PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Simo Haeiski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miikka Kumpulainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haeiski comes to the cage accompanied by Johnny - Beatiful Morning. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Haeiski
vs
Kumpulainen

180 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
180 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Simo Haeiski!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Miikka Kumpulainen!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kumpulainen shoots for a takedown but Haeiski saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Haeiski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kumpulainen.
Kumpulainen throws a body punch but Haeiski moves out of range.
Miikka Kumpulainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Haeiski shoots in and bounces Kumpulainen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Haeiski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kumpulainen is keeping the position for now.
Haeiski trying to control but Kumpulainen is working from the bottom.
Haeiski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Haeiski wants to control from the top but Kumpulainen keeps moving.
Haeiski looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumpulainen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Haeiski wants to control from the top but Kumpulainen keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kumpulainen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kumpulainen lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Simo Haeiski has been cut.
Kumpulainen thows a body kick. Haeiski tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Kumpulainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Haeiski is just out of range.
Kumpulainen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Haeiski sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Haeiski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Haeiski doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kumpulainen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Haeiski is breathing heavily.
Kumpulainen lands a high kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen moves out of range of the body kick from Haeiski.
Haeiski moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kumpulainen gets a clinch.
Kumpulainen looking for a takedown.
Haeiski trying to land knees to the body.
Haeiski jumps guard but Kumpulainen stands there with Haeiski around his waist. Haeiski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Kumpulainen has clasped his hands together around Haeiski's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kumpulainen is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Haeiski's shoulder. That is not cool.
Kumpulainen wants to control but Haeiski is keeping him busy.
Kumpulainen working away.
Haeiski manages to get back to half guard.

Haeiski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Haeiski wants to control but Kumpulainen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haeiski is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kumpulainen pulls his head out easily.
Haeiski is not content to let Kumpulainen control the position.
Haeiski moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Haeiski is looking for a triangle but Kumpulainen pushes his legs off easily.
Kumpulainen stopping the sweep attempt from Haeiski.
Haeiski is working hard here to advance position.
Kumpulainen postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haeiski is pulling down on Kumpulainen's head. It's preventing any offense from Kumpulainen, at least for the moment.
Kumpulainen wanted to stand there but Haeiski had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kumpulainen wants to pass the guard but Haeiski is keeping the position.
Kumpulainen sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kumpulainen gets a clinch.
Kumpulainen tries to pull guard but Haeiski won't allow it.
Simo Haeiski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Miikka Kumpulainen.

Kumpulainen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Haeiski is trying to keep an underhook but Kumpulainen manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haeiski is trying to get back to full guard.
Kumpulainen trying to mount his opponent but Haeiski defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miikka Kumpulainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Simo Haeiski's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Haeiski misses with a takedown attempt
and Kumpulainen counters with an outside leg kick.
Haeiski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kumpulainen lands with a kick to the temple. Haeiski shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Kumpulainen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kumpulainen manages to break the clinch.
Haeiski doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kumpulainen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Haeiski!
Kumpulainen prevents Haeiski from getting the reversal.

Kumpulainen is working for a guillotine from mount but Haeiski frees his head quite easily.
Kumpulainen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kumpulainen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kumpulainen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumpulainen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Haeiski regains half guard.
Haeiski is trying to get back to full guard.
Kumpulainen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Haeiski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kumpulainen is looking to take a break and control but Haeiski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kumpulainen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Haeiski knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Kumpulainen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

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.
Kumpulainen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Haeiski wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Kumpulainen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kumpulainen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kumpulainen trying to control but Haeiski is having none of it.
Kumpulainen with shots to the head and body - Haeiski looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kumpulainen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Haeiski hang on?
Haeiski tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kumpulainen tries to control but Haeiski wriggling away.
Kumpulainen lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen wants to control the pace but Haeiski is squirming around nicely.
Kumpulainen controlling the pace for now.
Kumpulainen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Haeiski is looking to escape.

Kumpulainen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kumpulainen trying to control but Haeiski is having none of it.
Kumpulainen wants to control but instead Haeiski manages to regain half guard.

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.
Kumpulainen trying to control the pace.
Kumpulainen trying to control the action but Haeiski is working from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Miikka Kumpulainen just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kumpulainen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Haeiski's calf.
Kumpulainen is looking to slow Haeiski down with leg kicks.

Kumpulainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haeiski is not content to let Kumpulainen control the position.

Haeiski is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kumpulainen pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miikka Kumpulainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Simo Haeiski's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kumpulainen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Haeiski throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Kumpulainen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Haeiski wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Haeiski is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kumpulainen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Haeiski is trying to control the position but Kumpulainen postures up.

Haeiski has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kumpulainen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Haeiski is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kumpulainen stands up over Haeiski, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kumpulainen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kumpulainen postures up in Haeiski's guard and throws a big left but Haeiski blocks it.
Kumpulainen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kumpulainenis looking to pass into half guard but Haeiski pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Haeiski is in guard.
Kumpulainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kumpulainen pulls Haeiski in close to prevent any damage.
Haeiski controlling from the top position.

Haeiski stands up from Kumpulainen's guard - Haeiski perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kumpulainen fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Haeiski counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Kumpulainen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Haeiski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kumpulainen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kumpulainen working a defensive guard but Haeiski passes into half guard.
Kumpulainen is in trouble now - Haeiski has advanced to mount!
Haeiski is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Haeiski scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kumpulainen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Haeiski is trying to control here but Kumpulainen has managed to regain half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haeiski looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kumpulainen has hold of Haeiski's hands but Haeiski slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kumpulainen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kumpulainen is trying to get back to full guard.
Haeiski is looking to take a break and control but Kumpulainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kumpulainen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Haeiski.
Kumpulainen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kumpulainen.
Kumpulainen keeping moving, preventing Haeiski from controlling successfully.
Kumpulainen is looking to sweep but instead, Haeiski has passed into half guard.

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.
Kumpulainen is trying to maintain the position but Haeiski is very close to passing his half guard.
Haeiski wants to control but Kumpulainen is keeping him busy.
Haeiski is just content to waste time from the top position. Kumpulainen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Haeiski throwing strikes but missing.
Haeiski pushes down on Kumpulainen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kumpulainen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Haeiski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Haeiski is keen to just control but Kumpulainen is a slippery customer.
Kumpulainen is trying to maintain the position but Haeiski is very close to passing his half guard.

Haeiski is trying for a kimura here. Kumpulainen looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Haeiski wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Simo Haeiski!
Simo Haeiski is the new welterweight champion!