PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Steve Hanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eero Potka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Potka's choice of entrance music: Neon 2 - Tässä Talossa. Steve Hanson looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Hanson
vs
Potka

225 cm
22
175 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

192 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Hanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Potka!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hanson shoots in and bounces Potka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hanson looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Potka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hanson is controlling him.

Hanson drops back looking for a leg! Potka is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Potka manages to kick Hanson off! Hanson jumps back into Potka's guard.
Potka keeping full guard, as Hanson tries to pass.
Potka trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson is working hard here to advance position.
Potka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Potka not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Potka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hanson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Potka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hanson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Potka is looking to clinch.
Potka goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hanson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hanson keeps the fight on the outside.
A nice combination there by Potka.
Hanson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Potka tries to clinch but Hanson moves out of range.

Potka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Potka gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hanson.
Potka lands a nice elbow.
Potka landing knees to the head.
Potka lands a knee to the body.
Hanson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Potka throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hansons head.
Potka is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potka can't break the clinch.
Hanson prevents Potka from breaking the clinch.
Potka wants to get back to striking at distance but Hanson won't allow it.
Potka is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Potka wants to break the clinch but can't.
Potka with a knee to the head.
Potka lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Potka tries to break the clinch but Hanson is controlling the position.
Potka lands a knee to the body.
Potka is trying to break the clinch but Hanson has him pressed against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Potka.
Potka wants to break the clinch but can't.
Potka is trying to break the clinch but Hanson has him pressed against the cage.
Hanson letting Potka take a breather here.
Hanson blocks the elbow strike.
Potka wants to get back to striking at distance but Hanson won't allow it.
Potka throws an elbow that misses.
Hanson wants a takedown.
Potka wants to break free but Hanson has control.
Potka creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hanson is working for takedown but Potka is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steve Hanson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Potka has had enough of the clinch but Hanson keeps him there for the moment.

Hanson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hanson wants to pass the guard but Potka is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hanson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hanson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Potka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hanson passes into half guard.
Hanson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hanson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Potka?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hanson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Potka is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanson looking for a sweep. Not yet Hanson, not yet.
Hanson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hanson wants to sweep but no luck.
Hanson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hanson has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Potka defend it? Hanson steps over the head and cranks it - Potka is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Hanson!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5:02 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Steve Hanson!