PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Declan Sweeney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Hyypia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sweeney comes to the cage accompanied by Four Star Mary - Pain. Hyypia is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Al Bowlly - Hang out the stars in Indiana. Declan Sweeney could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Sami Hyypia's chin.

Sweeney
vs
Hyypia

225 cm
33
294 lbs
29 - 10 - 0

225 cm
31
301 lbs
22 - 11 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Dissolution Fight Wear

Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Declan Sweeney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Hyypia!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sweeney checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sweeney throws a big shot that misses.
Hyypia was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Sweeney uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hyypia.
Sweeney throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hyypia tries to clinch up
and Sweeney cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
We've been hearing reports that Sweeney has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Sweeney throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hyypia makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Sweeney really felt that one!
Hyypia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sweeney appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hyypia plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Declan Sweeney has been cut.
Sweeney misses with a low kick.
Hyypia looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sweeney lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hyypia lands with a nice body punch.
Sweeney ducks under a wild hook from Hyypia.
Hyypia loads up on a big right hand but Sweeney slips the punch.
Hyypia throws a hook but Sweeney avoids it easily.
Sweeney throws a quick counter kick to the body but Hyypia avoids it.
Sweeney looks for the body kick but Hyypia saw that one coming.
Sweeney scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sami Hyypia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sweeney fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hyypia scores with a jab. Sweeney acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Sami Hyypia is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sweeney smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice shot by Sweeney.
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!
Hyypia throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Sweeney to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hyypia moves into range and connects with a jab.
Sweeney keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hyypia moves out of range of the body kick from Sweeney.
Sweeney on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A shot to the liver by Hyypia. Beautiful body shot.
Nice body punch from Hyypia.
Sweeney is breathing heavily.
Sweeney misses the shot to the body.
Hyypia pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hyypia, right into the meat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hyypia.
Hyypia throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hyypia throws a low kick but Sweeney avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hyypia throws a body punch but Sweeney moves out of range.
Sweeney misses with a leg kick
and Hyypia counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hyypia throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sweeney avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Sweeney fires out a quick counter leg kick but Hyypia just manages to avoid it.
Hyypia smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Sweeney is looking to chop away at Hyypia's legs.
Hyypia has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sweeney.
Hyypia lands a leg kick that knocks Sweeney off balance momentarily.
Sweeney moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sweeney throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hyypia lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sweeney's sensitive parts.
Hyypia throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Sweeney is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice defenses there by Hyypia.
A jab lands there for Hyypia.

Declan Sweeney's cut is getting worse.
Sweeney checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Sweeney scores with a sloppy right hand. Hyypia should have avoided that one.
Sweeney scores with a nice strike.
Sweeney is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hyypia.
Hyypia tries a quick counter leg kick but Sweeney is wise to it.
Hyypia will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hyypia goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Hyypia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Declan Sweeney's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hyypia moves in looking to clinch but Sweeney pushes him off.
Sweeney thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hyypia moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hyypia throws a leg kick but Sweeney moved away.
Sweeney feinted with a counter takedown.
Sami Hyypia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hyypia. That's going to slow Sweeney down.
Sweeney changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hyypia tries to avoid it but Sweeney manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hyypia to the ground. Hyypia escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sweeney's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Hyypia tried to score with a low kick but Sweeney checks it.
Sweeney connects with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hyypia throws a leg kick but Sweeney sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sweeney connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sweeney misses with a right hand
and Hyypia counters with an inside leg kick.
Hyypia scores with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hyypia scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hyypia has managed to clinch.
Good body shot from Hyypia.
Hyypia tries to work over Sweeney's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Stalling in the clinch from Hyypia.
Hyypia effectively controlling the action here.
Sweeney wants to break free but Hyypia has control.
Hyypia blocking some punches.
Hyypia working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hyypia.
Hyypia tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sweeney lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hyypia blocking some punches.
Sweeney scores with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney misses with a punch on the inside.
Sweeney working hard to break the clinch.
Sweeney blocking some punches.
Hyypia lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sweeney blocking some punches.
Sweeney working aggressively here.

Sweeney has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hyypia is trying to keep an underhook but Sweeney manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sweeney throwing shots but Hyypia is blocking nicely.
Sweeney is pressing down on Hyypia's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hyypia is holding on for now.
Sweeney thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hyypia's head.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hyypia manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hyypia wants to stand up but Sweeney is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sweeney throws a big right hand that misses.
Sweeney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Sweeney avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sweeney content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sweeney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Sweeney trying to control the position from guard on top but Hyypia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hyypia has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

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.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Sweeney takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Sweeney moves out of range as Hyypia throws a body kick.

Sweeney shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sweeney with a nice head shot there.
Sweeney throws an elbow that misses. Hyypia uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Sweeney's guard. Nice move by Hyypia!

Sweeney is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Hyypia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Declan Sweeney's cut.
That's time! Sweeney's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sweeney lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Declan Sweeney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sweeney takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Sweeney scores with a takedown into Hyypia's guard.
Hyypia has control of Sweeney's left arm, preventing Sweeney from doing any damage.
Hyypia 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.
Declan Sweeney overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hyypia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sweeney throws a big right hand that misses.
Hyypia keeping moving, preventing Sweeney from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sweeney looking to sit in guard and control but Hyypia gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hyypia is looking to stand up but Sweeney won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sweeney trying to keep a closed guard but Hyypia is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hyypia thows a leg kick but Sweeney checks it
and Sweeney counters with an inside leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hyypia, as that shot connected.
A jab from Hyypia misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hyypia looks to throw the jab but Sweeney is out of range.
It looked like Sweeney was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Sweeney shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Sweeney was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sweeney is looking to take a break and control but Hyypia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sweeney throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sweeney is looking to take a break and control but Hyypia is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hyypia is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hyypia takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Sweeney fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Hyypia is looking for a sweep.
Sweeney sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hyypia is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hyypia is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sweeney lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sweeney in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Sweeney postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

And that's the end of the fight!
Declan Sweeney showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hyypia has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Hyypia!
Sami Hyypia took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Hellbent for their support in the buildup to the fight.
The defeated Declan Sweeney had this to say: 'It feels so good to get a big victory tonight, I want to thank my sponsors, my fans my fam....... Hey what??? What do you mean I didn't win??? This is an outrage!!'.