PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lutalo Hajjar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terppi Maekinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hajjar
vs
Maekinen

172 cm
24
150 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

170 cm
26
157 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lutalo Hajjar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Terppi Maekinen!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hajjar misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hajjar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hajjar staying out of range there.
Maekinen misses the jab.
Hajjar blocks a jab.
Hajjar avoids a punch combination nicely.
Maekinen's corner calls for a 1-2. Maekinen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Maekinen stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lutalo Hajjar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hajjar closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hajjar lands in his opponent's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hajjar prevents Maekinen from getting back to his feet.

Hajjar stands up from Maekinen's guard - Hajjar perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hajjar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Maekinen's waist but Maekinen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hajjar off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hajjar slips a jab and a cross from Maekinen.
Maekinen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Terppi Maekinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Maekinen misses.
Maekinen stuffs the takedown attempt from Hajjar. Hajjar gets slowly back to his feet.
Maekinen misses the jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hajjar.
Maekinen stuffs the takedown.
The crowd cheers as Maekinen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hajjar doesn't seem phased though.
Terppi Maekinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hajjar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Maekinen but Maekinen pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Hajjar shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hajjar showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hajjar missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hajjar is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Maekinen!
Hajjar lands a big elbow.
Hajjar 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.
Hajjar sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Maekinen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hajjar looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hajjar trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maekinen is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maekinen is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Hajjar trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Maekinen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Maekinen is looking to get to half guard.
Hajjar punching from mount but Maekinen doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hajjar lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Maekinen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Maekinen is looking to get to half guard.
Hajjar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Hajjar looking to ground and pound but Maekinen is blocking nicely.
Maekinen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hajjar landing strikes from the mount.
Maekinen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hajjar.
Hajjar misses with a head shot.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hajjar landing strikes from the mount.
Hajjar scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hajjar in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Maekinen holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hajjar tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Hajjar unloads with some shots from mount but Maekinen bucks and avoids them well.
Hajjar throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Maekinen because Hajjar loaded up on that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lutalo Hajjar dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hajjar is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maekinen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hajjar.
Maekinen lands a two punch combo.
Maekinen cracks Hajjar with a good jab.
Maekinen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hajjar ducks under a wild hook from Maekinen.
Hajjar takes a jab right on the kisser.
Maekinen throws a hook but Hajjar avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hajjar on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Hajjar shoots in and bounces Maekinen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hajjar trying to control the position from guard on top but Maekinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hajjar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Maekinen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hajjar trying to control the position from guard on top but Maekinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maekinen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hajjar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hajjar prevents Maekinen from getting back to his feet.
Hajjar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hajjar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hajjar is working Maekinen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hajjar cracks Maekinen with a solid left hand.

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.

Hajjar drops back looking for a leg! Maekinen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Maekinen manages to kick Hajjar off! Hajjar jumps back into Maekinen's guard.
Hajjar not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hajjar passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hajjar misses with the ground and pound.
Maekinen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maekinen can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maekinen managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hajjar.

Hajjar decides to stand up, so the ref orders Maekinen to his feet.
Hajjar doesn't manage to clinch there - Maekinen circles away.
Maekinen misses with a looping left.
Lutalo Hajjar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maekinen misses with a wild body shot.
Hajjar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maekinen avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lutalo Hajjar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hajjar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maekinen as he avoids it easily.
Hajjar uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maekinen.
Some wild striking there from Maekinen.
Hajjar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maekinen avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Maekinen scores with a jab. Hajjar acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hajjar is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Maekinen.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hajjar, right into the meat.
Maekinen throws a lazy right hand but Hajjar sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Maekinen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hajjar on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Maekinen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maekinen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Maekinen throws a hook but Hajjar avoids it easily.
Hajjar blocks a jab.
Hajjar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maekinen tries to avoid it but Hajjar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maekinen to the ground. Maekinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maekinen leaves Hajjar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
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 Lutalo Hajjar will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Maekinen fails to land with a series of punches.
Maekinen misses with a looping left.
Hajjar dives in and grabs Maekinen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Maekinen pushes down on Hajjar's head and hops out.

Hajjar is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Maekinen's half guard.
Maekinen is not content to let Hajjar control the position.
Hajjar stops Maekinen from getting back to his feet.
Maekinen trying to hold on to Hajjar's head to control him but Hajjar postures up.
Maekinen wants to stand back up but Hajjar manages to pass into side control.
Maekinen is trying to buck Hajjar off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hajjar in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hajjar is looking to take a break and control but Maekinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hajjar lands some shots froms side control.
Maekinen struggling a bit here.
Lutalo Hajjar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
No luck for Hajjar with that takedown attempt.
Hajjar fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lutalo Hajjar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maekinen looks to land a left hand but Hajjar moved out of range nicely.

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.
Nice sprawl there from Maekinen as Hajjar shoots in.
Maekinen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hajjar.
Hajjar fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice cross by Maekinen.
Hajjar on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Maekinen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hajjar has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Maekinen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Maekinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Maekinen connects with a jab.
Good shot there by Maekinen.
Maekinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maekinen cracks Hajjar with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hajjar uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maekinen.
Maekinen cracks Hajjar with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hajjar slips a jab and a cross from Maekinen.
Maekinen lands the left hand.
Maekinen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Maekinen wants it to stay on the feet.
Maekinen throws a big shot that misses.
Maekinen throws a hook but Hajjar avoids it easily.
Terppi Maekinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hajjar slips a jab and a cross from Maekinen.
Maekinen jabs at Hajjar's body.
Hajjar avoids the body shot from Maekinen.
Maekinen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maekinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hajjar.
Maekinen stuffs the takedown.
Maekinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Hajjar is just out of range.

That's four 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.
Hajjar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maekinen tries to avoid it but Hajjar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maekinen to the ground. Maekinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hajjar on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hajjar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice takedown defense from Maekinen. No joy for Hajjar on that attempt.
Maekinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hajjar.
Maekinen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hajjar on the side of the head.
Hajjar shoots for a double leg takedown but Maekinen sprawls well. He's pushed Hajjar's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hajjar takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Maekinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Maekinen misses with a few strikes there.
Maekinen tries to bum rush Hajjar with a series of wild strikes but Hajjar uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Maekinen lands a head shot.
Hajjar will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lutalo Hajjar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maekinen throws a right hand that Hajjar ducks under and follows up with a left that Hajjar also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Terppi Maekinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hajjar has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lutalo Hajjar!