PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between David Haggstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Hovimaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Haggstrom has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Haggstrom
vs
Hovimaki

183 cm
25
154 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

178 cm
24
163 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Haggstrom!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Hovimaki!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Atkins and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Haggstrom gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Haggstrom shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hovimaki sprawls well. Hovimaki wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haggstrom gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Haggstrom shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Hovimaki counter with a right hand.
Haggstrom closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hovimaki circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Haggstrom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hovimaki throws an overhand right that lands on Haggstrom's shoulder, as Haggstrom tries to avoid the shot.
Haggstrom misses with a takedown attempt
and Hovimaki counters with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovimaki throws a hook but Haggstrom avoids it easily.
Haggstrom closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hovimaki circles away.
A big left from Hovimaki misses.
Hovimaki punishes Haggstrom's body with a nice straight punch.
Hovimaki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hovimaki misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovimaki throws a lazy right hand but Haggstrom sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Haggstrom looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Haggstrom takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Haggstrom keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hovimaki.
Haggstrom uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hovimaki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovimaki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Haggstrom.
Haggstrom moves away from the strike by Hovimaki.
Hovimaki might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hovimaki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Haggstrom.
A punch lands to the side of Haggstrom 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hovimaki lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Haggstrom fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovimaki slaps away a takedown attempt from Haggstrom, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Haggstrom steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hovimaki.
Hovimaki throws a hook but Haggstrom blocks it.
Haggstrom walks into a straight right hand from Hovimaki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Hovimaki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Haggstrom is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hovimaki sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Hovimaki.
Mikko Hovimaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haggstrom fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hovimaki scores with a sloppy right hand. Haggstrom should have avoided that one.
Hovimaki thows a left - swing and a miss!
A swing and a miss from Hovimaki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovimaki stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Haggstrom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haggstrom fails with the takedown.
Mikko Hovimaki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Haggstrom walks into a left hand.
Hovimaki darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Haggstrom shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Haggstrom tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hovimaki swivels and escapes.
Haggstrom tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hovimaki swivels and escapes.
Hovimaki lands a nice hook to Haggstrom's body. Haggstrom takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hovimaki scores with a crisp jab that stopped Haggstrom in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hovimaki.
Hovimaki throws a looping overhand right but Haggstrom ducks down to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Hovimaki.
Haggstrom takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Haggstrom darts in looking for a takedown but Hovimaki gets double underhooks and turns Haggstrom into the cage.

Hovimaki breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Haggstrom tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hovimaki manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hovimaki with a nice cross.
Haggstrom uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hovimaki.
Haggstrom slips a straight right by Hovimaki.
Hovimaki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Hovimaki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Haggstrom shoots for a takedown but Hovimaki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hovimaki throws a jab but it's blocked by Haggstrom.

Haggstrom looking to score a takedown here. Hovimaki is defending well but Haggstrom drives through and ends up in Hovimaki's guard.
Haggstrom missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hovimaki keeping moving, preventing Haggstrom from controlling successfully.
Haggstrom is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hovimaki is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because David Haggstrom just wasn't active enough.
Hovimaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hovimaki keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Haggstrom misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovimaki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Haggstrom fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Haggstrom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Haggstrom with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hovimaki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hovimaki with a hook.
Hovimaki scores with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom fails with a takedown attempt.
Haggstrom ducks under a wild hook from Hovimaki.
Haggstrom bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Haggstrom shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Haggstrom takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovimaki looks to land a right hand but Haggstrom moved out of range.
Haggstrom takes one to the side of the head.
Hovimaki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Haggstrom doesn't seem bothered though.
Nice defenses there by Haggstrom.
Hovimaki moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Hovimaki really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hovimaki connects with a right hand. Haggstrom shakes it off.
Haggstrom slips under a jab.
Nice sprawl there from Hovimaki as Haggstrom shoots in.
Hovimaki misses the jab.
Hovimaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hovimaki stuns Haggstrom with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovimaki's jab looks to have found its range, popping Haggstrom under the eye.
Hovimaki lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Haggstrom walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Haggstrom shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hovimaki counters with a stiff right hand.
Hovimaki cracks Haggstrom with a good jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom slips a straight right by Hovimaki.
Hovimaki cracks Haggstrom with an open hand slap.
Haggstrom with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hovimaki counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Haggstrom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hovimaki throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Haggstrom sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Haggstrom looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Haggstrom shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hovimaki with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Haggstrom moves out of range as Hovimaki strikes.
Haggstrom fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Haggstrom with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hovimaki counters with a nice uppercut.
Hovimaki throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovimaki cracks Haggstrom with an open hand slap.
Haggstrom dives in and grabs Hovimaki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hovimaki pushes down on Haggstrom's head and hops out.
Hovimaki throws a jab when Haggstrom was well out of range.
Haggstrom ducks right into an uppercut from Hovimaki.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haggstrom doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hovimaki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Hovimaki dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Haggstrom takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Haggstrom closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hovimaki circles away.
Hovimaki fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Haggstrom shoots for a takedown but Hovimaki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice defenses there by Haggstrom.
Haggstrom moves forwards but Hovimaki connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovimaki scores with a punch to the head.
Hovimaki misses with an uppercut.
Hovimaki looks to throw the jab but Haggstrom is out of range.
Hovimaki misses with an uppercut. Haggstrom saw that one coming.
Haggstrom gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hovimaki counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Haggstrom. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hovimaki tries to avoid it but Haggstrom manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hovimaki to the ground. Hovimaki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Haggstrom has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Haggstrom there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hovimaki lands with a right hand.
Hovimaki jabs Haggstrom to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Haggstrom doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hovimaki lands a really nice looking cross but Haggstrom seems unphased.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom shoots in looking for a takedown. Hovimaki tries to sprawl out of it but Haggstrom keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hovimaki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hovimaki stuns Haggstrom with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Mikko Hovimaki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Haggstrom takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom takes one to the chin there.
Haggstrom misses with a takedown
and Hovimaki counters with a left to the body.
Haggstrom looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Haggstrom misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Haggstrom shoots and misses
and Hovimaki counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Haggstrom moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikko Hovimaki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hovimaki 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 45:50
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 45:50
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikko Hovimaki!
Mikko Hovimaki is the new lightweight champion!
After the fight, Mikko Hovimaki was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.