PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eero Haapasaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Kasongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Haapasaari
vs
Kasongo

182 cm
25
179 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
179 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Haapasaari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luis Kasongo!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Haapasaari.
Haapasaari sets himself, and Kasongo steps forward looking for the clinch! Haapasaari avoids it this time.
Kasongo tries to clinch

and Haapasaari counters with a takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haapasaari is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Kasongo will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Haapasaari looks up at the clock and then as Kasongo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Haapasaari smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Haapasaari taking a breather here.
Haapasaari misses with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haapasaari passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kasongo!
Haapasaari content just to control the position here.
Kasongo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasongo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Haapasaari controlling his opponent.
Haapasaari avoids the attempt from Kasongo to control.
Haapasaari with shots to the head and body - Kasongo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kasongo wants to control but Haapasaari is having none of it.
Haapasaari trying to control but Kasongo is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Haapasaari's lack of action.
Kasongo is trying to control but can't.
Kasongo wants to improve his position but Haapasaari is controlling well.
Haapasaari lands strikes from half guard.
Kasongo wants to get back to his feet.
Kasongo trying to hold on to Haapasaari's head to control him but Haapasaari postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kasongo wants to improve his position but Haapasaari is controlling well.
Haapasaari trying to control from half guard but Kasongo is working away.

Haapasaari is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kasongo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Haapasaari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kasongo keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Haapasaari throws a body punch but Kasongo moves out of range.
Kasongo wants to clinch but Haapasaari slips to the side

and Haapasaari decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kasongo's guard.
Haapasaari trying to control the position from guard on top but Kasongo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Haapasaari wants to stand but Kasongo is controlling his posture from full guard.
Haapasaari postures up and lands a big shot to Kasongo's brow.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haapasaari controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Haapasaari stands and steps away. Kasongo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Haapasaari dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kasongo misses with a takedown
and Haapasaari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Haapasaari moves into the clinch.

Kasongo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Haapasaari rushes Kasongo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Haapasaari is trying to drag Kasongo to the mat but Kasongo just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kasongo jumps guard but Haapasaari stands there with Kasongo around his waist. Kasongo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kasongo stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Haapasaari lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasongo avoids a wild elbow strike from Haapasaari.
Haapasaari tries to break the clinch but Kasongo is controlling the position.
Haapasaari can't get the takedown.
Haapasaari will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kasongo up against the cage.
Kasongo gets underhooks to prevent Haapasaari's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eero Haapasaari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kasongo is looking for a takedown.
Kasongo tries to pull guard but Haapasaari forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kasongo prevents the takedown attempt.

Haapasaari lands a takedown into guard.
Kasongo wants to sweep here but Haapasaari controlling him for the moment.
Haapasaari trying to control but Kasongo is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Haapasaari controlling from the top position.

Haapasaari stands up and waves to Kasongo to follow him.
Haapasaari slaps away a takedown attempt from Kasongo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As Kasongo looks to move away, Haapasaari throws a big counter combo but Kasongo just gets out of the way.
Haapasaari throws a right and a left that Kasongo avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Haapasaari looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Haapasaari.
Kasongo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Haapasaari is fending him off so far but Kasongo persists. Nope, Haapasaari circles away and we're back to standing.
As Kasongo looks to move away, Haapasaari throws a big counter combo but Kasongo just gets out of the way.
Haapasaari changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Haapasaari tries to pull guard but Kasongo holds him up against the cage and eventually Haapasaari drops back down to his feet.
Haapasaari is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Haapasaari wants a takedown but no success here.
Kasongo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Haapasaari fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Haapasaari if he has to take too many more of those.

Haapasaari drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Haapasaari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kasongo keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kasongo parries the strikes from Haapasaari easily there. Haapasaari is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kasongo to escape.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kasongo tries to buck Haapasaari off but Haapasaari is having none of it.

Haapasaari wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kasongo, who protects the arm well.
Haapasaari trying to control the action but Kasongo is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Haapasaari dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kasongo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Haapasaari.
Haapasaari tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kasongo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kasongo feints the counter takedown.

Haapasaari clinches up against the cage.

Haapasaari gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Kasongo regains guard.
Kasongo looking to control.
Kasongo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Haapasaari wants to control from the top but Kasongo keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kasongo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Haapasaari controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasongo is looking to stand up but Haapasaari isn't so interested in that idea.
Haapasaari scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Haapasaari with a nice head shot there.
Haapasaari won't allow Kasongo to get back to his feet.
Haapasaari wants to control from the top but Kasongo keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Haapasaari shoots in and drives through. Kasongo sprawls well.
Haapasaari misses with a takedown attempt - Kasongo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kasongo is looking to clinch but Haapasaari is avoiding it.

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

Haapasaari tries to keep at a distance but Kasongo has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kasongo lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kasongo is keen to just control but Haapasaari is a slippery customer.
Haapasaari moves into full guard.
Haapasaari keeping full guard, as Kasongo tries to pass.

Haapasaari has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kasongo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kasongo trying to control the position from guard on top but Haapasaari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haapasaari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kasongo can do to turn this around?
Haapasaari is trying to keep Kasongo in close.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kasongo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Haapasaari pinned against the cage. Haapasaari gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Haapasaari clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kasongo is pressed up against the cage. Haapasaari has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kasongo down to the mat. Kasongo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eero Haapasaari. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Haapasaari forces Kasongo back against the cage and clinches.
Haapasaari is looking to break free of the clinch but Kasongo has double underhooks.

Haapasaari successfully pulls guard.
Eero Haapasaari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kasongo won't allow Haapasaari to sweep him here.
Kasongo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Haapasaari wants to get back to his feet but Kasongo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haapasaari looking for a sweep. Not yet Haapasaari, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eero Haapasaari showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Haapasaari has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eero Haapasaari!