PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harold Hari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hari comes to the cage accompanied by King Drum. On his way into the cage it seems that Harold Hari has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Harold Hari seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hari
vs
Kantola

193 cm
29
268 lbs
14 - 16 - 0

185 cm
36
274 lbs
29 - 14 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Harold Hari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ari Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Alyssa Summers and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kantola throws a leg kick but Hari sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hari keeps the fight on the outside.
Hari drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kantola sprawls and moves away.

Kantola closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kantola slows the pace down.
Hari is trying to get back to half guard.
Kantola is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hari's shoulder. That is not cool.
Hari tries to improve position but can't.
Hari throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Hari seems a little lost for a moment, as Kantola dominates the positioning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hari is looking for a sweep.
Kantola advances to full mount.
Hari tries to reverse the position but Kantola maintains control.
Kantola sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
My spies in 3Band MMA ($500/week) inform me that Kantola has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hari's coaches at 3Band MMA ($500/week) have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Hari is looking to improve his position but Kantola isn't that keen on the idea.
Kantola blocks Hari's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Kantola sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hari is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kantola looking to control and managing it successfully.
It looks like Kantola might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Hari is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hari throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Kantola controlling the pace for now.
Hari is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Kantola controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kantola is continuing to stall.
Let's hope that Kantola has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Kantola's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The adventures of Kantola the control monster continue. Boring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hari throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hari is desperately trying to improve his position but Kantola has a good base and remains in mount.
Kantola controlling the position easily from mount.
Hari swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kantola controlling the pace for now.
Hari is trying to escape the mount.
Hari flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Kantola content just to control the position here.
Hari swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kantola takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hari throwing hammer fists to the chest of Kantola. What's that going to do exactly?
Hari sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hari missing with punches from the bottom.
Kantola with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hari tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kantola with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Kantola dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kantola wants to clinch.
Kantola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kantola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Harold Hari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kantola is looking to clinch.
Hari attempts a counter takedown but Kantola avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hari uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kantola.
Hari appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Kantola shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kantola stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hari misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Hari flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kantola with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kantola passes to side control.
Kantola is staying tight to Hari's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Hari misses with a strike from the bottom.
Kantola controls the position.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Kantola.
Hari throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Hari is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kantola off and has taken his back!
Hari missing with punches from the back.
Kantola has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Hari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Hari missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kantola is positioning himself well to prevent Hari advancing to mount.
Hari thows a huge punch but Kantola dodges it nicely.
Kantola moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hari throwing strikes from guard but Kantola blocks nicely.
Hari missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kantola pulls Hari in close to his closed guard and prevents Hari from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hari postures up in Kantola's guard and throws a big left but Kantola blocks it.
Kantola is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hari with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kantola pulls Hari in close to his closed guard and prevents Hari from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hari loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kantola looking for a sweep. Not yet Kantola, not yet.
Kantola bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hari's guard.

Hari throwing short punches from the bottom.
Kantola stays in close to Hari's body and controls the position.
Hari will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hari trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Kantola works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kantola controlling the pace.
Hari wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hari missing with punches from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Kantola seems content to control.
Kantola blocks the strikes from Hari.
Hari flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kantola is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kantola blocks the strikes from Hari.
Kantola content to control rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hari tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kantola seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Kantola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kantola misses with a head kick.
Nice shot lands for Kantola.
Kantola throws a sloppy head kick and Hari moves out of range easily.
Hari attempts a counter takedown but Kantola avoids it well and moves away.

Kantola has managed to clinch.
Hari dodges an elbow strike from Kantola.
Kantola lands an elbow inside that Hari shrugs off.

It looks like Harold Hari has been cut.
Hari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hari lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hari has a couple of punches blocked by Kantola.
Kantola throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hari blocks it with crossed arms.
Hari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kantola digs a right hand into Hari's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hari's gas tank.
Hari misses with the head strike.
Kantola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kantola lands an elbow inside that Hari shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Kantola scores with a nice short uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kantola looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Kantola with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kantola blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hari.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kantola.
Kantola tries a body shot but Hari blocks it.
Kantola blocks an uppercut.
Kantola tries to land knees in the clinch but Hari avoids the damage to the body.
Hari misses with a punch on the inside.
Hari misses with some punches.
Hari throws a punch but it's blocked by Kantola.
Ari Kantola seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kantola blocks an uppercut.
Hari working aggressively here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kantola.
Hari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hari has a couple of punches blocked by Kantola.
Kantola tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kantola with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ari Kantola is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola misses with a body punch.
Hari working aggressively here.
Hari swings wildly with an uppercut but Kantola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kantola blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kantola looking to throw knees to the head but Hari is blocking nicely.
Kantola looking to throw knees to the head but Hari is blocking nicely.
Hari fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kantola manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hari misses with a punch on the inside.
Hari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kantola lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kantola.
Hari tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kantola tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hari misses with the head strike.
Hari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kantola slowing the pace effectively.
Kantola looking to throw knees to the head but Hari is blocking nicely.
Hari working aggressively here.
Kantola misses with the head strike.
Kantola landing knees to the head.
Kantola blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Hari.
Hari swings wildly with an uppercut but Kantola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kantola lands an elbow just above Hari 's eye.
Kantola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hari's elbow.
Kantola looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hari has a couple of punches blocked by Kantola.
Hari swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kantola throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kantola displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hari up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola misses with an elbow over the top.
Kantola with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hari.
Kantola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hari swings wildly with an uppercut but Kantola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hari lands with a left to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hari misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kantola throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kantola using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hari has a couple of punches blocked by Kantola.
Kantola's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hari has a couple of punches blocked by Kantola.
Kantola can't find room to land a body shot as Hari controls the action.
Harold Hari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kantola.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ari Kantola.
I've got Kantola winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Kantola!
After the fight, Ari Kantola was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.