PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Richmond Finch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hakan Juholt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Finch
vs
Juholt

176 cm
28
156 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

167 cm
29
135 lbs
13 - 4 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Richmond Finch!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Hakan Juholt!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finch gets off balance looking for a body kick

so Juholt counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Finch trying to control the position.
Finch managing to control the position.
Juholt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Juholt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Juholt trying to control but Finch is working from the bottom.
Finch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Finch holds on and takes a little breather.
Juholt has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Finch continues to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finch keeping moving, preventing Juholt from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Juholt misses with a head kick.
Finch showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Juholt.
Juholt throws a nice looking combination but Finch bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No luck for Juholt with that takedown attempt.
Finch looks to land a left hand but Juholt moved out of range nicely.
Juholt lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Richmond Finch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Juholt scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A head kick misses from Juholt.
Finch avoids the head kick by Juholt.
Juholt throws a body punch but Finch moves out of range.
Juholt throws the left hand but Finch avoids the punch easily.
Finch throws a quick counter kick to the body but Juholt avoids it.
Finch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Juholt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juholt throws a wild body kick that Finch sees coming a mile off.
Juholt misses with a body kick.
A swing and a miss from Finch.
Juholt on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Finch. Finch obviously looking to wear him down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Juholt clobbers Finch with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Finch rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Juholt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Juholt scores with a leg kick.
Juholt throws a low kick, looking for Finch's leg but Finch calmly moves out of range.
Finch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Juholt uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Finch.
Juholt changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Finch walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Juholt throws a head kick that misses.
Some wild striking there from Finch.
Juholt ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juholt fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Juholt looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice uppercut lands for Finch. That snapped Juholt's head back.
Finch throws a looping overhand right but Juholt ducks down to avoid it.
Juholt tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Juholt just misses with a punch to the body.
Finch fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Juholt looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Some bone on bone action there as Finch checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Juholt throws the left hand but Finch avoids the punch easily.

Juholt closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Finch is positioning himself well to prevent Juholt advancing to mount.
Finch wants to control but Juholt is keeping busy.
Finch gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juholt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Finch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finch trying to keep a closed guard but Juholt is proving a slippery customer.
Juholt trying to control but Finch is working from the bottom.
Finch controlling the position.

Finch wriggles free and stands up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Finch gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Juholt to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Finch has his hands on Juholt's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakan Juholt dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Finch uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Juholt has time to react.
Finch fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Juholt steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Finch.
Juholt tries a head kick but it misses.
Finch gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Juholt.

Juholt gets a takedown into half guard.
Juholt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Juholt wants to pass to mount but Finch is defending the position.
Finch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Juholt is working away from the top position though.
Finch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Juholt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finch is trying to control but can't.
Juholt is trying to control. Finch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Finch trying to control here.
Finch desperately trying to maintain half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Finch's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Finch duly obliges.
Juholt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Juholt.
Finch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juholt fails with the takedown.
Finch blocks a leg kick.
A jab from Finch misses.
Finch blocks a head kick by Juholt.
Finch throws a good cross that connects.
Finch lands a jab to the nose.
Juholt misses with a kick to the body.
Juholt tries a head kick but it misses.
Juholt looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Finch. Juholt shrugs it off though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Juholt tries to land a leg kick but Finch saw it coming and moves away.
Juholt tries a low kick but Finch avoids it.
Finch sizes up Juholt with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Juholt throws a leg kick
and Finch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juholt looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Juholt stuns Finch with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Juholt finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Juholt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Juholt pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Finch throws a solid leg kick but Juholt takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Finch.
Juholt shoots in and drives through. Finch sprawls well.
An attempted straight right counter from Finch misses the target.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Finch as Juholt tries to tie him up.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Juholt. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Finch misses with the head strike.
Finch swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Juholt breaks the clinch.
Jab by Finch.
Juholt cracks the inside of Finch's front leg.
Juholt throws a head kick but Finch moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juholt throws a hook but Finch avoids it easily.
Finch misses the shot to the body.
Juholt throws a leg kick but Finch checks it.
Finch jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Hakan Juholt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Finch takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Juholt looks to score with a jab to the body but Finch is just out of range.
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!
Finch scores with the left hand. Juholt knows he should have avoided that one.
Finch scores with a nice body kick.
Finch ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Finch misses with a head kick.
Juholt throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Finch counters with a nice uppercut.
Finch lands a right hook to the body.
Juholt slips a straight right by Finch.
Juholt misses with a body kick.
Juholt lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Finch misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Richmond Finch will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A punch combination from Finch misses.
Juholt drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Finch defends it well.
Juholt's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Finch connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Juholt scrambles back to his feet.

It looks like Hakan Juholt has been cut.
Juholt throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Juholt throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Finch connects with a body shot.
Juholt is looking to clinch.
Nice defenses there by Finch.
It looks like Finch has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Juholt throws a body punch but Finch moves out of range.
As Juholt backs away, Finch returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Juholt throws a head kick but Finch moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Finch misses the target.
Juholt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Finch lands with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juholt blocks the body kick.
Juholt shoots in looking for a takedown. Finch tries to sprawl out of it but Juholt keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Finch manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Juholt lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juholt takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Finch moves out of range of the strikes.
Finch misses with an uppercut. Juholt saw that one coming.
Finch turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Finch blocks the body kick.
Finch throws a shot from downtown. Juholt moves away and avoids it.
Juholt connects with a solid leg kick.
Finch throws a head kick that misses.
Finch lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Juholt with a hook.
Finch scores with a jab to the head.
Finch smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Juholt misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finch tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Juholt looks for a takedown but Finch sprawls well.
Finch avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Finch closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Juholt needs to keep his hands up - Finch had a free shot at his head there.
A decent looking cross lands there for Finch.
Finch takes a swing at Juholt's ribcage but misses.
Finch lands a head shot.
Finch throws an off balance right hand

and Juholt counters with a takedown into side control.
Finch is looking to reverse the position.
Finch manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Finch is refusing to be controlled, as Juholt sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch is looking for a sweep. Juholt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Juholt wants to pass the guard but Finch is defending well.
Finch trying to control here.
Finch is not content to let Juholt control the position.
Finch keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Hakan Juholt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Finch is trying to stand up here but Juholt is controlling him well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Finch scores with a punch to the head.
Finch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Juholt moves away.
Finch misses with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Juholt.
A quick step to the side and Finch tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Richmond Finch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakan Juholt.
Juholt falls off balance throwing a combination
and Finch counters with an outside leg kick.
Finch lands with a nice body kick.
Juholt misses with a body shot
and Juholt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Finch misses with a hook.
Juholt looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Finch throws a wild body kick that Juholt sees coming a mile off.
Finch misses with a kick to the body.
A low kick from Juholt misses
and Juholt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richmond Finch clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Hakan Juholt's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Juholt shoots in and drives through. Finch sprawls well.
Juholt throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Juholt avoids the body shot from Finch.
Juholt is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Finch misses with a looping right.
A slapping leg kick lands for Finch.
Finch checks the leg kick.
Juholt avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big right from Juholt misses.
Finch bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Juholt's head.
Juholt pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Juholt misses with a low kick as Finch jumps back.
Finch connects with a looping right hand.
Juholt takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Juholt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Finch manages to avoid it.
A quick step to the side and Finch tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Juholt throws a head kick that misses.
As Juholt looks to move away, Finch throws a big counter combo bu Juholt just gets out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Finch.
Juholt lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Juholt just misses with a punch to the body.
No joy there for Finch, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Finch plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Finch scores with a push kick.
Juholt moves out of range as Finch throws a body kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Finch checks a leg kick.
Finch moves out of range of the body kick.
No joy there for Juholt, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Juholt misses with a head kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Finch finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Juholt is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
A slow jab from Finch misses its intended target.
Juholt lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Juholt has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juholt walks into a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Juholt lands with a kick to the temple. Finch shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Juholt misses with a lunging right hand
and Finch counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Finch misses the jab.
Finch throws a hook but Juholt blocks it.
Finch scores with a hook to the body. Juholt takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Finch throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Juholt lands with a nice body kick.
Juholt tries to move into range but Finch moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Juholt takes a swing at Finch's ribcage but misses.
Juholt throws a series of punches but Finch avoids them all with ease.
Juholt has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Finch finds it's way round the side to connect with Juholt's head.
Juholt throws a sloppy head kick and Finch moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juholt goes for a double leg but Finch avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Finch continues to drive forward.
Juholt throws a poor cross that misses
and Finch counters with a stiff right hand.
A nice leg kick lands there from Finch.
A slow jab from Juholt misses its intended target.
Juholt is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Finch lands a nice hook to Juholt's body. Juholt takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Juholt has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Finch.
Juholt misses with a double jab.
Juholt throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Juholt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Juholt shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Finch defends it nicely.
Richmond Finch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hakan Juholt.
Juholt thuds his shin into the meat of Finch's side.
Finch tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juholt takes a kick to the side of the head.
That kick from Juholt tenderised Finch's leg. Finch is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Juholt tries a head kick but it misses.
Juholt tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Finch throws a sloppy head kick and Juholt moves out of range easily.
Juholt is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Juholt blocks a head kick by Finch.
Juholt is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Juholt shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Finch pinned against the cage. Finch gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Juholt throws a push kick but Finch slaps the foot to one side.
Finch is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Finch thows a left - swing and a miss!
Juholt walks forward, straight into a front kick from Finch.
Juholt uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Finch.
Juholt is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richmond Finch had his way with Hakan Juholt in that round.
The cut man is working on Hakan Juholt's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from Finch misses.
Juholt throws a sloppy head kick and Finch moves out of range easily.
Finch throws a leg kick that misses.

Juholt looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Finch is trying to control the position but Juholt postures up.
Finch keeping full guard, as Juholt tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Juholt wants to pass the guard but Finch is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juholt not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Juholt accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Juholt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Finch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Juholt throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Juholt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice defenses there by Juholt.
Juholt fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Juholt shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Finch throws out a loose jab but Juholt uses good head movement to avoid it.

Juholt shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Juholt is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Juholt is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Juholt prevents Finch from improving his position.
Juholt is thwarting Finch's attempts to control the position.
Juholt is keen to just control but Finch is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch trying to control but Juholt postures up.
Well, if Juholt is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hakan Juholt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Finch trying to control but Juholt postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Juholt lands with a shot to the body.
Juholt throws a head kick that misses.
Juholt throws a sloppy head kick and Finch moves out of range easily.
Juholt just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromFinch.
An inside leg kick from Juholt misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Finch, right into the meat.
Finch is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Juholt takes one to the side of the head.
Finch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Juholt wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Juholt walks into a straight right hand from Finch.
Juholt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Finch plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Juholt. Finch shrugs it off though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Juholt jabs at Finch's body.
Juholt works the jab nicely.
Finch throws a low kick but it's checked well by Juholt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A good leg kick by Juholt.
Juholt takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Juholt looks to land a right hand but Finch moved out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hakan Juholt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Finch has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 48:47
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 48:47
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richmond Finch!
Richmond Finch retains his featherweight title!
Richmond Finch bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.