PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eric Hanssteth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kukka Hattu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Hanssteth has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hanssteth
vs
Hattu

181 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eric Hanssteth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kukka Hattu!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanssteth tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hattu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hanssteth tries to clinch but Hattu is having none of it.
Hattu keeps the fight on the outside.
Hattu keeps the fight on the outside.
Hanssteth tries to clinch up.
Hanssteth tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hanssteth is looking to clinch but Hattu is avoiding it.
Hattu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hanssteth doesn't manage to clinch there - Hattu circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanssteth fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hanssteth tries to clinch there but Hattu circles away.
Hanssteth tries to clinch up.
Hattu keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanssteth misses with a takedown attempt - Hattu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hanssteth tries for a takedown but Hattu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hanssteth is looking to clinch.
Hanssteth tries to clinch up but Hattu circles away and keeps his distance.
Hanssteth fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Hanssteth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hanssteth moves in looking to clinch but Hattu pushes him off.
Hanssteth misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hattu keeps the fight on the outside.

Hattu looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hattu lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hattu looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hattu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hanssteth is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hattu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hattu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hattu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hattu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hattu is pressing down on Hanssteth's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hanssteth is holding on for now.
Hattu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hanssteth is breathing heavily.
Hanssteth keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hanssteth taking some punishment here, with Hattu in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hattu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hattu is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hattu is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hattu landing punches.
Hattu landing punches.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hattu cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hattu is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hanssteth can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hanssteth wants to hold on but Hattu pushes him away.
Hattu with good strikes from the mount here!
Hattu has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hanssteth's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hattu lands a nice shot to the head.
Hanssteth working to try and regain half guard.
Hanssteth holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hattu tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Hanssteth tries to lock up and control but Hattu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hanssteth wants to get back to his feet.
Hanssteth tries to lock up and control but Hattu gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hanssteth avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hattu.
Hattu landing strikes from the mount.
Hanssteth is wriggling around trying to escape.
Poor strikes thrown by Hattu there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kukka Hattu dominated that round.
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.

Hanssteth fails with the takedown

and Hattu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hanssteth's guard.
Hattu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hanssteth can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hattu controls the pace.
Hanssteth 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.
Hattu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hattu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hanssteth swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hattu is breathing heavily.
Hattu is working Hanssteth over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hattu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hattu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hanssteth wants to clinch

and Hattu counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hattu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hanssteth prevents it.
Hattu wants a takedown.
Hanssteth with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hanssteth looking to stall.
Hanssteth looking for a takedown.

Hattu lands a takedown into guard.
Hattu lands a couple of digs.
Hattu wants to control from the top but Hanssteth keeps moving.
Hattu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hanssteth works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hattu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hattu scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hattu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hattu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hanssteth is keeping the position for now.
Hanssteth keeping moving, preventing Hattu from controlling successfully.
Hattu stands up over Hanssteth, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hattu looking to pass the guard.
Hanssteth wants to stand and escape but Hattu is having none of it.
Hattu throws a big right hand that misses.
Hattu postures up in Hanssteth's guard and throws a big left but Hanssteth blocks it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hanssteth tries to clinch but Hattu moves away

and Hattu counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanssteth wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanssteth gets full guard.
Hanssteth is trying to control the position but Hattu postures up.
Hattu throwing strikes but missing.
Hanssteth throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hattu chips away with some ground and pound.
Hattu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hanssteth works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hattu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hattu wants to control from the top but Hanssteth keeps moving.
Hanssteth 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hanssteth looks to clinch

and Hattu counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hanssteth won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hattu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hanssteth is avoiding damage well.
The ground and pound from Hattu seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hanssteth is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hattu is controlling him well.
Hanssteth wants to control but Hattu postures up.
Hattu lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Hattu in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hanssteth avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hattu.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hattu rushes Hanssteth and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hattu has clasped his hands together around Hanssteth's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hattu in side control lands a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kukka Hattu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hanssteth closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hattu counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hanssteth wants to control but Hattu is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hattu lands strikes from half guard.
Hattu controlling the pace.
Hattu looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hattu moves nicely into side control.
Hanssteth manages to get back to half guard.
Hanssteth tries to roll over but Hattu keeps him under control.
Hattu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanssteth pushes Hattu off looking to stand but Hattu dives back in and keeps control.
Hattu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hattu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hanssteth defending well though.
Kukka Hattu has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hattu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hanssteth blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hattu.
Hattu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hattu prevents Hanssteth from improving his position.
Hattu working over Hanssteth with some ground and pound. Hanssteth looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hanssteth is trying to stand.
Hattu looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hanssteth is looking to control Hattu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hanssteth avoid being mounted?
Hattu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hattu missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hanssteth wants to clinch

and Hattu counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hattu works over Hanssteth with some ground and pound from guard.
Hattu won't allow Hanssteth to get back to his feet.
Hattu connects with a couple of short punches.
Hattu is looking to work some ground and pound but Hanssteth has wrist control.
Hanssteth is looking to stand up but Hattu isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanssteth will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hattu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hanssteth is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hattu is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hanssteth connects with a high kick.
Hanssteth tries to clinch but Hattu moves away

and Hattu counters with a shoot takedown. Hanssteth fights it but they end up in guard.
Hattu trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hanssteth manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hattu is on top in guard.
Hattu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hattu thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hattu advances to half guard.
Hattu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hattu slips a nice elbow through Hanssteth's hands, connecting with Hanssteth's forehead.
Hattu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hanssteth keeps working.
Hattu working Hanssteth over with strikes.
Eric Hanssteth has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hattu takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hanssteth avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hattu.
Hattu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hanssteth defending well though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hattu stops Hanssteth from getting back to his feet.
Hattu working the head and body with strikes.
Hattu is trying to control the action in half guard but Hanssteth is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kukka Hattu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hattu has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kukka Hattu!