PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antti Haapasalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peter North (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haapasalo's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Korpiklaani - Let's Drink . The crowd seem to be enjoying North's choice of entrance music: Pantera - Fucking Hostile. Antti Haapasalo has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Haapasalo
vs
North

189 cm
22
245 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

167 cm
24
285 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Haapasalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Peter North!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
North tries to close the distance and clinch but Haapasalo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Peter North seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haapasalo misses with a few strikes there.
A big right from North misses.
North keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

North has managed to clinch.
Haapasalo is trying to break the clinch but North is controlling him.
North misses with an elbow strike.
North throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, North just misses with a elbow thrown towards Haapasalo's brow.
Haapasalo tries to pull guard but North holds him up against the cage and eventually Haapasalo drops back down to his feet.
Nice elbow from North.
North throws an elbow that misses.

Haapasalo manages to break the clinch.
North is looking to clinch but Haapasalo is avoiding it.

North darts in and clinches Haapasalo up against the cage.
North creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
North lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Antti Haapasalo has been cut.
North lands a damaging elbow.
North lands an elbow that stopped Haapasalo in his tracks for a moment.
A frustrated look appears on Haapasalo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
North throws an elbow that misses.
Haapasalo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Haapasalo can't find room to land a body shot as North controls the action.
North misses with an elbow over the top.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Haapasalo blocks an elbow strike.

Haapasalo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

North takes the fight into the clinch.
North creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
North lands an elbow just above Haapasalo 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by North.
Haapasalo tries to pull guard but North won't allow it.
Haapasalo throws a punch but it's blocked by North.
North throws an elbow but it's blocked.
North prevents Haapasalo from breaking the clinch.
Haapasalo wants to get back to striking at distance but North won't allow it.
North pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Haapasalo avoids a wild elbow strike from North.
North prevents Haapasalo from breaking the clinch.
A short right from Haapasalo on the inside.
North creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Haapasalo's defenses.
North throws an elbow that misses.
Haapasalo takes an elbow to the forehead.
Haapasalo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as North walks away with a smile on his face. Haapasalo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antti Haapasalo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haapasalo scores with a punch to the head.
Haapasalo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Haapasalo keeps the fight on the outside.
North takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

North forces Haapasalo back against the cage and clinches.
North lands an elbow inside.

Haapasalo successfully pulls guard.

Haapasalo pushes North off and gets back to his feet.
North tries to clinch there but Haapasalo circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

North clinches up with Haapasalo and pushes him back against the cage.

Haapasalo breaks from the clinch.
North tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haapasalo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Haapasalo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
North slips a straight right by Haapasalo.
North fails to land with a series of punches.
North doesn't manage to clinch there - Haapasalo circles away.
Haapasalo keeps the fight on the outside.
Haapasalo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Haapasalo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between North's hands.
North is looking to clinch.

North closes the distance and pushes Haapasalo back into the cage.
Haapasalo blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, North just misses with a elbow thrown towards Haapasalo's brow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by North.

Haapasalo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Haapasalo misses with a straight left.
Haapasalo misses with the combination.
North tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haapasalo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
North throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
North fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
North tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haapasalo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Haapasalo connects with a nice looking jab.
Haapasalo with a hook.
Haapasalo is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
North misses the jab.
Haapasalo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
North tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haapasalo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
North misses with an uppercut. Haapasalo saw that one coming.
North missing with a left hand there. Haapasalo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Haapasalo is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Haapasalo scores with a nice right hand.
North tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haapasalo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
North fails in his attempt to clinch.
A slow jab from Haapasalo misses its intended target.
Haapasalo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from North.
North has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Haapasalo finds it's way round the side to connect with North's head.
North tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Haapasalo lands with a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Haapasalo. That snapped North's head back.
North is looking to clinch but Haapasalo is avoiding it.
North tries to clinch up but Haapasalo circles away and keeps his distance.
North is looking to clinch.
North throws a right hand that Haapasalo ducks under and follows up with a left that Haapasalo also avoids with ease.
North moves in looking to clinch but Haapasalo pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapasalo circles away from the clinch attempt.
North doesn't manage to clinch there - Haapasalo circles away.
North doesn't manage to clinch there - Haapasalo circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - North looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Haapasalo lands a really nice looking cross but North seems unphased.
North takes a jab right on the kisser.
Haapasalo cracks North with a good jab.
North tries to clinch but Haapasalo is having none of it.
North tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Haapasalo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Haapasalo is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Haapasalo keeps the fight on the outside.
Haapasalo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Haapasalo loads up on a big right hand but North slips the punch.
Haapasalo connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
North tries to clinch there but Haapasalo circles away.
North tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - North looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Haapasalo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
North tries to clinch but Haapasalo moves out of range.
Haapasalo lands with a good body shot.
Haapasalo circles away from the clinch attempt.
North is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Haapasalo!
Haapasalo lands with a straight right. North didn't see that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Haapasalo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antti Haapasalo'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.

Haapasalo moves away from the strike by North.
Haapasalo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Haapasalo keeps the fight on the outside.
Haapasalo keeps the fight on the outside.
Haapasalo looks to land a combination. North sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Haapasalo scores with a jab.
North doesn't manage to clinch there - Haapasalo circles away.
Haapasalo catches North with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
North takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

North gets a clinch.

Haapasalo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

North clinches.
North throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Haapasalo lands a right hand.
A frustrated look appears on Haapasalo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
North gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Haapasalo tries to break free but North pushes him back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Haapasalo.
North throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Haapasalo has had enough of the clinch but North keeps him there for the moment.
Haapasalo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
North is breathing heavily.

Haapasalo breaks the clinch.
Haapasalo scores with the left hand. North knows he should have avoided that one.
Haapasalo lands with a good body shot.
Haapasalo swats away the attempt to clinch by North.
Haapasalo throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapasalo looks to land a combination. North sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Haapasalo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Haapasalo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Peter North has been cut.
Haapasalo lands the left hand.
North has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Jab from Haapasalo.
Haapasalo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Haapasalo here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Haapasalo connects with the punch.
North throws the left hand but Haapasalo avoids the punch easily.
Nice shot by Haapasalo.
Haapasalo tests North's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Haapasalo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
North takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice defenses there by Haapasalo.
Haapasalo ducks under a wild hook from North.
Haapasalo swats away the attempt to clinch by North.
Haapasalo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before North has time to react.
Haapasalo thuds a left hand into North's body.
Haapasalo works the jab nicely.
A nice combination there by Haapasalo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
North moves in looking to clinch but Haapasalo pushes him off.
Jab, jab by Haapasalo - just one landing.
Haapasalo connects with the punch.
North ducks right into an uppercut from Haapasalo.
North is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Haapasalo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Haapasalo.
Haapasalo lands with a good body shot.
North misses with a double jab.
North wants to clinch up but Haapasalo keeps it at a distance.
North doesn't manage to clinch there - Haapasalo circles away.
Antti Haapasalo is winning the standup battle so far.

North gets in close and instigates a clinch.
North misses with an elbow over the top.
North pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Haapasalo can't break the clinch.
North comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Haapasalo dodges an elbow strike from North.
North pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Haapasalo pushes North back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Haapasalo blocks the elbow strike.
Haapasalo blocks the elbow strike.

Haapasalo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Haapasalo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
North takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Haapasalo comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Haapasalo lands.
Haapasalo scores with a shot to the body.
Haapasalo lands with an overhand left.
Haapasalo lands a glancing blow to the side of North's head.
Haapasalo throws out a powerful jab.
Haapasalo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
North looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Haapasalo lands a body shot.
Haapasalo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Haapasalo lands an overhand right.
Haapasalo lands a nice hook to North's body. North takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
North tries to clinch up.
Haapasalo lands with a cross.
North takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
North moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
North tries to close the distance and clinch up but Haapasalo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Haapasalo cracks North with a good jab.
North jabbing away but nothing is landing.
North throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Haapasalo scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
North takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Haapasalo connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapasalo works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
North tries to clinch but Haapasalo moves out of range.
Haapasalo thuds his right hand into North's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Haapasalo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Haapasalo cracks a nice hook into North's ribs.
Decent striking displayed by Haapasalo there.
Haapasalo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Haapasalo connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed North momentarily.
Haapasalo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Haapasalo jabs at North's body.
Haapasalo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent North stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Haapasalo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Haapasalo jabs at North's body.
North takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Nice shot by Haapasalo.
Haapasalo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. North looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jab, jab by Haapasalo - just one landing.
Haapasalo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
North swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
North takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Haapasalo throws a one two combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Haapasalo dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Haapasalo sizes up North with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Haapasalo lands with a nice body punch.
North takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
North drops his hands momentarily and Haapasalo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Haapasalo lands with a nice body punch.
Haapasalo throws a series of strikes that have North backpedaling.
A punch combination from Haapasalo misses.
North moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Haapasalo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Nice straight punches there by Haapasalo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Haapasalo.
Haapasalo with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Haapasalo scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
North takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Haapasalo throws a good cross that connects.
Haapasalo catches North with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haapasalo thuds a left hand into North's body.
Haapasalo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
North gets cracked there but stands up to it.
North takes a shot to the body in his stride.
North is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Haapasalo.
North takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice combination there by Haapasalo.
North walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapasalo works the jab nicely.
Haapasalo with a jab.
Haapasalo scores with a jab to the head.
North gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Haapasalo cracks North with a right hand to the side of the head.
North moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Haapasalo cracks a nice hook into North's ribs.
Haapasalo with a jab.
Haapasalo lands a nice shot that snaps North's head back.
Haapasalo lands with a shot to the body.
Haapasalo throws a series of strikes that have North backpedaling.
Haapasalo digs a good body shot into North's ribs.
Haapasalo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Haapasalo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Haapasalo.
Haapasalo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by North.
Haapasalo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Haapasalo connects with a nice looking jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Haapasalo digs a good body shot into North's ribs.
Peter North has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haapasalo connects with a nice looking jab.
Haapasalo fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. North looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
North with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Haapasalo to score with a decent uppercut.
Haapasalo lands a jab to North's midsection.
Haapasalo with a hook.
Haapasalo scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. North doesn't seem bothered though.
Haapasalo scores with a jab.
Haapasalo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that North can do to turn this around?
A left and a right from Haapasalo both land. Nice combination.
Haapasalo scores with a decent looking hook.
Haapasalo lands a lovely overhand right.
Haapasalo thuds his right hand into North's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
North ducks right into an uppercut from Haapasalo.
Haapasalo scores with a hook.
Haapasalo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Haapasalo lands a right hook to the body.
Haapasalo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Decent striking displayed by Haapasalo there.
North doesn't manage to clinch there - Haapasalo circles away.
Haapasalo scores with a nice head shot.
Nice shot by Haapasalo.
North takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapasalo throws a good cross that connects.
North takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Haapasalo lands a body shot.
Haapasalo keeps the fight on the outside.
Haapasalo scores with a sloppy right hand. North should have avoided that one.
Haapasalo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Haapasalo's corner calls for a 1-2. Haapasalo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A shot to de liver by Haapasalo. Beautiful body shot.
North takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
North tries to clinch there but Haapasalo circles away.
Antti Haapasalo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
North tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Good shot there by Haapasalo.
Haapasalo scores with a jab. North acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Haapasalo lands with a nice body punch.
Haapasalo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A right-left combo lands from Haapasalo.
Haapasalo scores with a jab to the jaw.
North tries to clinch but Haapasalo moves out of range.
Haapasalo cracks North with a right hand to the side of the head.
North takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
North takes a jab right on the kisser.
North tries to close the distance and clinch but Haapasalo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
North gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

North closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Haapasalo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
North misses with an elbow over the top.
North keeps control of Haapasalo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Haapasalo misses with some punches.
Haapasalo tries to pull guard but North won't allow it.
Haapasalo avoids the elbow strike from North, against the cage.
Haapasalo dodges an elbow strike from North.
Haapasalo dodges an elbow strike from North.
North pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
North misses with an elbow strike.
Haapasalo is looking to break free of the clinch but North has double underhooks.
Haapasalo has North pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. North manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Haapasalo dodges an elbow strike from North.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Haapasalo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Haapasalo tries to break free but North pushes him back against the cage.
North is pressed up against the cage. Haapasalo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag North down to the mat. North avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antti Haapasalo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
North tries to clinch up.
North throws out a loose jab but Haapasalo uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Haapasalo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Haapasalo, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:25
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Haapasalo!