PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ari Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Harrison (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ari Kantola has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kantola
vs
Harrison

185 cm
22
250 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

197 cm
23
225 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Kantola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Justin Harrison!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kantola throws a body punch but Harrison moves out of range.
Kantola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harrison moves away.
Harrison misses with an uppercut. Kantola saw that one coming.
Harrison jabs Kantola to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Harrison throws a right hand that Kantola ducks under and follows up with a left that Kantola also avoids with ease.
Kantola fails to land with a series of punches.
Kantola throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kantola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Harrison throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Harrison falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kantola counters with a leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Harrison as he connects with a hook.
Harrison jabs Kantola right on the nose. Kantola blinks but takes it well.
Kantola swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kantola pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kantola avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kantola misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kantola throws a hook but Harrison avoids it easily.
Harrison swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Harrison throws a one two combo.
Kantola is looking to wear down Harrison with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kantola throws a series of punches but Harrison moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from Kantola.
Harrison with a jab.
Kantola throws a left and a right that both miss
and Harrison cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola tries to bum rush Harrison with a series of wild strikes but Harrison uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kantola misses with a series of wild punches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Some wild striking there from Kantola.
Harrison throws a right and a left that Kantola avoids nicely.
Harrison waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kantola.
Harrison lands a nice looking body shot.
Kantola throws a nice looking combination but Harrison bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Harrison rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kantola moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Harrison misses with a two punch combination.
Kantola throws a right hand that Harrison ducks under and follows up with a left that Harrison also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola tries to bum rush Harrison with a series of wild strikes but Harrison uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Harrison throws out a loose jab but Kantola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kantola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kantola lands with a straight right. Harrison didn't see that one coming.
Kantola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Harrison.

Kantola has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kantola using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Harrison has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Kantola turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kantola manages to end up in side control.
Harrison is trying to control Kantola's posture but Kantola avoids it.
Harrison is looking to regain half guard here but Kantola keeps moving and retains side control.
Harrison wants to control but Kantola postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Harrison works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Kantola is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Kantola 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.
Kantola throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harrison is trying to control but can't.
Harrison is staying active underneath Kantola, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kantola is stalling here. Harrison is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kantola seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Harrison has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kantola gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kantola actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Kantola dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Harrison throws a right and a left that both miss.
Harrison checks the leg kick.
No joy there for Kantola, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kantola throws out a loose jab but Harrison uses good head movement to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Harrison.
Kantola looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Harrison gets caught flat footed, as Kantola shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Harrison has his feet on Kantola's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Harrison takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Harrison lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrison dodges the punch combination from Kantola.
Justin Harrison is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kantola goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Harrison throws a hook but Kantola blocks it.
Harrison throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Harrison swings widly with a right hand
and Kantola counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ari Kantola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Harrison misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kantola.
Harrison avoids a punch combination nicely.
Harrison showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kantola.
Harrison connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison throws a series of punches but Kantola moves out of range.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Harrison avoids a punch combination nicely.
Harrison throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kantola counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kantola connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Harrison is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kantola lands a jab to Harrison's midsection.

Kantola shoots in and gets a takedown into Harrison's guard.
Kantola trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kantola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kantola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Harrison works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kantola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Harrison is keeping the position for now.
Kantola throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Harrison is proving hard to escape from.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kantola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Harrison really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kantola. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kantola lands a couple of digs.
Harrison bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kantola's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harrison prevents Kantola from getting back to his feet.
Harrison must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Harrison wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.
Harrison forces his way into half guard.
Kantola holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Ari Kantola overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kantola.

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

Harrison avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Harrison advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Kantola dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kantola misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kantola moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Justin Harrison has been cut.
Kantola throws a low kick but Harrison moves out of range easily.
Kantola lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Harrison circles away quickly and effectively.
Harrison is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Harrison stalks Kantola and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kantola's face. Kantola staggers backwards, shaken.
Kantola throws a sloppy head kick and Harrison moves out of range easily.
Harrison defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kantola.
A punch combination from Harrison misses.
Harrison throws a series of punches but Kantola avoids them all with ease.
Kantola falls off balance throwing a combination
and Harrison counters with a stiff right hand.
Kantola throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harrison has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Harrison throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kantola.
Harrison misses with a wild combination.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kantola.
Harrison misses with a few strikes there.
Kantola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Harrison tries to bum rush Kantola with a series of wild strikes but Kantola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kantola throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Harrison throws a series of punches but Kantola moves out of range.
Harrison takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kantola shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kantola was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Justin Harrison has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ari Kantola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrison prevents Kantola from improving position.
Harrison is looking to regain half guard here but Kantola keeps moving and retains side control.

Kantola thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kantola in side control lands a decent elbow.
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!
Kantola working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harrison takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Harrison is looking for a sweep.

Kantola goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Harrison rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kantola's guard! Nice work there by Harrison!
Kantola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Kantola throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Harrison wants to stand and escape but instead Kantola has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kantola passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kantola wants to take a breather but Harrison is having none of it.
Harrison is trying to control but Kantola manages to pass to mount!
Harrison wants to control but Kantola is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kantola wants to finish this one by submission but Harrison is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kantola.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kantola scores with a couple of good head shots there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Kantola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kantola 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Kantola!
In his post fight interview, Ari Kantola started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.