PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hillevi Javri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Misterioso Damballah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Javri kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Finnish Encore. Hillevi Javri has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Javri
vs
Misterioso Damballah

180 cm
28
185 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

179 cm
20
188 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Good chin

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Determined

Sun-Tzu
TKO Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hillevi Javri!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, El Misterioso Damballah!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Javri has closed the distance and engaged Damballah in a clinch.
Damballah blocks an elbow strike from Javri.
With the fighters up against the cage, Javri throws an elbow but misses.
Damballah has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Javri avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Javri misses with an elbow strike.
Damballah jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Javri walks away with a smile on his face. Damballah gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Javri keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hillevi Javri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of El Misterioso Damballah.
Damballah looks to land a combination but Javri avoids it well.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Javri.
Damballah lands with a nice combination. Javri backs away looking to recover.

Damballah shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Javri's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Javri has Damballah pulled in close to control his posture.
Javri wants to stand and escape but Damballah is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Javri is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Damballah wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Javri is trying to work for a kimura but Damballah is defending well.
Javri not doing much here.
Javri has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Javri is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Javri takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damballah is in trouble now - Javri has advanced to mount!
Damballah really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Javri. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Javri is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Damballah throws a right and a left that Javri avoids nicely.
Javri leaves Damballah with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Damballah lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Javri circles away quickly and effectively.
A nice combination there by Damballah.
Damballah pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Javri back to the cage. Damballah follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
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!
Damballah misses with a combination
and Javri counters with a nice body kick.
Damballah falls off balance throwing a combination

and Javri moves into the clinch.
Damballah jumps guard but Javri turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Javri looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Javri lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Damballah wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Damballah tries for a takedown but Javri manages to get underhooks.
Javri gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Javri lands a nice elbow.
Javri is pressed up against the cage. Damballah has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Javri down to the mat. Javri avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Javri tries to clinch up.
A right-left combo lands from Damballah.
Damballah tries to bum rush Javri with a series of wild strikes but Javri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Javri fires out a quick counter leg kick but Damballah just manages to avoid it.
Damballah looks winded!
Damballah throws a right hand that Javri ducks under and follows up with a left that Javri also avoids with ease.
Javri tries to clinch but Damballah is having none of it.
Damballah throws a series of punches but Javri moves out of range.
Javri moves forwards but Damballah connects with a nice, crisp jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Damballah rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Javri moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Damballah fails to land with a series of punches.
Hillevi Javri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Damballah throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damballah throws a right and a left that both miss.
Damballah closes this distance looking for a takedown but Javri circles away.

Javri clinches up with Damballah and pushes him back against the cage.
Damballah wants a takedown.
Damballah blocks the elbow strike.
Javri throws an elbow that misses.
Damballah is looking for a takedown.
Damballah avoids the elbow strike from Javri, against the cage.
Javri lands a damaging elbow.
Javri lands a damaging elbow.
Javri misses with an elbow over the top.
Javri throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Damballah tries to score a body lock takedown but Javri shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Javri stops a takedown attempt from Damballah.
Javri lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Damballah takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like El Misterioso Damballah has been cut.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Damballah avoids a wild elbow strike from Javri.
Javri lands an elbow inside.
Damballah working hard to break the clinch.
Damballah tries to break free but Javri pushes him back against the cage.
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 Hillevi Javri will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on El Misterioso Damballah's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Javri fails in his attempt to clinch.
Damballah looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Damballah.
Javri lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Damballah lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Damballah shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Javri eats them both and turns towards Damballah to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Javri bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Damballah closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Javri closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Javri.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Javri.
Damballah dodges an elbow strike from Javri.
Javri lands an elbow just above Damballah 's eye.
Damballah jumps guard but Javri stands there with Damballah around his waist. Damballah gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Javri creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Damballah's defenses.
Damballah is breathing heavily.
Damballah takes an elbow to the forehead.
Javri lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Javri creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Damballah avoids the elbow strike from Javri, against the cage.
Javri looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Javri is fighting off a takedown attempt but Damballah is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Javri to the mat. Javri regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Damballah postures up in Javri's guard and throws a big left but Javri blocks it.
Damballah working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hillevi Javri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Javri pulls Damballah in close to his closed guard and prevents Damballah from doing any damage or advancing position.
Javri continues to stall.
Damballah postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Javri wants to stand up but Damballah is controlling him.
Javri seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Javri scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Damballah throws a combination that misses
and Javri makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Damballah misses with a jab, cross combination.
Javri fails with an attempt to clinch.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Javri.
El Misterioso Damballah is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Damballah shoots for a takedown but Javri saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hillevi Javri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of El Misterioso Damballah.
Javri fakes the leg kick and cracks Damballah in the body.

Javri fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Damballah, pushing him back against the cage.
Damballah is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Javri gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Javri lands a nice elbow.
Javri lands an elbow that stopped Damballah in his tracks for a moment.
Javri creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Damballah's defenses.
Damballah drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Javri throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Javri just misses with a elbow thrown towards Damballah's brow.
Javri lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Javri lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Javri lands an elbow inside that Damballah shrugs off.
Javri creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Damballah's defenses.
Javri misses with an elbow over the top.
Javri misses with an elbow strike.
Damballah is trying to force a seperation but Javri has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Javri throws an elbow that misses.
Javri creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Damballah tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Javri just stands there and leans against the cage.
Javri lands an elbow inside.
Javri misses with an elbow strike.
Damballah blocks an elbow strike from Javri.
Javri lands a damaging elbow.
Damballah has a couple of punches blocked by Javri.
Javri lands a nice elbow.
Damballah wants a takedown.
Damballah takes an elbow to the temple.
Javri comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Javri gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Damballah.
Javri has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Damballah has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Javri is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Damballah takes an elbow to the temple.
Javri lands a nice elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Javri lands an elbow inside that Damballah shrugs off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damballah is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Javri gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Javri pushes off an throws an elbow but Damballah leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Javri lands an elbow that stopped Damballah in his tracks for a moment.

Damballah is rocked!
Javri lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Damballah is still on wobbly legs! Can Javri finish him?
Hillevi Javri has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Javri lands an elbow inside.
Javri looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Javri.
Javri misses with an elbow strike.
Damballah drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Javri gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Javri lands an elbow inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Javri.
Javri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Damballah can do to turn this around?
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Damballah blocks an elbow strike from Javri.
Damballah dodges an elbow strike from Javri.
Javri throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Damballah seems to have recovered his senses.
Javri creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Damballah's defenses.
Javri lands an elbow inside that Damballah shrugs off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hillevi Javri dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on El Misterioso Damballah's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Damballah fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Javri is looking to counter with a body kick.
Javri dodges the punch combination from Damballah.
Damballah misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Javri quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Damballah swats away the attempt to clinch by Javri.
Damballah shoots in looking for a takedown but Javri manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Damballah's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Javri is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Damballah.
Damballah misses with a takedown

and Javri counters by moving into the clinch.
Damballah blocks the elbow strike.
Damballah blocks an elbow strike.
Damballah takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Damballah blocks the elbow strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Javri.
Javri throws an elbow that misses.
Damballah is looking for a takedown.
Hillevi Javri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of El Misterioso Damballah.
Javri throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Damballah takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Javri lands an elbow inside that Damballah shrugs off.
Javri lands an elbow that stopped Damballah in his tracks for a moment.
Javri creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Damballah.
Damballah drops down looking for an ankle pick but Javri pulls his leg out and moves away.
Damballah swinging wildly here.
Javri dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Damballah. That did some damage!
Javri throws a powerful right kick. Damballah tried to block low but the kick was high! Damballah was taken right off of his feet! Javri jumps in to finish the job and the ref tackles him! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Hillevi Javri!
Hillevi Javri retains his middleweight title!
Hillevi Javri managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, TKO Clothing, into his post fight interview.