PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steve Buscemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taneli Haapavaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buscemi comes to the cage accompanied by Sopranos Theme. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Buscemi
vs
Haapavaara

165 cm
24
159 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

184 cm
21
165 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

MFS´s Natural Nutrition and Laundry service

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Buscemi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taneli Haapavaara!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Buscemi shoots for a takedown but Haapavaara saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Buscemi misses with a head kick.
Haapavaara slaps away a takedown attempt from Buscemi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Haapavaara keeps the fight on the outside.
Haapavaara throws a head kick but Buscemi moves out of range.
Buscemi takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Haapavaara avoids the head kick by Buscemi.
Haapavaara connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Haapavaara throws a leg kick that misses.
Haapavaara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Buscemi avoids a punch combination nicely.

Buscemi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Buscemi landing knees to the body.
Buscemi prevents Haapavaara from breaking the clinch.
Haapavaara managing to block the knees to the body from Buscemi.
Buscemi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Haapavaara's efforts to push away.
Haapavaara wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Buscemi has him pressed against the cage.
Haapavaara has had enough of the clinch but Buscemi keeps him there for the moment.
Buscemi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Haapavaara takes a knee to the side of the body.
Buscemi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Haapavaara can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapavaara wants to break free but Buscemi has control.
Buscemi lands a nice elbow.
The referee is keeping an eye on Buscemi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Buscemi with a knee to the head.
Buscemi lands a knee to the body.
Buscemi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Buscemi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Buscemi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Buscemi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Haapavaara trying to control the position but instead, Buscemi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Haapavaara into the cage.
Haapavaara looks gassed!
Haapavaara tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Buscemi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Haapavaara misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Buscemi holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Haapavaara takes a knee right on the jaw!
Buscemi controlling the action here for a moment.
Haapavaara tries to break free but Buscemi pushes him back against the cage.
Buscemi stalling the fight.
Haapavaara is looking to break free of the clinch but Buscemi has double underhooks.
Buscemi keeps control of Haapavaara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Buscemi digs a right hand underneath Haapavaara's ribcage. Haapavaara let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi stalling in the clinch.
Buscemi using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Buscemi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Buscemi pushes Haapavaara back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Haapavaara wants to break the clinch but can't.
Buscemi lands a knee to the head.
Buscemi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Haapavaara's face.
Knees in the clinch landing for Buscemi.
Buscemi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Buscemi stalling.
Buscemi using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knees to the body from Buscemi.
The referee is keeping an eye on Buscemi - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Knees in the clinch landing for Buscemi.
Buscemi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Haapavaara's face.
Buscemi lands a knee to the head.
Buscemi scores with a knee to the head.

Buscemi has hold of one of Haapavaara's legs. Haapavaara is fighting the takedown attempt but Buscemi gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Buscemi tries to free his leg and advance position but Haapavaara is retaining full guard.
Buscemi is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Buscemi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Haapavaara swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haapavaara keeping moving, preventing Buscemi from controlling successfully.
Buscemi controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Buscemi wants to pass the guard but Haapavaara is keeping the position.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Haapavaara loads up on a big right hand but Buscemi slips the punch.
Buscemi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Haapavaara. No joy for Buscemi on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Buscemi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haapavaara misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Buscemi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haapavaara keeps the fight on the outside.
Buscemi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Buscemi shoots in looking for a takedown. Haapavaara tries to sprawl out of it but Buscemi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Haapavaara manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Haapavaara throws out a loose jab but Buscemi uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Buscemi avoids a kick to the body.
Buscemi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Haapavaara sprawls well. Haapavaara wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Buscemi gets slowly back to his feet.
Steve Buscemi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haapavaara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Haapavaara wants it to stay on the feet.
Buscemi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haapavaara lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Haapavaara connects with a body shot.
Buscemi has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Haapavaara finds it's way round the side to connect with Buscemi's head.
Haapavaara tries to score with a low kick but Buscemi moves his leg out of the way.
Buscemi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Haapavaara scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Haapavaara is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Haapavaara throws a good cross that connects.
Haapavaara throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Buscemi tries a head kick but it misses.
Buscemi fails with an attempt to clinch.

Buscemi moves into the clinch.
Haapavaara on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Buscemi putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Haapavaara in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Buscemi is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Haapavaara can't fight it off and eventually Buscemi manages to take the fight to the floor. Haapavaara looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Haapavaara utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Haapavaara is trying to control the position but Buscemi postures up.
Haapavaara keeping full guard, as Buscemi tries to pass.
Buscemi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Buscemi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Buscemi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Haapavaara is trying to keep Buscemi in close.
Buscemi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haapavaara is trying to control the position but Buscemi postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Haapavaara. No joy for Buscemi on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Buscemi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Haapavaara misses the target.
Haapavaara avoids the head kick by Buscemi.
No luck for Buscemi with that takedown attempt.
Haapavaara tries a head kick but it misses.
Buscemi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Haapavaara moves into range and connects with a jab.

Buscemi moves into the clinch.
Buscemi effectively controlling the action here.
Haapavaara has a couple of punches blocked by Buscemi.
Buscemi prevents Haapavaara from breaking the clinch.
Buscemi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Haapavaara is looking to break free of the clinch but Buscemi has double underhooks.
Haapavaara is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Buscemi looking to throw knees to the head but Haapavaara is blocking nicely.
A frustrated look appears on Haapavaara's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Haapavaara tries to break the clinch but Buscemi is controlling the position.
Buscemi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Haapavaara's face.
Haapavaara takes a knee right on the jaw!
Buscemi has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Haapavaara avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Buscemi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Haapavaara's efforts to push away.
Stalling in the clinch from Buscemi.

Buscemi has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Haapavaara is trying to keep an underhook but Buscemi manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Buscemi is looking to take a break and control but Haapavaara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Haapavaara pushes Buscemi off looking to stand but Buscemi dives back in and keeps control.
Buscemi works his way into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapavaara is squirming around, avoiding Buscemi's attempts to control the action.
Haapavaara is in all sorts of trouble here.
Buscemi unloading with bombs!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haapavaara is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Buscemi throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Buscemi thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Buscemi dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Haapavaara scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Buscemi doesn't seem bothered though.
Buscemi tries a head kick but it misses.

Buscemi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Buscemi fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Buscemi is looking to take a break and control but Haapavaara is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Haapavaara can't do much from the bottom here.
An elbow from Buscemi crashes against the mat.
Buscemi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Buscemi passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Haapavaara!
Haapavaara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Buscemi lands a heavy elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapavaara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Buscemi is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Haapavaara has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Buscemi throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Haapavaara because Buscemi loaded up on that one.
Buscemi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Buscemi controlling from the full mount.
Taneli Haapavaara has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Buscemi trying to control but Haapavaara is having none of it.
Buscemi controlling the pace for now.
Buscemi landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Buscemi wants to control the pace but Haapavaara is squirming around nicely.
Buscemi thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Haapavaara avoids a series of strikes thrown by Buscemi.
Buscemi thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Buscemi thowing shots but they're missing.
Buscemi lands a big shot there that rocks Haapavaara but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Buscemi tries to control but Haapavaara wriggling away.

That's four 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.
Haapavaara is trying to escape the mount.

Buscemi has hold of Haapavaara's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Haapavaara manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Haapavaara avoids a series of strikes thrown by Buscemi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Buscemi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Buscemi, 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Buscemi!