PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between vlatko lib (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Musashi Harakiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Musashi Harakiri is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

lib
vs
Harakiri

186 cm
21
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, vlatko lib!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Musashi Harakiri!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harakiri tries to clinch up.
lib keeps the fight on the outside.

Harakiri pushes lib up against the cage in a clinch.
lib stalling in the clinch but Harakiri improves position.
Maybe lib would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
lib connects with a knee to the head.

lib breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
lib darts in trying to clinch

and Harakiri counters by clinching up.
Harakiri can't break the clinch.
lib utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
lib unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Harakiri wants to break the clinch but can't.
lib throws a knee to the head but misses.
lib stalling in the clinch but Harakiri improves position.
Harakiri jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as lib walks away with a smile on his face. Harakiri gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

lib takes the fight into the clinch.
Harakiri takes a knee right on the jaw!
Harakiri has had enough of the clinch but lib keeps him there for the moment.
lib misses with a knee strike.
Harakiri wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Harakiri is looking to break free of the clinch but lib has double underhooks.
lib unloads a knee to the mid-section.
lib keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Harakiri's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
lib throws a knee to the head but misses.
Harakiri wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but lib has him pressed against the cage.
Harakiri lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of lib backwards.
lib misses with a knee to the head.
Harakiri takes a knee right on the jaw!
lib has Harakiri pressed against the cage.
lib is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Harakiri is defending well for now.
lib has Harakiri pressed against the cage, preventing Harakiri from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
lib misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Harakiri.
Harakiri wants to break the clinch but can't.
lib lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Harakiri wants to break the clinch but can't.
Harakiri looks gassed!
Harakiri fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Harakiri decides to pull guard.
lib preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harakiri has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

lib gets to his feet - Harakiri follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
lib tries to close the distance and clinch but Harakiri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Harakiri moves into the clinch.
Harakiri can't break the clinch.
Harakiri wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
lib trying to land knees to the body.
lib keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Harakiri's efforts to push away.
lib misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Harakiri.
lib keeps control of Harakiri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
lib has Harakiri pressed against the cage, preventing Harakiri from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Harakiri managing to block the knees to the body from lib.
Harakiri tries to circle away but lib has him pinned against the cage.
Harakiri wants to get back to striking at distance but lib won't allow it.
Harakiri wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but lib has him pressed against the cage.
lib keeps control of Harakiri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Harakiri tries to circle away but lib has him pinned against the cage.
Harakiri blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
lib connects with a knee to the head.
Harakiri wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Harakiri's face as he tries to break the clinch.

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.
Harakiri throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Harakiri working hard to break the clinch.
Harakiri wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
lib lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Harakiri is looking to break free of the clinch but lib has double underhooks.
lib landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
lib working Harakiri over with knees to the body.
lib lands a knee to the body.
Harakiri wants to break free but lib has control.
Harakiri can't break the clinch.
lib misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Harakiri.

Harakiri breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harakiri will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Harakiri doesn't manage to clinch there - lib circles away.
lib tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Harakiri counters with a left and a right that stings lib.
lib darts in trying to clinch

and Harakiri counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Harakiri.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

vlatko lib dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Harakiri is looking to clinch.
lib closes the distance but Harakiri moves to the side

and Harakiri counters by moving into the clinch.
lib misses with a knee strike.

lib breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
lib closes the distance looking to clinch
and Harakiri counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Harakiri clinches up against the cage.
Harakiri tries to break the clinch but lib is controlling the position.
Harakiri working hard to break the clinch.
Harakiri wants to get back to striking at distance but lib won't allow it.
Harakiri is trying to break the clinch but lib is controlling him.

lib breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Harakiri circles away from the clinch attempt.
Harakiri closes the distance and lands a one-two.
vlatko lib is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
lib moves in looking to clinch but Harakiri pushes him off.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Harakiri tries to clinch there but lib circles away.

lib has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harakiri is trying to break the clinch but lib has him pressed against the cage.
Harakiri is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Harakiri looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
lib unloads a knee to the mid-section. Harakiri lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

lib breaks the clinch.
Musashi Harakiri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - lib looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
lib tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Harakiri paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Harakiri misses with a double jab.
Harakiri tries to clinch but lib moves out of range.
Harakiri rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but lib moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

lib moves into the clinch.
lib putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Harakiri in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
lib keeps control of Harakiri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
lib keeps control of Harakiri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
lib keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Harakiri's efforts to push away.
lib crunches a lovely knee into Harakiri's ribcage.
Harakiri tries to break free but lib pushes him back against the cage.
Harakiri has had enough of the clinch but lib keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for lib.
lib working Harakiri over with knees to the body.
lib landing some nice looking knees to the body.
lib landing knees to the head.
lib controlling the action here for a moment.
lib keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Harakiri's efforts to push away.
lib connects with a knee to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Harakiri's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Harakiri is trying to break the clinch but lib has him pressed against the cage.
lib is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Harakiri is trying to break the clinch but lib is controlling him.
Harakiri working hard to break the clinch.
lib tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Harakiri avoids it.
lib misses with a knee to the head.
Harakiri tries to break free but lib pushes him back against the cage.
Harakiri is trying to break free.
lib keeps control of Harakiri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Harakiri on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Harakiri wants to get back to striking at distance but lib won't allow it.
Harakiri has had enough of the clinch but lib keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

lib's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
vlatko lib is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harakiri is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
lib fails in his attempt to clinch.
Harakiri keeps the fight on the outside.
Harakiri swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
lib tries to clinch but Harakiri moves out of range.
Harakiri shoots in but no luck this time.
Harakiri tries to bum rush lib with a series of wild strikes but lib uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A left and a right from Harakiri both land. Nice combination.
Harakiri tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but lib paws at him with a jab and circles away.
lib fails with an attempt to clinch.
lib wants to clinch
letting Harakiri counter with a right hand.
lib tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Harakiri counters by moving into the clinch.
vlatko lib has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Harakiri is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

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.
lib throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Harakiri blocks it with crossed arms.
lib prevents Harakiri from breaking the clinch.
lib wants to break the clinch but can't.
Harakiri is trying to force a seperation but lib has the dominant position.
Harakiri lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of lib backwards.
Harakiri wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Harakiri working hard to break the clinch.

lib breaks from the clinch.
Harakiri throws and low kick but lib moves out of range easily.
Harakiri wants to clinch up but lib keeps it at a distance.
Harakiri wants to clinch up but lib keeps it at a distance.
lib clinches but Harakiri breaks the clinch

and Harakiri counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

lib breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
lib misses with a knee strike.
Harakiri is trying to force a seperation but lib has the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Harakiri tries for a takedown but lib sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Harakiri looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Harakiri fails in his attempt to clinch.

Harakiri moves into range and clinches up with lib.
Harakiri wants to break the clinch but can't.

lib manages to break the clinch.
lib tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Harakiri counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Harakiri throws a right hand that lib ducks under and follows up with a left that lib also avoids with ease.
lib doesn't manage to clinch there - Harakiri circles away.
Harakiri looks to land a combination but lib avoids it well.
lib tries to close the distance and clinch but Harakiri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Harakiri circles away from the clinch attempt

and Harakiri counters by clinching up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
lib landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Harakiri is trying to break the clinch but lib is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

lib pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

lib rushes Harakiri and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harakiri tries to circle away but lib has him pinned against the cage.
Harakiri managing to block the knees to the body from lib.

lib pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Harakiri misses with a double jab.
Harakiri clinches but lib breaks the clinch
and lib counters with a big head kick but Harakiri shrugs it off.

Harakiri gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Harakiri is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

lib escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Harakiri rushes lib and presses him up against the cage.
Harakiri tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. lib smiles and moves away.
Harakiri throws a nice looking combination but lib bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Harakiri darts in trying to clinch

and lib moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
lib lands a good knee to the midsection. Harakiri won't want to take too many of those.

lib escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Harakiri moves into range and clinches up with lib.
lib is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Harakiri is defending well for now.
Harakiri is trying to break free.
lib scores a nice knee to the body.
lib with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Harakiri jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as lib walks away with a smile on his face. Harakiri gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
vlatko lib has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Musashi Harakiri.
Harakiri lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Harakiri.
A punch combination from Harakiri misses.
Harakiri closes the distance looking to clinch

and lib holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
lib with a knee to the head.
lib prevents Harakiri from breaking the clinch.
Harakiri tries to break the clinch but lib is controlling the position.
Harakiri tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. lib just stands there and leans against the cage.
lib keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Harakiri's efforts to push away.
Harakiri avoiding damage as lib throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
lib is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Harakiri is defending well for now.
Harakiri fails to pull guard.
Harakiri wants to break the clinch but can't.
Harakiri is trying to break free.
Harakiri is looking to break free of the clinch but lib has double underhooks.
lib keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Harakiri's efforts to push away.
Harakiri has had enough of the clinch but lib keeps him there for the moment.
lib with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

lib manages to break the clinch.
lib wants to clinch but Harakiri slips to the side
and Harakiri counters with a one-two to the body.
Harakiri is looking to clinch.
lib stuffs the takedown attempt from Harakiri. Harakiri gets slowly back to his feet.
Harakiri stalks lib and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into lib's face. lib staggers backwards, shaken.
lib tries to clinch up

and Harakiri counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

lib manages to break the clinch.
lib is looking to clinch but Harakiri is avoiding it.

Harakiri darts in and clinches lib up against the cage.
Harakiri wants to get back to striking at distance but lib won't allow it.
lib tries to land knees in the clinch but Harakiri avoids the damage to the body.
Harakiri wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
lib prevents Harakiri from breaking the clinch.
Harakiri tries to circle away but lib has him pinned against the cage.
Harakiri looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
lib is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
lib is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Harakiri is defending well for now.
Harakiri is trying to break the clinch but lib has him pressed against the cage.
Harakiri wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but lib has him pressed against the cage.
lib scores with a knee to the head.
lib keeps control of Harakiri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
lib with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
lib tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Harakiri avoids it.
Harakiri has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Harakiri wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Musashi Harakiri has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
vlatko lib is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harakiri wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but lib has him pressed against the cage.
Harakiri swings wildly with an uppercut but lib uses good head movement to avoid it.

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 vlatko lib.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for lib, 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... vlatko lib!