PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eric Hanssteth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sampsa Pikari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Hanssteth has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hanssteth
vs
Pikari

181 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

162 cm
18
181 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Lucid Nutrition
Lucid Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eric Hanssteth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sampsa Pikari!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanssteth throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hanssteth shoots in but Pikari avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pikari takes a swing at Hanssteth's ribcage but misses.
Hanssteth wants to clinch.
Hanssteth tries to clinch there but Pikari circles away.
Hanssteth tries to clinch there but Pikari circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hanssteth looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hanssteth wants to clinch up but Pikari keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pikari decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hanssteth is looking to improve his position.

Pikari is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikari not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Hanssteth is defending against the submission attempts here by Pikari.
Pikari misses with a head shot. Hanssteth uses the momentum to regain guard.
Pikari throws a big right hand that misses.

Hanssteth had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Pikari is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Hanssteth Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Pikari's back instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pikari tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pikari prevents Hanssteth from getting a body triangle.
Pikari just trying to survive but Hanssteth is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Pikari tries to roll but Hanssteth sticks to his back.
Pikari has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Pikari is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Hanssteth thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Hanssteth keeps control of the position as Pikari tries to break free.
Hanssteth will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A lull in the action here.
Hanssteth is trying to stick to Pikari's back but Pikari is turning into Hanssteth. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hanssteth's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Pikari.
Hanssteth is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikari wants to control from the top but Hanssteth keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hanssteth tries for a takedown but Pikari circles away easily

and Pikari counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pikari.
Pikari trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanssteth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pikari missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pikari working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pikari in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pikari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hanssteth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pikari with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hanssteth looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pikari throws a strike but Hanssteth rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pikari wants to sweep here but Hanssteth controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hanssteth tries to clinch but Pikari is having none of it.

Pikari looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Hanssteth!
Hanssteth is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Pikari misses with a head shot.
Pikari thowing shots but they're missing.
Pikari scoring with strikes but Hanssteth is staying in there.
Pikari landing strikes from the mount.
Pikari thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Poor strikes thrown by Pikari there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Poor strikes thrown by Pikari there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Pikari looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sampsa Pikari dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hanssteth fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hanssteth with a lazy takedown attempt

and Pikari counters with a single leg into guard. Hanssteth didn't expect that.
Pikari tries to free his leg and advance position but Hanssteth is retaining full guard.
Pikari content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pikari trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pikari trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanssteth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanssteth tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hanssteth has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pikari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hanssteth wants to sweep but no luck.
Pikari prevents Hanssteth from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hanssteth moves in looking to clinch but Pikari pushes him off.
Pikari lands a really nice looking cross but Hanssteth seems unphased.
Hanssteth tries for a takedown but Pikari circles away easily

and Pikari decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hanssteth's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikari throwing strikes from guard but Hanssteth blocks nicely.
Pikari trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanssteth is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pikari postures up in Hanssteth's guard and throws a big left but Hanssteth blocks it.
Hanssteth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pikari is in close to Hanssteth's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pikari working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hanssteth's head.
Pikari slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pikari throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Pikari creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hanssteth sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Pikari scores with a couple of short elbows.
Pikari has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Pikari thowing shots but they're missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikari punching from mount but Hanssteth doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hanssteth really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pikari avoids the attempt from Hanssteth to control.
Pikari unloads with some shots from mount but Hanssteth bucks and avoids them well.
Hanssteth wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Pikari.
Hanssteth working to try and regain half guard.
Pikari looking to land elbow strikes but Hanssteth uses the position to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hanssteth is looking to clinch but Pikari is avoiding it.
Hanssteth lands a head kick that stumbles Pikari and the fighters go to the mat.

Pikari is rocked!
Pikari keeping moving, preventing Hanssteth from controlling successfully.
Pikari is still in real trouble! Can Hanssteth finish him?

Hanssteth gets to his feet. Pikari looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Pikari keeps the fight on the outside.
Hanssteth misses with a takedown attempt

and Pikari decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hanssteth's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Hanssteth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pikari won't allow Hanssteth to sweep him here.
Hanssteth manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pikari manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanssteth is pushing down on Pikari's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pikari is fighting to maintain full guard but Hanssteth has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pikari seems to have recovered his senses.
Hanssteth is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
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!
Pikari is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikari is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pikari tries to hold on but Hanssteth pushes him away.
Sampsa Pikari has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pikari is squirming around, avoiding Hanssteth's attempts to control the action.
Pikari flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Hanssteth throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Pikari is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sampsa Pikari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Hanssteth looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hanssteth fails in his attempt to clinch.

Pikari feints and as Hanssteth raises his hands in defense, Pikari changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pikari is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pikari looking to pass the guard.
Hanssteth wants to stand up but Pikari is controlling him.
Pikari trying to control but Hanssteth is working from the bottom.
Pikari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pikari throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hanssteth works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hanssteth preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hanssteth controls Pikari momentarily but Pikari frees himself.
Pikari throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Pikari bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pikari tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hanssteth is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pikari off and has taken his back!
Hanssteth throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Pikari wants to escape the position.
Pikari tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hanssteth prevents Pikari from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikari is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Pikari manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Pikari gets full guard.
Pikari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hanssteth trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hanssteth wanted to stand there but Pikari had control of the position.
Pikari will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hanssteth stopping the sweep attempt from Pikari.

Pikari looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikari wants to sweep but no luck.
Pikari trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Pikari is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hanssteth is in trouble now - Pikari has advanced to mount!

Hanssteth bucks up and throws Pikari to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Hanssteth fails with the takedown

and Pikari counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hanssteth won't be happy with that.
Pikari sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hanssteth is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hanssteth regains half guard, as Pikari was trying to land strikes.
Pikari is thwarting Hanssteth's attempts to control the position.
Hanssteth is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikari seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hanssteth trying to control from the bottom.
Hanssteth tries to get to full guard but Pikari has control of the leg.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Hanssteth shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Pikari counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Eric Hanssteth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
Pikari wants to control from the top but Hanssteth keeps moving.
Pikari throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hanssteth works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hanssteth is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hanssteth is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hanssteth winds up and cracks Pikari with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sampsa Pikari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pikari 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sampsa Pikari!