PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Steve Hanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Raivorinta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raivorinta has chosen RATM - Bulls on Parade as his entrance music. Matti Raivorinta will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hanson
vs
Raivorinta

225 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

178 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Takomo

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Hanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Raivorinta!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raivorinta closes the distance and clinches.
Hanson looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
A nice left hand lands by Raivorinta.
Raivorinta lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hanson wants a takedown but no success here.
Raivorinta is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hanson pulls him back up using the underhooks.

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

Raivorinta forces Hanson back against the cage and clinches.
Raivorinta working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Raivorinta lands a right hand.
Good body shot from Raivorinta.
Raivorinta taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Raivorinta lands with a light punch inside.
Raivorinta scores with a shoulder strike.

Raivorinta breaks the clinch.
Raivorinta is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Raivorinta gets the takedown into side control.

Raivorinta stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Raivorinta clinches up with Hanson and pushes him back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Raivorinta.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raivorinta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Raivorinta moves into the clinch successfully.
Raivorinta manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Raivorinta scores with a nice hook to the head.
Raivorinta lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Raivorinta lands a takedown into guard.

Raivorinta stands up from Hanson's guard - Raivorinta perhaps looking for a knockout.

Raivorinta moves into the clinch successfully.
Raivorinta lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hanson backwards.
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.
Raivorinta lands with a short shot to the head.
Raivorinta lands a hook that snaps the head of Hanson backwards.
Raivorinta is stalling here.

Raivorinta gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hanson regains guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raivorinta trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Raivorinta gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Raivorinta forces Hanson back against the cage and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raivorinta stalling in the clinch.
Hanson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Raivorinta lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hanson backwards.
Hanson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Raivorinta gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Raivorinta has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hanson is trying to keep an underhook but Raivorinta manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Raivorinta is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Raivorinta with a couple of short strikes.
Hanson is working to get back to half guard.
Raivorinta scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Raivorinta sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Raivorinta trying to control but Hanson is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Raivorinta controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Raivorinta wants to control the pace but Hanson is squirming around nicely.
Raivorinta lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hanson is desperately trying to improve his position but Raivorinta has a good base and remains in mount.
Hanson is squirming around, avoiding Raivorinta's attempts to control the action.
Raivorinta lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hanson hang on?

Raivorinta wants to finish this one by submission but Hanson is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Raivorinta.
Hanson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Raivorinta on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raivorinta trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Raivorinta dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Raivorinta takes the fight into the clinch.
A short left from Raivorinta.
Hanson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Raivorinta lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hanson backwards.
Raivorinta lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Raivorinta lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Raivorinta wants a takedown but no success here.
Raivorinta makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Raivorinta lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Raivorinta lands an uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Raivorinta using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hanson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hanson prevents Raivorinta from breaking the clinch.
Raivorinta looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Raivorinta.
Raivorinta stalling in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raivorinta is trying to break free.
Raivorinta lands with a right to the head.
Hanson is trying to drag Raivorinta to the mat but Raivorinta just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Raivorinta scores with a shoulder strike.
Raivorinta lands an uppercut.
Raivorinta lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hanson backwards.
Raivorinta lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Raivorinta lands with a light punch inside.
Raivorinta avoiding damage.
Raivorinta lands an uppercut.

Raivorinta pulls Hanson into guard.

Raivorinta pushes Hanson off and gets back to his feet.

Raivorinta drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Raivorinta has passed into side control.
Hanson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Hanson throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Raivorinta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hanson keeps working.

Raivorinta decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Raivorinta scores a takedown into full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hanson is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Raivorinta.
Raivorinta putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Raivorinta controlling the position easily from mount.
Raivorinta lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Raivorinta has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Hanson is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matti Raivorinta!