PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Antti Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justina Vanovcan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammer kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bolt Thrower - IV Crusade. Vanovcan has chosen Moskau as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hammer
vs
Vanovcan

155 cm
28
134 lbs
17 - 8 - 1

153 cm
34
130 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Good elbows
Fast

Hardcore Nutrition
Perkele!

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 17 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Justina Vanovcan!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer throws a low kick but Vanovcan moves out of range easily.
Vanovcan avoids the head kick by Hammer.
Vanovcan tries to clinch but Hammer is having none of it.

Hammer darts in and clinches Vanovcan up against the cage.
Hammer avoids the elbow strike from Vanovcan, against the cage.
Vanovcan is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hammer is defending well.
Vanovcan misses with a body punch.
Hammer tries to land knees in the clinch but Vanovcan avoids the damage to the body.
Hammer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Justina Vanovcan has been cut.
Hammer missing with knees to the body.
Hammer with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hammer slows down the pace here.
Vanovcan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hammer is defending well for now.
Vanovcan avoiding damage as Hammer throws knees to the body.
Hammer lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vanovcan pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Vanovcan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hammer gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hammer landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Vanovcan wants a takedown.
Antti Hammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justina Vanovcan.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hammer.
Stalling in the clinch from Hammer.
Vanovcan is trying to pull guard but Hammer has him pressed against the cage.
Hammer stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hammer throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Vanovcan looks winded!
Hammer prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hammer connects with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Hammer.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanovcan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hammer fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A good leg kick by Hammer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer swings for the body but Vanovcan moves out of range.
Vanovcan checks a leg kick nicely.

Hammer closes the distance and pushes Vanovcan back into the cage.
Hammer displaying some good clinch control by pressing Vanovcan up against the cage.
Hammer gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Vanovcan misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hammer.

Vanovcan pulls Hammer into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hammer not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Vanovcan has his foot on Hammer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hammer works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer wants to control from the top but Vanovcan keeps moving.
Vanovcan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hammer.
Hammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Vanovcan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Antti Hammer has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hammer throws a chopping leg kick but Vanovcan manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Vanovcan gets the takedown into side control.

Vanovcan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hammer is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vanovcan's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vanovcan throwing shots but Hammer is blocking nicely.
Hammer wants to improve his position but Vanovcan is controlling well.
Hammer is working hard here to advance position.
Vanovcan is controlling the pace.
Vanovcan is trying to control. Hammer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammer is looking to improve his position.
Hammer trying to hold on to Vanovcan's head to control him but Vanovcan postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Hammer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justina Vanovcan's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vanovcan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hammer is out of range and Vanovcan settles back down.
Hammer swats away the attempt to clinch by Vanovcan.

Hammer closes the distance and clinches.
Vanovcan tries to pull guard but Hammer holds him up against the cage and eventually Vanovcan drops back down to his feet.
Vanovcan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hammer avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Vanovcan tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hammer avoids it.
Hammer lands a hook that snaps the head of Vanovcan backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Hammer.
Hammer is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Antti Hammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justina Vanovcan.
Hammer misses with a knee strike.
Hammer trying to stall but Vanovcan improves his position.
Hammer prevents the takedown attempt.
Vanovcan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hammer is defending well for now.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hammer takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hammer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vanovcan's face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanovcan lands a good knee to the midsection. Hammer won't want to take too many of those.
Vanovcan jumps guard but Hammer turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Vanovcan blocks a body shot from Hammer.
Hammer connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vanovcan's face.

Vanovcan is rocked!
Hammer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vanovcan blocks it with crossed arms.
Hammer with a knee to the head.
Vanovcan is still on wobbly legs! Can Hammer finish him?
Hammer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vanovcan on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vanovcan can't get the takedown.
Hammer tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vanovcan can't get the takedown.
Vanovcan is breathing heavily.
Hammer wants to stall.
Hammer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vanovcan's elbow.
Vanovcan seems to have recovered his senses.
Hammer just leaning against Vanovcan, taking a breather.
Vanovcan wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer leaning his opponent against the cage.
Vanovcan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hammer after a bit of a struggle.
A hook to the body from Hammer.
Vanovcan is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hammer is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hammer unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vanovcan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hammer leaning against his opponent.
Hammer unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vanovcan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hammer unloads a knee to the mid-section. Vanovcan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A knee to the head by Hammer.
Hammer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vanovcan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vanovcan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hammer fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hammer motions for Vanovcan to come forward. Hammer throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hammer tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer throws a low kick but Vanovcan moves out of range easily.
Hammer connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hammer throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hammer connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Hammer closes the distance and clinches.
Hammer tries a knee to the head but Vanovcan blocks it.
A knee to the head by Hammer.
Vanovcan is looking for a takedown.
Hammer holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Vanovcan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vanovcan misses with a body punch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hammer obliges.
Hammer lands a knee to the head.
Vanovcan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hammer is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanovcan goes for a takedown attempt but Hammer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Hammer lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Vanovcan has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Vanovcan and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hammer will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vanovcan. Hammer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Justina Vanovcan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hammer with a nice cross.
Hammer swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Vanovcan avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hammer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vanovcan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hammer misses with a leg kick
and Vanovcan counters with an outside leg kick.
Antti Hammer is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vanovcan tries to clinch there but Hammer circles away.
Vanovcan avoids the head kick by Hammer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Hammer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justina Vanovcan's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hammer throws a half hearted mid kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hammer.
Vanovcan takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Hammer darts in and clinches Vanovcan up against the cage.
Vanovcan with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vanovcan tries to pull guard but Hammer won't allow it.
Vanovcan pushes off an throws an elbow but Hammer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hammer just leaning against Vanovcan, taking a breather.
Vanovcan managing to block the knees to the body from Hammer.
Antti Hammer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hammer leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hammer scores a nice knee to the body.
Hammer stalling the fight.
Vanovcan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vanovcan tries to pull guard but Hammer won't allow it.
Vanovcan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hammer is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Antti Hammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justina Vanovcan.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hammer landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hammer is struggling to control the position.
Hammer missing with knees to the body.
Hammer tries to land knees in the clinch but Vanovcan avoids the damage to the body.

Vanovcan jumps into guard, dragging Hammer to the mat.
Hammer controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vanovcan is trying to control the position but Hammer postures up.
Hammer trying to control but Vanovcan is working from the bottom.
Hammer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vanovcan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hammer trying to control but Vanovcan is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Antti Hammer wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A head kick misses from Hammer.
Hammer wants to land a leg kick but Vanovcan is out of range.
Hammer throws a front kick aimed at Vanovcan's knee but Vanovcan avoids it well.
Hammer thows a leg kick but Vanovcan checks it
and Vanovcan counters with a good low kick that Hammer was not able to check.
Hammer feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Vanovcan's calf.

Vanovcan gets tackled into the cage by Hammer. Hammer maintains the clinch.
Hammer dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Vanovcan pulls guard effortlessly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hammer works over Vanovcan with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammer landing some decent shots from guard.

Hammer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer postures up in Vanovcan's guard and throws a big left but Vanovcan blocks it.
Hammer preventing the sweep.

Vanovcan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Justina Vanovcan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hammer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Hammer got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vanovcan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hammer has managed to get both his arms back between Vanovcan's legs - danger averted.
Hammer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vanovcan's head.
Hammer looking to sit in guard and control but Vanovcan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Vanovcan won't allow Hammer to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer controlling the position.
Hammer looking to control.
Antti Hammer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vanovcan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammer keeping moving, preventing Vanovcan from controlling successfully.
Vanovcan is looking to work some ground and pound but Hammer has wrist control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hammer looking for a sweep. Not yet Hammer, not yet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vanovcan scoring with punches to the head and body.
Vanovcan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Hammer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hammer has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Hammer!
A very excited looking Antti Hammer made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.