PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Whales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henkka Seppala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Seppala is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Children of Bodom - Smile pretty for the devil. Henkka Seppala will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Whales
vs
Seppala

181 cm
27
186 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

182 cm
22
194 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 SALE $140

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Patrick Whales!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Henkka Seppala!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Seppala misses with a kick to the body.

Whales moves into the clinch successfully.
A left hand lands to the body for Seppala.
Seppala blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Seppala is trying to break free.
Whales lands a nice shot to the body.
Whales blocks a body shot from Seppala.
Whales doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Whales is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Seppala gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch on the inside from Seppala fails to land.
Seppala blocks an uppercut.
Seppala prevents the takedown attempt.
Seppala's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Whales misses with a body punch.
Seppala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Whales drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Seppala gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Whales. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whales swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Seppala looking to slow down the pace here.
Whales tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Seppala is trying to stall.
Whales misses with the head strike.
Whales managing to block the knees to the body from Seppala.
Whales swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Seppala tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Whales avoids it.
Whales lands with a short shot to the head.
Whales can't find room to land a body shot as Seppala controls the action.
Seppala tries to work over Whales's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Seppala tries a body shot but Whales blocks it.
Whales throws a punch but it's blocked by Seppala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seppala looking to slow down the pace here.
Seppala misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Whales lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Seppala lands a body shot.
Whales tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Seppala's elbow.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Seppala.
Seppala misses with a hook from the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Seppala blocks a body shot from Whales.
Seppala lands a body shot in the clinch.
Seppala wants to get back to striking at distance but Whales won't allow it.
Seppala scores with a nice hook to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Whales lands a nice shot to the body.
Whales throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Seppala blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seppala misses with a knee strike.
Seppala prevents a body shot from Whales.
Seppala is looking to control Whales's arms but Whales gets an underhook and turns him. Now Seppala has his back to the cage.
A short right from Whales.
Seppala blocks an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Whales.
Whales lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whales throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Whales misses with a body punch.
Seppala misses with some punches.

Seppala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Seppala fakes the leg kick and cracks Whales in the body.
Henkka Seppala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whales connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Whales takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Whales will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Whales tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Seppala defends well and Whales ends up having to push Seppala into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Seppala tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Seppala is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Seppala digs a right hand underneath Whales's ribcage. Whales let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Seppala.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A shot in the inside from Seppala.
Seppala looking to slow down the pace here.
Whales misses with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Henkka Seppala will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Seppala throws an overhand right that lands on Whales's shoulder, as Whales tries to avoid the shot.
Nice cross by Whales.

Seppala gets tackled into the cage by Whales. Whales maintains the clinch.
Seppala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Seppala scores with a shot to the side of Whales's head.
A right handed body shot lands from Whales.
Whales scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Whales fails to land.
Seppala throws a head punch that misses.
Seppala trying to control the position but instead, Whales has worked for underhooks and has pushed Seppala into the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Seppala.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whales tries to work over Seppala's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Seppala digs a right hand underneath Whales's ribcage. Whales let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Whales misses with a punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whales letting Seppala take a breather here.
Seppala misses with a hook to the ribs.
Seppala tries to work over Whales's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Seppala stalling in the clinch but Whales improves position.
Whales swings wildly with an uppercut but Seppala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Whales lands with a light punch inside.
Whales goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Seppala is leaning against Whales and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Whales has a couple of punches blocked by Seppala.
Whales keeps control of Seppala as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Whales tries to throw a body punch but Seppala avoids it by throwing Whales back against the cage.
Whales on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Seppala is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Whales misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seppala using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whales swings wildly with an uppercut but Seppala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Whales stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Seppala is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whales is defending well for now.

Seppala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Seppala on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Whales. Whales obviously looking to wear him down.
Seppala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Seppala scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Whales keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Whales throws a quick inside leg kick.
Whales will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Seppala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whales was well out of range. Poor timing from Seppala.
Seppala digs a good hook to Whales's body.
Whales takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whales takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Good standup being displayed there by Seppala as he connects with a hook.
Seppala misses with a two punch combination.
Seppala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Seppala takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Seppala lands a front kick.
Whales uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Seppala.
Good shot there by Seppala.
Whales tries to clinch up.
Seppala misses with a hook. Whales ducked under it nicely.
Henkka Seppala seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Whales moves away from the strike by Seppala.
A chopping leg kick lands by Whales.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whales misses with a wild body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seppala stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Whales.
Seppala throws a big shot that misses.
Seppala checks the leg kick nicely there.
Whales throws a wild body kick that Seppala sees coming a mile off.
Whales throws a nice head kick!
Whales will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Whales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whales throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Seppala moves out of range as Whales throws a body kick.
Whales wants to clinch up but Seppala keeps it at a distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Seppala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Whales takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Whales slips under a jab.
Whales slips a jab and a cross from Seppala.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henkka Seppala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Whales darts in looking for a takedown but Seppala gets double underhooks and turns Whales into the cage.
Seppala works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Seppala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Whales fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Whales looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Whales ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Whales lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Seppala lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Whales circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Whales. Seppala does a little dance to reset his feet.
Whales walks into a left hand.
Seppala scores with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Seppala with a jab.
Whales throws a right and a left that Seppala avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seppala thows a body shot but no joy.
Seppala digs a good body shot into Whales's ribs.
Whales avoids the head kick by Seppala.
Seppala throws a good cross that connects.

Whales shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Whales showed some decent athleticism there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Whales is keen to just control but Seppala is a slippery customer.
Seppala has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Whales is working away from the top position though.
Whales is looking to stall here but Seppala recovers full guard.
Whales passes Seppala's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Whales trying to control the action but Seppala is working from the bottom.
Whales looks to land a strike but Seppala avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Seppala looking to control but Whales passes into half guard.
Seppala wants to improve his position but Whales is controlling well.
Whales is trying to control the action in half guard but Seppala is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whales trying to pass the guard but Seppala defending well.
Seppala is trying to control but can't.
Seppala is refusing to be controlled, as Whales sits in half guard.
Whales trying to mount his opponent but Seppala defends it.
Seppala wants to get back to full guard.
Seppala is pressing down on Whales's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
We've been hearing good reports from Whales's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Whales trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Seppala preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Patrick Whales has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whales wants to control from the top but Seppala keeps moving.

Seppala pushes Whales off and gets back to his feet.
Whales throws a body punch but Seppala moves out of range.
Seppala paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A low kick from Whales is predictable there
and Seppala counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Whales thinking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Seppala misses with a straight right.
Whales shoots in but Seppala avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Patrick Whales. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Seppala throws a poor cross that misses

and Whales counters with a shoot takedown. Seppala fights it but they end up in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Henkka Seppala.
I've got Seppala winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henkka Seppala!
During a confident post fight interview, Henkka Seppala thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.