PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hempii Sapponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hansa Rachstakk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sapponen
vs
Rachstakk

180 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

160 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hempii Sapponen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hansa Rachstakk!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sapponen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sapponen showed some decent athleticism there.
Rachstakk blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sapponen.

Rachstakk pushes Sapponen off and gets back to his feet.

Sapponen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sapponen wants to free his trapped foot but Rachstakk is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rachstakk manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Rachstakk tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Sapponen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Rachstakk is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Rachstakk has escaped and now he's on top!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rachstakk slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sapponen working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sapponen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rachstakk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rachstakk manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Rachstakk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sapponen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rachstakk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sapponen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Rachstakk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rachstakk wants to control from the top but Sapponen keeps moving.

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

Sapponen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rachstakk striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Rachstakk gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rachstakk manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Rachstakk looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sapponen trying to control the position from guard on top but Rachstakk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sapponen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Rachstakk looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Rachstakk looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Rachstakk!
Sapponen is breathing heavily.
Sapponen struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rachstakk tries to score with some ground and pound. Sapponen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sapponen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Rachstakk gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Sapponen gets the takedown into side control.
Sapponen creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rachstakk sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Rachstakk prevents Sapponen from improving position.
Rachstakk is trying to improve his position.
Sapponen fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Sapponen working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sapponen swings around for an armbar but Rachstakk sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sapponen's guard.
Rachstakk not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rachstakk wants to control from the top but Sapponen keeps moving.
Rachstakk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sapponen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rachstakk sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rachstakk trying to control but Sapponen is working from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Hansa Rachstakk just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rachstakk wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hempii Sapponen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sapponen gets the takedown into side control.
Rachstakk is trying to control Sapponen's posture but Sapponen avoids it.

Sapponen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Rachstakk's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sapponen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sapponen working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rachstakk wants to get back to his feet.

Sapponen goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Rachstakk rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sapponen's guard! Nice work there by Rachstakk!

Sapponen looking for a guillotine here but Rachstakk defends easily.
Rachstakk works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Rachstakk stands up out of the half guard.

Rachstakk closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rachstakk lands in his opponent's guard.
Sapponen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rachstakk wants to control from the top but Sapponen keeps moving.
Hempii Sapponen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sapponen trying to keep a closed guard but Rachstakk is proving a slippery customer.
Rachstakk slips nicely into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rachstakk lands a nice short elbow.
Rachstakk wants to control but Sapponen is keeping him busy.
Sapponen is trying to escape back to his feet but Rachstakk uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Rachstakk trying to control the position but Sapponen is working away.
Rachstakk is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Sapponen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rachstakk is thwarting Sapponen's attempts to control the position.
Sapponen manages to get to full guard.
Sapponen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rachstakk manages to get himself to full guard.
Sapponen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rachstakk is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sapponen trying to control the position from guard on top but Rachstakk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sapponen is really struggling to control Rachstakk but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Sapponen tries to free his leg and advance position but Rachstakk is retaining full guard.

Sapponen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rachstakk manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sapponen has Rachstakk in his guard.
Rachstakk trying to control but Sapponen is working from the bottom.
Rachstakk passes Sapponen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sapponen wants to control but Rachstakk is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sapponen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Sapponen wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hansa Rachstakk 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. This is the final round!

Sapponen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rachstakk manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sapponen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rachstakk trying to control but Sapponen is having none of it.
Sapponen tries to reverse the position but Rachstakk maintains control.
Rachstakk landing strikes from the mount.
Sapponen wants to hold on but Rachstakk pushes him away.
Sapponen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rachstakk is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Sapponen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sapponen tries to hold on but Rachstakk postures up.
Sapponen wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rachstakk.
Sapponen regains half guard.
Sapponen tries to get to full guard but Rachstakk has control of the leg.
Sapponen moves into full guard.

Rachstakk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Sapponen is looking for a triangle but Rachstakk pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Rachstakk won't allow Sapponen to sweep him here.
Sapponen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rachstakk's guard.
Sapponen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Sapponen decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Sapponen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Rachstakk defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sapponen.

Rachstakk has left one of his arms exposed and Sapponen doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Rachstakk screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hempii Sapponen!