PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daavid Haapalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Haapalainen
vs
Jackson

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daavid Haapalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Manny Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haapalainen misses with a few strikes there.
Haapalainen misses with a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Haapalainen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Haapalainen swinging wildly here.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Haapalainen leaves Jackson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Haapalainen closes the distance but Jackson moves to the side

and Jackson counters with a single leg into guard. Haapalainen didn't expect that.
Jackson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Jackson controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to advance position but Haapalainen won't allow it.
Jackson prevents Haapalainen from standing back up.
Haapalainen is pressing down on Jackson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Haapalainen is edging up against the ropes. He's using the ropes to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Haapalainen managing to block the knees to the body from Jackson.
Haapalainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jackson has him pressed against the ropes.
Haapalainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jackson has him pressed against the ropes.

Jackson tightens his grip and picks Haapalainen up, before dumping him to the ground. Haapalainen manages to land in guard.
Jackson looks gassed!
Haapalainen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jackson is controlling him.
Jackson trying to control but Haapalainen is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Haapalainen is keeping the position.

Haapalainen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jackson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Haapalainen isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Jackson stacks Haapalainen on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Jackson!
Jackson cracks Haapalainen with a big right hand but Haapalainen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapalainen seems a little lost for a moment, as Jackson dominates the positioning.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Haapalainen is trying to buck Jackson off.
Jackson lands some shots froms side control.
Haapalainen is trying to get back to half guard.
Haapalainen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Jackson has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Jackson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Haapalainen down.
Jackson working away.

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.
Jackson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Haapalainen keeps working.
Haapalainen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Haapalainen is not content to let Jackson control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Haapalainen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jackson circles away quickly and effectively.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Jackson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Haapalainen tries to clinch up

and Jackson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jackson is looking to take a break and control but Haapalainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Haapalainen pushes Jackson off looking to stand but Jackson dives back in and keeps control.
Haapalainen tries to roll over but Jackson keeps him under control.
Jackson thows a huge punch but Haapalainen dodges it nicely.
Haapalainen is staying active underneath Jackson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jackson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapalainen is trying to stand.
Haapalainen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Haapalainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jackson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Haapalainen wants to clinch up but Jackson keeps it at a distance.
Haapalainen throws a right and a left that Jackson avoids nicely.
Jackson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Haapalainen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Haapalainen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Haapalainen misses with the combination.
Jackson walks into a jab.
Haapalainen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Haapalainen throws a series of punches but Jackson moves out of range.
Haapalainen's corner calls for a 1-2. Haapalainen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Haapalainen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Jackson moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson successfully pulls guard.
Haapalainen is looking to stand up but Jackson won't let him.
Jackson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Jackson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Haapalainen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Haapalainen preventing the sweep.
Haapalainen wants to get up but he can't break Jackson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Haapalainen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Haapalainen throws a series of punches but Jackson avoids them all with ease.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Haapalainen as he jumps to the side.
Daavid Haapalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Jackson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A right-left combo lands from Haapalainen.

It looks like Manny Jackson has been cut.
Haapalainen wants to clinch

and Jackson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Haapalainen won't be happy with that.
Jackson trying to control the action but Haapalainen is working from the bottom.
Haapalainen is pushing Jackson's head away, looking to escape. Jackson manages to hold on to the position though.
Jackson throws an elbow but Haapalainen slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Manny Jackson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jackson is looking to land body kicks.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Haapalainen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Haapalainen is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jackson is controlling him well.

Jackson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Haapalainen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Jackson but great work by Haapalainen.
Jackson is trying to get back to his feet.

Haapalainen decides to stand back up. Haapalainen steps back and let's Jackson get back to his feet.
Haapalainen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No joy there for Haapalainen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Haapalainen throws a series of strikes that have Jackson backpedaling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Manny Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haapalainen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Jackson on the side of the head.
Haapalainen throws a nice looking combination but Jackson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Jackson tries to clinch but Haapalainen moves out of range.
Daavid Haapalainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haapalainen fails to land with a series of punches.
Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Daavid Haapalainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manny Jackson.
Haapalainen swats away the attempt to clinch by Jackson.

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.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Haapalainen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Haapalainen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jackson has time to react.
Haapalainen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jackson misses with a body kick.
Haapalainen misses with a few strikes there.
A left and a right from Haapalainen both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Haapalainen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jackson.
Haapalainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jackson has him pressed against the ropes.
Haapalainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Jackson won't allow it.
Jackson keeps control of Haapalainen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Haapalainen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jackson prevents Haapalainen from breaking the clinch.
Haapalainen tries to circle away but Jackson has him pinned against the ropes.
Haapalainen wants to break free but Jackson has control.
A frustrated look appears on Haapalainen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Jackson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Haapalainen prevents it.

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.
Haapalainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jackson has him pressed against the ropes.
A frustrated look appears on Haapalainen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Jackson looking for a takedown.
Haapalainen tries to circle away but Jackson has him pinned against the ropes.
Jackson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Haapalainen's efforts to push away.
Haapalainen can't break the clinch.

Jackson drags the fight down to the ground.
Haapalainen wanted to stand there but Jackson had control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Daavid Haapalainen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jackson 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Jackson!