PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Goli Haran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hempii Sapponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Goli Haran has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Haran
vs
Sapponen

189 cm
24
220 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
23
213 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Knockout power

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Goli Haran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hempii Sapponen!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Steve Erwin and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Haran. No joy for Sapponen on that attempt.
Sapponen fails to land the takedown.
Haran cracks Sapponen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hempii Sapponen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haran just misses with a punch to the body.
Sapponen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Goli Haran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hempii Sapponen.

Sapponen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sapponen moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Haran is not content to let Sapponen control the position.
Haran struggling a bit here.
Sapponen controlling the position from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haran is trying to improve his position.
Sapponen wants to control but Haran is keeping him busy.
Sapponen slows the pace down.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Hempii Sapponen.
A left and a right from Haran both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Hempii Sapponen has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen misses with a combination
and Haran counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Goli Haran is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haran looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Sapponen moves away from the strike by Haran.

Sapponen ducks straight into an uppercut from Haran and tumbles to the canvas! It’s a flash knockdown though - Sapponen manages to regain guard straight away.

Sapponen is rocked!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Haran won't allow Sapponen to sweep him here.
Sapponen is still in real trouble! Can Haran finish him?
Haran has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sapponen working a defensive guard here.
Sapponen seems to have recovered his senses.
Haran trying to control but Sapponen is working from the bottom.
Sapponen working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen controlling the position.
Haran trying to control but Sapponen is working from the bottom.
Sapponen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sapponen lands a nice shot to the body.
Haran is breathing heavily.
Sapponen tries for a takedown but Haran circles away easily
letting Haran counter with a right hand.
Sapponen with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Haran to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen walks into a straight right hand from Haran.
Sapponen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Haran.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Sapponen!

It looks like Goli Haran has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sapponen fails with the takedown
and Haran makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Haran connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Haran misses with a hook. Sapponen ducked under it nicely.
Sapponen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Haran counters with a nice body shot.
Haran sizes up Sapponen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Haran goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice shot lands for Haran.
Haran drops Sapponen with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Sapponen! Haran dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (strikes). Goli Haran!