PBP Commentary

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

Sapponen
vs
Fjellknaus

180 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 2 - 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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hakan Fjellknaus!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Eliza Hachem and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sapponen shoots in and bounces Fjellknaus off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Sapponen pushes down on Fjellknaus's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sapponen wants to control but Fjellknaus is keeping him busy.
Fjellknaus trying to control but Sapponen postures up.
Fjellknaus avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sapponen.
Sapponen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Sapponen trying to pass the guard but Fjellknaus defending well.
Sapponen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fjellknaus keeps working.
Fjellknaus is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fjellknaus has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sapponen is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Sapponen looks to land a body kick but Fjellknaus moved away.
Sapponen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Fjellknaus misses with a takedown attempt

and Sapponen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Sapponen tries to pass to full mount but Fjellknaus defends it.

Sapponen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sapponen is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fjellknaus looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fjellknaus working a defensive guard here.
Sapponen trying to control but Fjellknaus is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sapponen wants to pass the guard but Fjellknaus is keeping the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fjellknaus swats away the attempt to clinch by Sapponen.
Fjellknaus closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sapponen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sapponen goes for a takedown attempt but Fjellknaus pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Sapponen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Fjellknaus counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sapponen won't be happy with that.
Fjellknaus should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Sapponen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Fjellknaus wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sapponen is breathing heavily.
Sapponen is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Fjellknaus is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Fjellknaus has eaten all the pies!
Sapponen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fjellknaus trying to control but Sapponen is having none of it.
Sapponen can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Fjellknaus connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sapponen is squirming around, avoiding Fjellknaus's attempts to control the action.
Fjellknaus really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sapponen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sapponen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sapponen is working hard here to advance position.

Fjellknaus with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Sapponen is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hempii Sapponen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fjellknaus lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Sapponen backs up against the ropes.
Sapponen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Fjellknaus stuns Sapponen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Sapponen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Fjellknaus tries to get to full guard but Sapponen has control of the leg.
Sapponen stops Fjellknaus from getting back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Sapponen seems content to control.
Sapponen moves into full mount! Fjellknaus won't be happy about that!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sapponen working for a guillotine from mount but Fjellknaus is in no mood to give up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sapponen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Fjellknaus is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Fjellknaus tries to hold on but Sapponen pushes him away.
Sapponen takes Fjellknaus's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sapponen is hanging on to Fjellknaus's back as he tries to escape.

Fjellknaus defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Sapponen controlling the positon.

Sapponen is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Fjellknaus has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Sapponen is trying to control but Fjellknaus is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.

Sapponen is working close to his opponent, looking to work a submission by the looks of things. Oh, he's managed to get a guillotine from mount as his opponent reached up! That looks tiiiiight! Will he tap? YES, he's tapped! Impressive submission by Sapponen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Hempii Sapponen!