PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taneli Hauki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taneli Hauki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kim
vs
Hauki

190 cm
30
195 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

188 cm
29
197 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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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 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roberto Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Taneli Hauki!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kim takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hauki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kim takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hauki listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hauki looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hauki stuffs the takedown.
Kim attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hauki checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hauki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kim moves away.
Hauki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kim drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hauki sprawls and moves away.
Kim finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Hauki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hauki takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kim lands a head kick!
A jab from Hauki does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hauki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hauki slaps away a takedown attempt from Kim, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kim defending well as Hauki loads up on a big left hand.
Taneli Hauki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kim swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hauki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Kim throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hauki was covering up waiting for the punch and Kim finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kim throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hauki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kim advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kim goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Hauki rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kim's guard! Nice work there by Hauki!
Kim is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hauki trying to hold on to Kim's head to control him but Kim postures up.
Kim tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hauki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hauki has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Kim is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hauki keeping control of the position.

Kim seems to be working for a kimura but Hauki defends the submission attempt.
Kim trying to pass the guard but Hauki defending well.
We've been hearing good reports from Kim'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kim is keen to just control but Hauki is a slippery customer.
Kim tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hauki knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hauki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hauki regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kim in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hauki is adopting a defensive guard.
Hauki preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Roberto Kim will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hauki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kim slips a straight right by Hauki.
Kim stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kim ducks under a wild hook from Hauki.
Hauki thuds his right hand into Kim's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hauki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hauki checks a leg kick.
Kim throws a sloppy head kick and Hauki moves out of range easily.
Hauki scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Roberto Kim has been cut.
Kim throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Taneli Hauki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kim.
Hauki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kim swings for the body but Hauki moves out of range.
Hauki throws a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Hauki misses

so Kim counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hauki looking to control.
Kim trying to control the position from guard on top but Hauki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kim preventing the sweep.
Kim looking to sit in guard and control but Hauki gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hauki wanted to stand there but Kim had control of the position.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim looking for a sweep. Not yet Kim, not yet.
Hauki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kim is working hard here to advance position.
Kim can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hauki controls the pace.
Kim wants to sweep here but Hauki controlling him for the moment.

Kim has his foot on Hauki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hauki works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim keeping moving, preventing Hauki from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hauki throws a good cross that connects.
Hauki lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kim will feel that in the morning.
Hauki ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hauki drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kim tries to work over Hauki's front leg with a kick but Hauki checks it.
Kim lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Nice body kick from Hauki.
Hauki throws a sloppy head kick and Kim moves out of range easily.
Hauki lands with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hauki looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kim changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Kim misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Taneli Hauki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kim fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
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!
Hauki takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Hauki lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hauki moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hauki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hauki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kim.
Kim takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hauki throws a low kick but Kim avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taneli Hauki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Roberto Kim's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kim is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Kim is still looking wobbly from the end of the last round!
Kim stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hauki.
Oh Kim is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hauki avoids the body shot from Kim.
Kim looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kim throws an off balance right hand
and Hauki scores with a counter punch that sends Kim to the canvas! Hauki smells blood - he's punishing Kim with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Kim has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Taneli Hauki!
Taneli Hauki very nearly forgot to thank LOPS 160q $149 amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.
In defeat, Roberto Kim stepped up to the mic, saying 'HOOOODOOR!'.