PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight kickboxing rules bout between Hannu Haapana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sama Paska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Haapana
vs
Paska

169 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Excellent MT
Granite chin

Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hannu Haapana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sama Paska!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, David Hoff and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haapana tries to clinch but Paska is having none of it.
Haapana lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Haapana doesn't manage to clinch there - Paska circles away.
Haapana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Paska moves away.
Haapana lands a jab.
Haapana throws a low kick but it's checked well by Paska.
Haapana comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Haapana connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Haapana closes the distance and clinches.
Haapana gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Sama Paska has been cut.
Paska dodges an elbow strike from Haapana.
Paska working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Paska swings wildly with an uppercut but Haapana uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters up against the cage, Haapana throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Paska blocks the elbow strike.
Haapana blocks a body shot from Paska.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paska takes an elbow to the forehead.
Paska is trying to push Haapana away but Haapana has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Paska blocks an elbow strike.
Haapana is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Paska is keeping busy.
Haapana looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Haapana definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Paska tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Haapana's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Haapana throws an elbow but it misses.
Haapana's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Haapana comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Haapana throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Paska blocks an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Haapana is looking to control Paska's arms but Paska gets an underhook and turns him. Now Haapana has his back to the cage.
Paska blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paska misses with a short punch on the inside.
Paska blocks an elbow strike.
Haapana looking to slow down the pace here.
Haapana has a couple of punches blocked by Paska.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Haapana throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Haapana pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Haapana throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Haapana gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
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!
Paska working aggressively here.
Paska swings wildly with an uppercut but Haapana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Haapana lands an elbow just above Paska 's eye.
Haapana pushes off an throws an elbow but Paska leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Nice elbow from Haapana.

That has opened up Sama Paska's cut even more.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paska tries to stall but Haapana uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Paska blocks the elbow strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Paska.
Paska stalling in the clinch but Haapana improves position.
Haapana lands an elbow inside that Paska shrugs off.
Paska throws a punch but it's blocked by Haapana.
A short right from Haapana on the inside.

Paska is rocked!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Paska as Haapana tries to tie him up.
Haapana lands a damaging elbow.
Paska is still on wobbly legs! Can Haapana finish him?
Haapana lands with a light punch inside.
We've been informed that Paska has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Haapana throws an elbow that misses.
Paska blocks a body shot from Haapana.
Paska takes an elbow to the forehead.

The cut above Sama Paska's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Haapana working aggressively here.
Haapana lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Paska misses with a short punch on the inside.
Haapana cracks Paska on the bridge of the nose with a nasty looking elbow! Paska crumples to the floor in pain, holding his face! It doesn't look like he's going to beat the count - he's out of it! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Elbows). Hannu Haapana!