PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcelinho Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Haapasalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haapasalo has chosen Thin Lizzy - The Rocker as his entrance music. 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.

Garcia
vs
Haapasalo

184 cm
25
264 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

191 cm
23
243 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcelinho Garcia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Haapasalo!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garcia misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Haapasalo.

Haapasalo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Garcia to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Garcia trying to control but Haapasalo is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haapasalo is pulling down on Garcia's head to control his posture.
Garcia wants to pass the guard but Haapasalo is keeping the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Haapasalo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Garcia wants to control from the top but Haapasalo keeps moving.
Garcia is working Haapasalo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Haapasalo looking for a sweep. Not yet Haapasalo, not yet.
Garcia looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Garcia is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapasalo is trying to keep Garcia in close.
Garcia trying to control the position from guard on top but Haapasalo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Haapasalo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garcia throws an off balance right hand
and Haapasalo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Haapasalo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice defenses there by Haapasalo.
The crowd cheers as Haapasalo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Garcia doesn't seem phased though.
Garcia is trying hard to land a takedown here. Haapasalo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Haapasalo lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Garcia misses with a body shot
and Haapasalo counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Marcelinho Garcia has been cut.
Haapasalo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Garcia.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haapasalo turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Haapasalo throws a body punch but Garcia moves out of range.
Seppo Haapasalo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Garcia swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Haapasalo counters with a good low kick that Garcia was not able to check.
Garcia is breathing heavily.
Garcia misses with a shot to the body
and Haapasalo counters with a one-two to the body.
Haapasalo tries to close the distance and clinch but Garcia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Haapasalo wants to clinch up but Garcia keeps it at a distance.
Garcia misses with a jab to the body
and Haapasalo counters with a big right hand! Oh Garcia is in trouble here! Haapasalo follows up with more strikes and that's it! The ref has stopped it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:34 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Seppo Haapasalo!