PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Giampaolo Pietravallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hovi
vs
Pietravallo

185 cm
27
210 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

195 cm
30
210 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Bloodlust Horde Fightwear

KAISER

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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Hovi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Giampaolo Pietravallo!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, jab by Pietravallo - just one landing.
Pietravallo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Pietravallo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hovi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hovi looks to land a right hand but Pietravallo moved out of range.
Pietravallo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hovi has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hovi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Pietravallo.
A head kick by Hovi misses

and Pietravallo counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pietravallo.
Pietravallo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hovi 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hovi managing to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pietravallo looking to pass the guard.
Pietravallo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hovi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pietravallo landing with the ground and pound.
Pietravallo advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietravallo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hovi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pietravallo is keen to just control but Hovi is a slippery customer.
Hovi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pietravallo scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hovi blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pietravallo.
Hovi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pietravallo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pietravallo's back!
Good control from Hovi.
Hovi's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hovi is trying to stick to Pietravallo's back but Pietravallo is turning into Hovi. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hovi's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Pietravallo.
Pietravallo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pietravallo told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Pietravallo wants to control from the top but Hovi keeps moving.
Pietravallo landing some decent shots from guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pietravallo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pietravallo is one step ahead there.
Pietravallo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Hovi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Pietravallo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Pietravallo finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pietravallo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hovi was well out of range. Poor timing from Pietravallo.
Seppo Hovi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pietravallo moves out of range of the strikes.
Hovi misses the body punch

and Pietravallo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hovi!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Pietravallo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Pietravallo lands a few punches from side control.
Pietravallo trying to control the action but Hovi is working from the bottom.
Hovi is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hovi is working hard here to advance position.
Hovi sneaks back into half guard.
Pietravallo wants to take a breather but Hovi is having none of it.
Hovi trying to control but Pietravallo postures up.
Hovi is controlling Pietravallo's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Hovi is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hovi trying to hold on to Pietravallo's head to control him but Pietravallo postures up.
Pietravallo wants to free his trapped foot but Hovi is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Seppo Hovi has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Pietravallo scores with a shot to the body.
Pietravallo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hovi throws out the jab.
Hovi throws out a loose jab but Pietravallo uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovi staying out of range there.
A jab lands there for Hovi.
Pietravallo on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hovi misses with a lunging right hand

and Pietravallo counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hovi is trying to get back to half guard.
Sloppy strikes there by Pietravallo.
Hovi wants to control but Pietravallo postures up.
Pietravallo controlling from side mount.
Hovi sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pietravallo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hovi's head.
Pietravallo prevents Hovi from standing back up.
Pietravallo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hovi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hovi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pietravallo.
Pietravallo stops Hovi from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giampaolo Pietravallo dominated that round.
That's time! Hovi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hovi takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pietravallo. Hovi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pietravallo throws a leg kick
and Hovi counters with a straight right hand.
Hovi throws a hook but Pietravallo blocks it.
Pietravallo takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hovi misses with a right hand

and Pietravallo counters with a single leg into guard. Hovi didn't expect that.
Hovi pulls Pietravallo in close to his closed guard and prevents Pietravallo from doing any damage or advancing position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pietravallo postures up.
Hovi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pietravallo is controlling him.
Hovi wants to sweep here but Pietravallo controlling him for the moment.
Pietravallo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hovi keeping moving, preventing Pietravallo from controlling successfully.
Hovi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hovi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hovi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

We're going to have a standup here because Seppo Hovi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hovi misses with an uppercut. Pietravallo saw that one coming.
Hovi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hovi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Pietravallo.
Hovi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pietravallo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hovi swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Pietravallo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hovi!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pietravallo trying to control the position but Hovi is working away.
Hovi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hovi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hovi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pietravallo scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo is thwarting Hovi's attempts to control the position.
Hovi is looking to improve his position.
Hovi is trying to maintain the position but Pietravallo is very close to passing his half guard.
Hovi has his hands clasped together around Pietravallo's back. He's all about the action.
Pietravallo throwing shots but Hovi is blocking nicely.
Hovi is looking for a sweep. Pietravallo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

We're going to have a standup here because Seppo Hovi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hovi throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hovi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pietravallo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pietravallo slips a jab from Hovi.
Hovi throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pietravallo.

Pietravallo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hovi's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovi is trying to stand.
Pietravallo looks to land a strike but Hovi avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hovi looking for a sweep. Not yet Hovi, not yet.
Hovi keeping moving, preventing Pietravallo from controlling successfully.
Pietravallo makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pietravallo passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ground and pound from Pietravallo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hovi stops Pietravallo from passing to mount.
Hovi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Hovi is working to avoid the ground and pound but Pietravallo connects with a decent elbow.
Hovi is not content to let Pietravallo control the position.
Hovi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pietravallo's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
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!
Hovi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hovi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pietravallo landing some decent shots from guard.
Pietravallo trying to control the position from guard on top but Hovi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pietravallo won't allow Hovi to sweep him here.
Hovi wants to get back to his feet but Pietravallo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pietravallo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hovi is looking to stand up but Pietravallo isn't so interested in that idea.
Pietravallo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hovi wants to sweep here but Pietravallo controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Giampaolo Pietravallo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Hovi misses with an uppercut

and Pietravallo counters with a takedown into side control.
Pietravallo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Pietravallo remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hovi is trying to control Pietravallo's posture but Pietravallo avoids it.
Pietravallo is looking to take a break and control but Hovi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pietravallo working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Pietravallo working away.
Hovi prevents Pietravallo from improving position.
Hovi is not content to let Pietravallo control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pietravallo is staying tight to Hovi's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovi tries to bench press Pietravallo off him but Pietravallo keeps the position.
Pietravallo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hovi keeps working.
Hovi is trying to improve his position.
Pietravallo throws an elbow but Hovi slips to the side and avoids it well.
Pietravallo landing strikes.
Pietravallo works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Pietravallo in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Hovi is looking for a sweep.
Sloppy strikes there by Pietravallo.
Pietravallo throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Hovi works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Hovi gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo won't allow Hovi to get back to his feet.
Pietravallo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hovi wants to get back to his feet but Pietravallo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hovi keeping moving, preventing Pietravallo from controlling successfully.
Pietravallo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pietravallo trying to control but Hovi is working from the bottom.
Hovi 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.
Hovi has momentary wrist control but Pietravallo slips an elbow through the middle.
Pietravallo is stalling in the full guard.
Hovi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pietravallo manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovi has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pietravallo is proving hard to escape from.
Pietravallo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hovi is fighting to break Pietravallo's control of his arms but Pietravallo is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Giampaolo Pietravallo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Pietravallo stuns Hovi with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Seppo Hovi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hovi walks into a jab.
Hovi misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietravallo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hovi. That did some damage!
A telegraphed right hand from Hovi misses the target.
Jab from Pietravallo.
Pietravallo has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hovi.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pietravallo checks a leg kick.
Pietravallo dodges the punch combination from Hovi.
Pietravallo lands a jab to the head.
Hovi misses with a combination

and Pietravallo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pietravallo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Let's hope that Pietravallo 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.
Pietravallo preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Giampaolo Pietravallo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pietravallo 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Giampaolo Pietravallo!