.
Hanska lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hannuksela down.
Hannuksela is trying to control Hanska's posture but Hanska avoids it.
Hannuksela on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hannuksela is looking for a sweep.
Hannuksela is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hannuksela manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hannuksela is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hanska scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hanska looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hannuksela is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hanska scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanska working over Hannuksela with some ground and pound. Hannuksela looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hanska lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hannuksela is trying to get back to full guard.
Hannuksela taking some punishment here, with Hanska in his half guard.
Hanska scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hanska scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Hannuksela looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hanska lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hanska landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Hanska dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hanska lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Kaapo Hannuksela has been cut.
Hanska fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hannuksela manages to avoid it.
Hanska scores with a hook to the body. Hannuksela takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hanska lands a nice looking body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hanska swings for the body but Hannuksela moves out of range.
Hannuksela avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hannuksela is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hanska sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hannuksela showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hanska.
Hannuksela fails with the takedown.
Hannuksela is breathing heavily.
Hanska lands a nice shot that snaps Hannuksela's head back.
Hannuksela walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanska throws a series of punches but Hannuksela avoids them all with ease.
Seppo Hanska is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hanska is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hannuksela avoids the body shot from Hanska.
Hanska lunges at Hannuksela with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hannuksela's hand.
Hanska connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hannuksela's hands.
Hanska clobbers Hannuksela with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That has opened up Kaapo Hannuksela's cut even more.
Hanska looks to throw the jab but Hannuksela is out of range.
Nice body punch from Hanska.
Hanska fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hannuksela avoids it really well and circles away.
Hanska throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Seppo Hanska is winning the standup battle so far.
Hannuksela fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hanska avoids it really well and circles away.
Seppo Hanska has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaapo Hannuksela.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hanska lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hannuksela misses with a takedown

and Hanska counters with a takedown into side control.
Hannuksela has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
You can see the frustration on Hannuksela's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hanska looks up at the clock and then as Hannuksela takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hanska smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hanska landing strikes.
Hannuksela can't do much from the bottom here.
Hanska in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hannuksela is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Hanska's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Hanska scoring with punches and elbows.
Hanska lands a few punches from side control.
Hanska cracks Hannuksela with a big right hand but Hannuksela just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hanska working the body and head with strikes.
Hanska lands a few punches from side control.
Hanska working the body and head with strikes.
Hannuksela is looking to regain half guard here but Hanska keeps moving and retains side control.
Hannuksela is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hanska connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanska is chipping away with strikes.
Hannuksela on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hannuksela tries to improve position but can't.
Hannuksela takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hanska working away.
Hanska scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hannuksela to see if he's OK.
Hanska looks up at the clock and then as Hannuksela takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Hanska smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hannuksela is trying to control Hanska's posture but Hanska avoids it.
Check out the look on Hanska's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hannuksela is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Hannuksela takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hannuksela taking punishment in the form of punches.
Hannuksela wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Hanska dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kaapo Hannuksela's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Hanska takes a swing at Hannuksela's ribcage but misses.

Hannuksela looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hannuksela stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hanska swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Hannuksela has gone for a leg lock! Hanska slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hannuksela's guard.
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.
Hanska wants to get up but he can't break Hannuksela's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hanska content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hanska is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Hannuksela looking for a sweep. Not yet Hannuksela, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanska content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hanska lands a couple of digs.
Hanska working some strikes from top position.
Hanska stands up over Hannuksela, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hanska tries to free his leg and advance position but Hannuksela is retaining full guard.
Seppo Hanska overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hannuksela tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hanska landing with the ground and pound.
Hanska postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hanska postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hanska is working Hannuksela over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hanska trying to control but Hannuksela is working from the bottom.
Hanska is looking to work some ground and pound but Hannuksela has wrist control.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed right hand from Hanska misses the target.
Hannuksela shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hannuksela takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hanska rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hannuksela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Hannuksela closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hanska slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hannuksela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hanska keeping full guard, as Hannuksela tries to pass.
Hannuksela advances position into side control!
Hannuksela wants to control but Hanska is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanska manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hannuksela trying to advance position but Hanska counters by regaining guard.
Hanska looking for a sweep. Not yet Hanska, not yet.
Hanska is working hard here to advance position.
Hanska keeping full guard, as Hannuksela tries to pass.
Hanska is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hanska is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hanska looking for a sweep. Not yet Hanska, not yet.
Hanska utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hannuksela is defended easily by Hanska.
Hanska misses with a body shot.
Seppo Hanska is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hanska lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Kaapo Hannuksela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hannuksela takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hanska takes a swing at Hannuksela's ribcage but misses.
Hanska scores with a nice strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Seppo Hanska.
Well Hanska has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Hanska!