PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jussi Hempele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Junior Harris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hempele
vs
Harris

170 cm
21
160 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

174 cm
21
168 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Arcticus
Big Bear Nutrition 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jussi Hempele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Junior Harris!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Jorge Garcia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harris misses with a takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Nice shot by Hempele.

Harris has Hempele up against the cage in a clinch.
Hempele keeps control of Harris as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hempele is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Harris manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hempele slips nicely into half guard.
Hempele trying to control the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris tries to roll over but Hempele keeps him under control.
Harris is looking to control Hempele's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Harris avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hempele controlling the action here.
Hempele prevents Harris from improving his position.
Hempele is taking a breather. Harris says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Harris can do anything to dispel that myth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Harris trying to control but Hempele postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Harris fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hempele tries to land a front kick but Harris steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Harris throws a series of punches but Hempele avoids them all with ease.
Hempele fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Harris swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hempele circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris circles away from the clinch attempt.

Harris tries to keep at a distance but Hempele has taken the fight into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Hempele.
Still in the clinch, Hempele scores with a nice short uppercut.

Hempele's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hempele lands with a kick to the ribs.

Harris has taken the fight to the clinch.
Harris tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hempele smiles and moves away.
Hempele stuffs the takedown attempt from Harris. Harris gets slowly back to his feet.
Jussi Hempele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Harris.
Harris takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hempele connects with a solid leg kick.
Harris closes the distance but Hempele moves to the side
enabling Hempele to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Harris tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Harris throws a body punch but Hempele moves out of range.
Hempele lands a jab to the nose.
Harris is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hempele sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Harris misses with a low kick.
Hempele lands with a slapping head kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hempele, right into the meat.
Harris looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hempele is fending him off so far but Harris persists. Nope, Hempele circles away and we're back to standing.
Hempele is looking to land body kicks.
Hempele is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Jussi Hempele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hempele connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Harris is looking to clinch.
Junior Harris seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Hempele.
Harris misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hempele looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Harris fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Hempele dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Harris tries to clinch up
and Hempele counters with a nice leg kick.
Harris fails with the takedown.

Harris scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Harris tries for a kimura but Hempele is defending well.
Hempele prevents Harris from improving position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Harris working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hempele is looking to regain half guard here but Harris keeps moving and retains side control.
Harris content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Hempele struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harris tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hempele is trying to get back to half guard.
Hempele stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Hempele manages to get back to half guard.
Hempele gets full guard.
Hempele is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harris can do to turn this around?
Harris trying to control but Hempele is working from the bottom.
Harris might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hempele haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hempele is pulling down on Harris's head. It's preventing any offense from Harris, at least for the moment.

That's two 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.
Harris trying to control but Hempele is working from the bottom.
Harris missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hempele is pulling down on Harris's head. It's preventing any offense from Harris, at least for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Harris takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Nice takedown defense from Hempele. No joy for Harris on that attempt.
Hempele tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hempele connects with a leg kick. Harris looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Junior Harris is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harris tried to score with a low kick but Hempele checks it.
Hempele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hempele scores with a hook to the body. Harris takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Harris fails with a takedown attempt.
Jussi Hempele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Harris.
Harris shoots for a double leg takedown but Hempele sprawls well. He's pushed Harris's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Harris keeps the fight on the outside.
Hempele dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Harris. That did some damage!
Harris shoots in but no luck this time.
Hempele lands a nice leg kick that just misses Harris's sensitive parts.
Harris has a takedown stuffed.
Harris is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Harris has taken the fight to the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Hempele.
Harris content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Hempele's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hempele looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Crunch! Hempele slams his shin into Harris's torso.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Harris instigates a clinch.
Harris prevents a body shot from Hempele.

Hempele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Harris shoots and misses
and Hempele counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hempele keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Harris is breathing heavily.
Harris thows a leg kick but Hempele checks it
and Hempele counters with a nice kick to the body.
Jussi Hempele is winning the standup battle so far.
Harris tries to clinch
and Hempele finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Hempele dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hempele lands a jab.
Hempele connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
No luck for Harris with that takedown attempt.
Harris takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Harris throws a lazy head kick
and Hempele counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
That kick from Hempele tenderised Harris's leg. Harris is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hempele moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harris with a poor takedown
and Hempele cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Harris moves to clinch but Hempele breaks away
and Hempele counters with a straight right hand.
Hempele keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jussi Hempele has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Junior Harris.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hempele connects with a body shot.
Harris takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Harris chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hempele can pounce on him.
Nice sprawl there from Hempele as Harris shoots in.
Hempele lands with a good body shot.

Hempele clinches up with Harris and pushes him back against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hempele scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Hempele manages to break the clinch.
Hempele lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hempele. That's going to slow Harris down.
Hempele thows a body kick. Harris tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Hempele rushes Harris and presses him up against the cage.

Hempele breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jussi Hempele is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Harris wants to clinch but Hempele slips to the side
and Hempele counters with a stiff right hand.
Harris looks for a takedown but Hempele sprawls well.
Harris takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Harris takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hempele.
Harris throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hempele counters with a nice body kick.
Hempele connects with an inside leg kick.
Hempele throws a head kick but Harris moves out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Harris or perhaps it was just good defense by Hempele, which made it look bad.
It looked like Hempele was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Harris.

Hempele has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hempele stops a takedown attempt from Harris.
Harris changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hempele fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Harris closes the distance and clinches up with Hempele, looking for a takedown. Harris pushes Hempele against the cage but Hempele circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hempele lands a leg kick that knocks Harris off balance momentarily.

Harris looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hempele!
Harris working away.
Harris is looking to take a break and control but Hempele is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hempele can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hempele regains half guard.
Harris trying to control from half guard but Hempele is working away.
Hempele is trying to get back to full guard.
Harris missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Junior Harris has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hempele trying to control here.
Hempele is concentrating on defense, preventing Harris from advancing position.
Junior Harris has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hempele has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Hempele.
Hempele is trying to maintain the position but Harris is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jussi Hempele showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hempele, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jussi Hempele!
Our winner, Jussi Hempele, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.