PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between cory williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Hartikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

williams
vs
Hartikainen

196 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

171 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, cory williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Hartikainen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
williams throws a series of punches but Hartikainen avoids them all with ease.
williams looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Hartikainen has managed to clinch.
Hartikainen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
williams really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
williams is trying to maintain a safe position but Hartikainen gets an underhook and turns williams into the cage.

Hartikainen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hartikainen tightens his grip and picks williams up, before dumping him to the ground. williams manages to land in guard.
Hartikainen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hartikainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. williams is keeping the position for now.

Hartikainen stands and steps away. williams gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hartikainen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hartikainen prevents williams from breaking the clinch.
williams tries to break the clinch but Hartikainen is controlling the position.
williams tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hartikainen wants a takedown.

williams is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hartikainen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip williams to the mat. williams regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hartikainen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
I looks like Hartikainen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
williams working a defensive guard but Hartikainen passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
williams is doing well to control the position and prevent Hartikainen from advancing to side control.
williams wants to get back to full guard but Hartikainen has passed into side control.
Hartikainen controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
williams can't escape the position.
Hartikainen controlling his opponent.
williams tries to hold on but Hartikainen postures up.
Hartikainen controlling his opponent.

That's four 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.
williams working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hartikainen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Hartikainen dominated that round.
That's time! williams's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hartikainen has closed the distance and engaged williams in a clinch.
Hartikainen blocks the elbow strike.

williams breaks from the clinch.

Hartikainen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. williams sprawls well initially but Hartikainen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
williams wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hartikainen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Let's hope that Hartikainen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Matti Hartikainen just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
williams tries for a takedown but Hartikainen circles away easily

and Hartikainen counters with a shoot takedown. williams fights it but they end up in guard.
Hartikainen sitting in guard here, content to control.
williams trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
williams wants to control the position but Hartikainen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Hartikainen prevents williams from standing back up.
Hartikainen controlling the action here.
Hartikainen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
williams is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hartikainen jumps into side control!
williams is looking to regain half guard here but Hartikainen keeps moving and retains side control.
williams is trying to escape the position but Hartikainen is controlling the position.
Hartikainen works to advance to full mount. williams defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
williams is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hartikainen controlling the position easily from mount.
williams is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hartikainen controlling the position easily from mount.
williams wants to hold on but Hartikainen pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Hartikainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hartikainen wants to clinch up but williams keeps it at a distance.
Hartikainen tries a head kick but it misses.
Hartikainen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Hartikainen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for williams!
Hartikainen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Matti Hartikainen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
williams tries to reverse the position but Hartikainen maintains control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hartikainen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Despite being in the dominant position, Matti Hartikainen just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hartikainen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming williams to the mat! williams manages to get full guard.
williams 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.

williams scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hartikainen tries to close the distance and clinch up but williams swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hartikainen!
Hartikainen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
williams missing with a left hand there. Hartikainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Hartikainen has closed the distance and engaged williams in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
williams is working for takedown but Hartikainen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hartikainen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of williams backwards.
williams looking for a takedown.
williams has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hartikainen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for cory williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hartikainen breaks the clinch.

Hartikainen clinches with his opponent.

williams breaks the clinch.

Hartikainen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
williams trying to control the position.
Hartikainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. williams is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hartikainen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
cory williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

williams looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Hartikainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hartikainen 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Hartikainen!