PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damian Hardacre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samppa Linna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hardacre
vs
Linna

195 cm
26
271 lbs
18 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
259 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

Perkele!
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Damian Hardacre!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samppa Linna!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Linna misses with a straight left.
Linna misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardacre.
Hardacre throws a leg kick but Linna sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Linna looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Linna chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hardacre throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Linna comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hardacre throws a head kick that misses.
Linna lands a high kick!
A telegraphed right hand from Linna misses the target.
Hardacre has been working on his boxing with his coaches at ELITE GYM 40CAP in the buildup to the fight.
Hardacre blocks the body kick.
Linna misses with an uppercut.
Linna has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Hardacre avoids the body shot from Linna.
Hardacre lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Linna misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardacre.
Hardacre uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Linna.
Hardacre takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linna lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hardacre's sensitive parts.
Linna is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hardacre rather than just go for the knockout.
Hardacre motions for Linna to come forward. Hardacre throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice side step and Linna releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A lazy left from Linna finds it's target.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hardacre.
Hardacre has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Linna.
Hardacre throws a leg kick that misses.
Linna misses with a leg kick

and Hardacre moves into the clinch.
Hardacre trying to stall but Linna improves his position.
Linna stalling in the clinch but Hardacre improves position.
Hardacre lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hardacre gets through Linna's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hardacre as Linna tries to tie him up.
Linna is trying to maintain a safe position but Hardacre gets an underhook and turns Linna into the cage.
Linna seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.

Hardacre's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Linna uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hardacre.
Linna is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hardacre.
Samppa Linna seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hardacre lands a big head kick that sends Linna tumbling to the mat! Hardacre takes a step backwards and waves Linna back to his feet - he wants the finish!

It looks like Samppa Linna has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Linna uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Linna keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hardacre throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hardacre throws a front kick that sends Linna stumbling back into the cage.
Linna misses with a low kick.
Hardacre tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Linna misses the jab.
Hardacre seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Hardacre takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Linna thuds a left hand into Hardacre's body.
Linna turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Linna throws a leg kick
and Hardacre counters with a good low kick that Linna was not able to check.
Linna lands a nice shot to the body.
Hardacre checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linna takes a swing at Hardacre's ribcage but misses.
Hardacre quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Linna throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hardacre.
An inside leg kick lands from Hardacre.
Linna takes a swing at Hardacre's ribcage but misses.
Linna throws a leg kick
and Hardacre counters with a series of strikes. Linna will be more careful next time no doubt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hardacre.
Hardacre throws a leg kick but Linna checks it.
Linna misses with a body shot.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Linna. Hardacre shrugs it off though.
Linna slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hardacre tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice takedown defense from Hardacre. No joy for Linna on that attempt.
Linna tries to score with a low kick but Hardacre moves his leg out of the way.
Hardacre avoids the body shot from Linna.
Hardacre looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hardacre throws a leg kick but Linna checks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Linna misses with a wild body shot.
Hardacre ducks under a wild hook from Linna.
Hardacre throws the kick towards the body but Linna avoids it.
Linna jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hardacre tries to bum rush Linna with a series of wild strikes but Linna uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Linna throws a leg kick
and Hardacre counters with a nice leg kick.
Good leg kick by Hardacre there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Linna shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hardacre throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
No joy there for Linna, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Linna throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hardacre counters with a nice leg kick.
Hardacre turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hardacre throws a lazy head kick
letting Linna counter with a right hand.
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 Damian Hardacre will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Samppa Linna's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A big right from Linna misses.
Linna connects with a crisp jab.
Linna stuns Hardacre with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hardacre goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Linna! But no joy.
Linna throws a head kick but Hardacre moves out of range.
Hardacre wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Linna fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hardacre manages to avoid it.
Hardacre tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Linna is able to avoid easily.
Linna sizes up Hardacre with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice body kick there by Linna.
Samppa Linna seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hardacre misses with a body kick.
Linna's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Linna misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hardacre.
Linna scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hardacre uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Linna.
Linna looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linna misses with a left hand
and Hardacre counters with a nice low kick that buckles Linna's knee momentarily.
Linna just misses with a punch to the body.
Linna connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Linna tests Hardacre's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hardacre dodges the punch combination from Linna.
Linna scores with a jab to the body.
Linna looks to land a body kick but Hardacre moved away.
As Linna backs away, Hardacre returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Linna throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hardacre moves out of range of the leg kick from Linna.
Linna lands a right hook to the body.
Linna looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Linna throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linna lands a jab to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hardacre takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hardacre takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hardacre moves out of range of the leg kick from Linna.
Linna avoids the head kick by Hardacre.
Hardacre tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick from Linna lands but Hardacre takes it in his stride.
Linna throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hardacre has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Linna.
Linna lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hardacre swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Linna throws a jab but it's blocked by Hardacre.
Linna misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Linna, right into the meat.
Hardacre attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Linna misses with an uppercut.
Hardacre does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hardacre tried to score with a low kick but Linna checks it.
Linna scores with a body shot.
Linna has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hardacre walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Linna checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Linna moves out of range as Hardacre throws a body kick.
Hardacre drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hardacre throws a low kick but it's checked well by Linna.
Linna swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Hardacre tries a head kick but it misses.
Hardacre slips under a jab from Linna.
Linna connects with a looping right hand.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Linna!

Hardacre is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linna throws a body punch but Hardacre moves out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Hardacre.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hardacre displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Linna throws out the jab.
Hardacre doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Linna explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A solid body kick from Hardacre.
Hardacre uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Linna.
Hardacre is looking to counter punch.
Hardacre throws a front kick aimed at Linna's knee but Linna avoids it well.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Linna.
Hardacre plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Linna. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Linna dodges the punch combination from Hardacre.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samppa Linna showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Samppa Linna's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hardacre staying out of range there.
Linna checks the leg kick nicely there.
Linna throws a leg kick but Hardacre moved away.
Hardacre misses with a body shot.
A lazy body kick from Linna
and Hardacre counters with an outside leg kick.
Linna checks a low kick from Hardacre.
Hardacre connects with an inside leg kick.
Linna scores with a body shot.
Hardacre fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Linna is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A cross from Linna lands.
Linna cracks the inside of Hardacre's front leg.

Linna drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Linna working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linna is working Hardacre over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hardacre gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Linna is working for a submission of some sort.
Hardacre tries to get to full guard but Linna has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hardacre looking for submissions off his back.
Linna takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

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.
Hardacre is looking to improve his position.
Linna scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hardacre manages to get to full guard.
Hardacre is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hardacre's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.

Hardacre looking for a guillotine here but Linna defends easily.

Hardacre working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Linna has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hardacre is trying to maintain the position but Linna is very close to passing his half guard.
Hardacre is pressing down on Linna's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Hardacre throws his legs up looking for a submission but Linna uses it to pass to side control.
Linna tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hardacre's legs.
Hardacre struggling a bit here.

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.
Hardacre tries to improve position but can't.
Hardacre manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Linna wants to get back to full guard.

Hardacre is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Linna still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Linna has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Hardacre is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Linna scores with punches from side control.
Linna passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hardacre!
Hardacre gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samppa Linna comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Linna 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samppa Linna!
Samppa Linna decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.