PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Danny Charles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Haapalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Charles comes into the arena with Have Heart - Armed With A Mind blaring out of the sound system. Haapalainen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Lentävä Kalakukko. Mikko Haapalainen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Charles
vs
Haapalainen

178 cm
19
170 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

182 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Vikai Gear Island

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Danny Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mikko Haapalainen!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Winston Alpacca and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Charles swats away the attempt to clinch by Haapalainen.
Charles is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Haapalainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mikko Haapalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haapalainen lands with a nice body kick.
Haapalainen wants to clinch but Charles slips to the side
and Charles counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Haapalainen.
Haapalainen tries to clinch up but Charles circles away and keeps his distance.
Charles swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haapalainen is looking to clinch.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Charles enables Haapalainen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Charles manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Charles has a closed guard, preventing Haapalainen from standing up.

Haapalainen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapalainen tries to stand but Charles is controlling from the bottom.

Charles escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Haapalainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Haapalainen stands up and waves to Charles to follow him.
Haapalainen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Charles misses with a wild body shot.
Charles circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Charles to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Haapalainen.
Charles swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Haapalainen throws a body kick that misses
and Charles counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Haapalainen thinking.
Charles listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

It looks like Mikko Haapalainen has been cut.
Haapalainen misses with a head kick.
Haapalainen looks to land a body kick but Charles moved away.
Haapalainen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Charles swivels and escapes.
Charles takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Haapalainen has closed the distance and engaged Charles in a clinch.
Charles managing to block the knees to the body from Haapalainen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapalainen tries to pull guard but Charles forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Danny Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Haapalainen.
Charles tries to break free but Haapalainen pushes him back against the cage.

Charles's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Haapalainen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Haapalainen jumps into guard, dragging Charles to the mat.

Charles is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Charles content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapalainen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Charles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Haapalainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Charles stands and steps away. Haapalainen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Haapalainen moves to clinch but Charles breaks away
and Charles counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Charles swings for the body but Haapalainen moves out of range.
Haapalainen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Charles blocks the body kick.
It looked like Charles was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Haapalainen.
Haapalainen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
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 Danny Charles will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mikko Haapalainen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Haapalainen wants to clinch
and Charles counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Haapalainen thinking.
Charles is looking to wear down Haapalainen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Charles shoots for a takedown but Haapalainen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Charles avoids the head kick by Haapalainen.
A counter left hand to the body from Charles misses its target.
Haapalainen tries to land a body kick
and Haapalainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Haapalainen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Charles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Charles is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Haapalainen.
Haapalainen misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Haapalainen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Charles jumps guard.

Charles wriggles free and stands up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haapalainen tries to land a body kick
enabling Charles to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapalainen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Haapalainen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Charles sprawls well. Charles wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haapalainen gets slowly back to his feet.
Haapalainen tries to clinch there but Charles circles away.
Charles was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Haapalainen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Charles counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Haapalainen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Charles counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Haapalainen slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Haapalainen misses
letting Charles counter with a right hand.
Charles is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Haapalainen can do to turn this around?
Haapalainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It looked like Charles was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Haapalainen.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Haapalainen.
Charles blocks the body kick.
A little feinted left hand from Charles on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Charles lands a jab.
Haapalainen misses with a body kick.
Haapalainen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A punch lands to the side of Haapalainen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Haapalainen throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Charles counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Haapalainen is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haapalainen fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapalainen throws a sloppy head kick and Charles moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Charles misses the target.
Charles checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Haapalainen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Charles counters with a right hand to the body.
Haapalainen wants to clinch
and Charles counters with a straight right hand.
Haapalainen moves to clinch but Charles breaks away
and Charles counters with a stiff right hand.
Charles swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Haapalainen tries to counter by closing the distance.
Haapalainen tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haapalainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Charles paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Charles appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Haapalainen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Charles counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Haapalainen drops his hands momentarily and Charles takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Haapalainen misses with a takedown attempt
and Charles counters with a nice body shot.
Danny Charles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Haapalainen.
Charles comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Charles drives through with a takedown into guard.
Charles is standing up over Haapalainen. Haapalainen looks to escape but Charles dives into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Charles advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Charles dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mikko Haapalainen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Charles cracks Haapalainen with an open hand slap.
Haapalainen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Charles circles away.
Haapalainen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Haapalainen tries to clinch but Charles is having none of it.
Charles is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Charles walks forward, straight into a front kick from Haapalainen.
Haapalainen throws a lazy body kick
and Charles counters with a stiff right hand.
Charles avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charles avoids a kick to the body.
Danny Charles is winning the standup battle so far.
Haapalainen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Haapalainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Haapalainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haapalainen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Haapalainen tries to clinch
and Charles counters with a left to the body.
Charles scores with the left hand. Haapalainen knows he should have avoided that one.
Haapalainen takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Haapalainen is rocked!
Haapalainen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Haapalainen is still on wobbly legs! Can Charles finish him?
Charles dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Charles ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Charles cracks Haapalainen with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Haapalainen falls to his knees and Charles doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Danny Charles!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Danny Charles made sure he mentioned Vikai Gear Island, along with how happy he was to win his fight.