PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between David Haggstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iain James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Haggstrom
vs
James

183 cm
28
154 lbs
10 - 3 - 1

185 cm
29
150 lbs
9 - 16 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, David Haggstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iain James!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from James is predictable there

and Haggstrom counters with a shoot takedown. James fights it but they end up in guard.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Haggstrom controls from within his opponent's guard.
Haggstrom won't allow James to sweep him here.

James throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Haggstrom escapes and throws James's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Haggstrom connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused James some visible discomfort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is looking for a sweep.
Haggstrom cracks James with a big right hand but James just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Haggstrom cracks James with a big right hand but James just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Haggstrom is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but James is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Haggstrom is trying to get an arm triangle but James is defending well.
James is trying to control Haggstrom's posture but Haggstrom avoids it.
Haggstrom creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
James is trying to get back to half guard.
Haggstrom tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Haggstrom has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Haggstrom wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by James, who protects the arm well.

Haggstrom goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, James has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Haggstrom but great work by James.

James swings around for an armbar but Haggstrom sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into James's guard.
Haggstrom trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

James had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Haggstrom defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haggstrom passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Haggstrom has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Haggstrom is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Haggstrom is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, James has escaped the position, nice work there.
James is looking for a sweep.
Haggstrom works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
James is looking to regain half guard here but Haggstrom keeps moving and retains side control.

Haggstrom tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Haggstrom has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Haggstrom dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

James closes the distance but Haggstrom moves to the side

and Haggstrom counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

James actively working from the bottom here.

Haggstrom looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Haggstrom is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
Haggstrom takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James tries to get to full guard but Haggstrom has control of the leg.
Haggstrom scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggstrom is keen to just control but James is a slippery customer.

James actively working from the bottom here.
Haggstrom trying to control the pace.
Haggstrom is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
James trying to hold on to Haggstrom's head to control him but Haggstrom postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Haggstrom is working for a submission of some sort.

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.

James looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Haggstrom is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

James is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Haggstrom pulls his head out easily.
Haggstrom is pressing down on James's thigh, looking to free his foot. James is holding on for now.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

James is defending against the submission attempts here by Haggstrom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Haggstrom looking for a submission but James manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

James is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Haggstrom defends well.
James can't keep his opponent in guard - Haggstrom advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Haggstrom is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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.
Ground and pound from Haggstrom.
David Haggstrom overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

James actively working from the bottom here.
Haggstrom stops James from getting back to his feet.
Haggstrom performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

James looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Haggstrom is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Haggstrom dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A punch combination from James misses.
A head kick by James misses

and Haggstrom counters with a single leg into guard. James didn't expect that.

Haggstrom drops back looking for a leg! James is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and James manages to kick Haggstrom off! Haggstrom jumps back into James's guard.
Haggstrom trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Haggstrom slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haggstrom trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

James is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Haggstrom is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggstrom wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Haggstrom slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Haggstrom trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Haggstrom moves out of range as James throws a body kick.
Haggstrom is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from James.
Haggstrom uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
Haggstrom tries to counter by clinching up but James breaks away and moves out of range.
A swing and a miss from James.
Haggstrom changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
James has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Haggstrom is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Haggstrom darts in looking for a takedown but James gets double underhooks and turns Haggstrom into the cage.

James closes the distance and pushes Haggstrom back into the cage.
Haggstrom blocks a body shot from James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James with an attempt at a knee that misses.
James with an attempt at a knee that misses.

James breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A low kick from James misses

and Haggstrom counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
James wants to get back to his feet.

Haggstrom is trying to work for a kimura but James is defending well.
James wants to control but Haggstrom is keeping busy.

Haggstrom is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James kicks Haggstrom off and gets back to his feet.
James throws a nice looking combination but Haggstrom bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

James clinches with his opponent.
Iain James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A nice glancing elbow lands by James.
James gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
James landing knees to the body.
Haggstrom wants a takedown.
James gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Haggstrom.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Haggstrom. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from James.

James manages to break the clinch.

James drives through and clinches with Haggstrom against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A shot in the inside from James.
A knee to the head by James.
James lands a knee to the body.
A right hand to the body from James.
James lands a body shot.
David Haggstrom is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Haggstrom changes levels and goes for a takedown here. James fights it off and pushes away nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iain James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Haggstrom 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Haggstrom!