PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Jauhaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Vanhala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jauhaja comes to the cage accompanied by Onyx: SLAM. Vanhala has chosen Bad Religion - Generator as his entrance music. Jaakko Jauhaja has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Jauhaja
vs
Vanhala

195 cm
24
202 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
198 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Jauhaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Vanhala!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vanhala clinches with his opponent.
Jauhaja swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jauhaja lands a nice shot to the body.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Jauhaja.

It looks like Ari Vanhala has been cut.
Jauhaja lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Jauhaja swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jauhaja tries to land a knee to the head but Vanhala blocks with his arms.
Jauhaja lands a damaging elbow.
A hook to the body from Jauhaja.
Jauhaja misses with a body punch.
Vanhala trying to stall but Jauhaja improves his position.
Vanhala tries to score a body lock takedown but Jauhaja shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jauhaja.
Jauhaja prevents a body shot from Vanhala.
A short left from Jauhaja.
Vanhala is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jauhaja gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Vanhala throws a head punch that misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Vanhala lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vanhala wants to stall.
Jauhaja tries a knee to the head but Vanhala blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jauhaja as Vanhala tries to tie him up.
Jauhaja fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanhala has had enough of the clinch but Jauhaja keeps him there for the moment.
Jauhaja misses with a punch on the inside.
Jauhaja scores with a nice hook to the head.
Vanhala presses Jauhaja against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Jauhaja misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jauhaja pushes off an throws an elbow but Vanhala leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jauhaja lands an elbow inside.
Jauhaja swings wildly with an uppercut but Vanhala uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Jauhaja just misses with a elbow thrown towards Vanhala's brow.
Jauhaja stops a takedown attempt from Vanhala.
Jaakko Jauhaja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ari Vanhala.
A short uppercut from Jauhaja.
Vanhala taking a breather.
A short right from Jauhaja on the inside.
A short right from Vanhala on the inside.
Vanhala scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jauhaja blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Vanhala misses with some punches.
Jauhaja stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vanhala is pushing Jauhaja up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Vanhala looks gassed!
Jauhaja lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Vanhala is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jauhaja lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Jauhaja lands a nice uppercut.
Jauhaja misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vanhala misses with some punches.
Vanhala can't find room to land a body shot as Jauhaja controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vanhala.
Jauhaja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jauhaja throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Jauhaja tries to land a knee to the head but Vanhala blocks with his arms.
Vanhala avoids a wild elbow strike from Jauhaja.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jauhaja.
Vanhala lands with a right to the head.
Vanhala throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jauhajas head.
Vanhala looking to stall.
A short right from Jauhaja on the inside.
Jauhaja pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Vanhala blocks the elbow strike.
Jauhaja misses with the head strike.
Jauhaja misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Jauhaja fails to land.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jauhaja.
A left hand lands to the body for Vanhala.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala is trying to maintain a safe position but Jauhaja gets an underhook and turns Vanhala into the cage.
Jauhaja has a couple of punches blocked by Vanhala.
Vanhala is working Jauhaja over against the cage.
A short left from Vanhala.
Vanhala blocks an uppercut.
Jauhaja working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jauhaja.
Jauhaja unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Vanhala lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Jauhaja lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Vanhala.
Vanhala blocks the elbow strike.
Vanhala misses with the head strike.
Jauhaja fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jauhaja pushes Vanhala back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vanhala lands a body shot.
Jauhaja throws a punch but it's blocked by Vanhala.
Jauhaja misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vanhala prevents a body shot from Jauhaja.
Vanhala presses Jauhaja against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Vanhala lands a body punch in the clinch.

Vanhala gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Jauhaja regains guard.
Vanhala working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jauhaja's head.
Vanhala trying to control but Jauhaja is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala passes Jauhaja's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Vanhala passes to full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vanhala raining down hammerfists from mount.
Vanhala lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Jauhaja hang on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vanhala landing strikes, looking to finish!
Jauhaja is squirming around, avoiding Vanhala's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vanhala lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Vanhala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ari Vanhala's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vanhala misses with a two punch combination.
Jauhaja misses with a lunging right hand
and Vanhala counters with a series of strikes. Jauhaja will be more careful next time no doubt.
Jauhaja throws a sloppy head kick
and Vanhala counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jauhaja throws an off balance right hand
and Vanhala counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jauhaja throws a leg kick that misses.

Vanhala drives through with a takedown into Jauhaja's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Vanhala stays in close to Jauhaja's body and controls the position.
Vanhala postures up and lands a big shot to Jauhaja's brow.
Vanhala trying to control but Jauhaja is working from the bottom.
Jauhaja will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vanhala is stalling in the full guard.
Jauhaja wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vanhala lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Jauhaja avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jauhaja is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vanhala has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jauhaja is working away from the top position though.
Jauhaja wants to pass the guard but Vanhala is defending well.
Jauhaja trying to control the action but Vanhala is working from the bottom.
Jauhaja prevents Vanhala from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jauhaja wants to free his trapped foot but Vanhala is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Vanhala is looking for a sweep. Jauhaja is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jauhaja wants to control but Vanhala is keeping him busy.
Jauhaja throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vanhala is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jauhaja's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jauhaja's back!
Vanhala tries to get the hooks in deep but Jauhaja pushed the leg off.
Jauhaja is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vanhala is trying to stick to Jauhaja's back but Jauhaja is turning into Vanhala. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Vanhala's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Jauhaja.
Vanhala is trying to control the position but Jauhaja postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jauhaja drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Vanhala manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jauhaja has Vanhala in his guard.
Vanhala wants to control from the top but Jauhaja keeps moving.
Vanhala tries to free his leg and advance position but Jauhaja is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vanhala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jauhaja avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vanhala won't allow Jauhaja to sweep him here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vanhala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jauhaja is striking off his back. Vanhala thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vanhala content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Vanhala is trying to control the action in half guard but Jauhaja is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Vanhala might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jauhaja kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Jauhaja is looking for a sweep. Vanhala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jauhaja is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vanhala's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vanhala's back!
Vanhala is taking damage to the body and head.
Jauhaja throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Jauhaja cracks Vanhala with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Vanhala from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Vanhala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ari Vanhala's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Jauhaja tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Vanhala counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Vanhala is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Jauhaja is looking for a sweep. Vanhala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jauhaja keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jauhaja moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Vanhala looking to pass the guard.
Jauhaja wants to sweep but no luck.
Vanhala slips nicely into half guard.
Vanhala stalling away here and it's allowed Jauhaja to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jauhaja looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vanhala is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vanhala advances position into side control!
Jauhaja dodges the ground and pound from Vanhala.
Jauhaja is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Jauhaja is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vanhala's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vanhala's back!
Jauhaja is trying to stick to Vanhala's back but Vanhala is turning into Jauhaja. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Jauhaja's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Vanhala.
Vanhala is working Jauhaja over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Jauhaja looking for a sweep. Not yet Jauhaja, not yet.
Vanhala trying to control but Jauhaja is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Jauhaja had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vanhala defends it easily.
Vanhala pushing down on Jauhaja's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Jaakko Jauhaja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are battling for position here. Jauhaja manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Vanhala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jauhaja is keeping the position for now.
Vanhala loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vanhala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vanhala wants to pass the guard but Jauhaja is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jauhaja 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.
Ari Vanhala has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jauhaja can't keep his opponent in guard - Vanhala advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Vanhala seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jauhaja does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ari Vanhala is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jauhaja is looking to control Vanhala's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jauhaja avoid being mounted?
Jauhaja wants to get back to full guard.
Vanhala controlling the action here.

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.
Vanhala wants to take a breather but Jauhaja is having none of it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ari Vanhala wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jauhaja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jauhaja misses with a combination
and Vanhala counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Vanhala getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vanhala looks to score with a jab to the body but Jauhaja is just out of range.
Vanhala uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Jauhaja's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Vanhala connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Jauhaja scrambles back to his feet.
Vanhala walks into a stiff left hand from Jauhaja.
Jauhaja misses with a combination
and Jauhaja takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vanhala scores with a sloppy right hand. Jauhaja should have avoided that one.
Vanhala lands a jab to the head.
Jauhaja misses with a body shot
and Vanhala cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Vanhala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vanhala winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Vanhala!