PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hans Lankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Watt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lankari comes into the arena with AC/DC - Thunderstruck blaring out of the sound system. Watt has chosen 30 Seconds To Mars - Closer To The Edge as his entrance music. Hans Lankari has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lankari
vs
Watt

177 cm
25
142 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

170 cm
23
146 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Dangerous GnP
World class MT
Good gas tank

CEC Nutrition Q159

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hans Lankari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Derek Watt!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body kick there by Watt.
Watt is looking to chop away at Lankari's legs.
Watt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lankari.
Watt fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Lankari looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Watt is fending him off so far but Lankari persists. Nope, Watt circles away and we're back to standing.
Lankari takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Lankari shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lankari was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Watt slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Watt blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lankari.
Watt taking some punishment here, with Lankari in his half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lankari takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lankari trying to control from Watt's half guard. Watt has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Lankari loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Watt controlling Lankari's posture.
Lankari has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Lankari trying to control the position from guard on top but Watt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lankari sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Hans Lankari wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Watt throws a front kick aimed at Lankari's knee but Lankari avoids it well.
Watt throws a shot to the body.
Watt misses with a right hand
and Lankari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lankari lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lankari fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Watt avoids it really well and circles away.
A head kick misses from Lankari.
Lankari tries to bum rush Watt with a series of wild strikes but Watt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Watt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lankari shoots for a double leg takedown but Watt sprawls well. He's pushed Lankari's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hans Lankari. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Watt misses
and Lankari counters with a straight right hand.
Lankari is trying hard to land a takedown here. Watt sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lankari checks a low kick from Watt.
Lankari tries to clinch up but Watt circles away and keeps his distance.
Watt connects with a solid leg kick.
Watt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Derek Watt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Watt connects with an inside leg kick.
Watt lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Watt scores with a nice strike.
Lankari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Watt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lankari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Watt moves into range and clinches up with Lankari.
A nice left hand lands by Watt.
Watt lands a hook that snaps the head of Lankari backwards.
Watt tries to land a knee to the head but Lankari blocks with his arms.
Watt lands an elbow that stopped Lankari in his tracks for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watt lands a knee to the head.
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!
Watt working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lankari has Watt pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Watt manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nice elbow from Watt.
Watt lands a shoulder strike.
Watt lands a shoulder strike.
Watt makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Watt has a couple of punches blocked by Lankari.

Lankari decides to pull guard.
Watt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Watt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Watt with a flurry of punches that miss.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lankari working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Watt doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Lankari is tightening it up a little... Watt has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Watt reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Watt taps out! Nice BJJ there by Lankari!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Hans Lankari!
During a confident post fight interview, Hans Lankari thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.