PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Henkka Seppala (ranked 2713 p4p, 0 weight class) and Troy Anselmo (ranked 2482 p4p, 0 weight class). Troy Anselmo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Henkka Seppala's chin.

Seppala
vs
Anselmo

182 cm
41
187 lbs
28 - 15 - 1

182 cm
27
188 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

RAGS of a RONIN

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 28 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Henkka Seppala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Troy Anselmo!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Seppala. Anselmo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Seppala jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Seppala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Anselmo throws out the jab.
Seppala connects with a good right hand that stumbles Anselmo. Anselmo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
A looping hook to the body misses from Seppala. Anselmo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Anselmo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A shot to the liver by Seppala. Beautiful body shot.
Anselmo throws a wild body kick that Seppala sees coming a mile off.
Seppala swings for the body but Anselmo moves out of range.
Seppala comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Seppala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anselmo was well out of range. Poor timing from Seppala.
Seppala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Seppala darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Seppala thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seppala looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anselmo controlling the position for now.
Anselmo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Anselmo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Seppala trying to control the action but Anselmo is working from the bottom.
Anselmo is looking to improve his position.
Anselmo taking some punishment here, with Seppala in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seppala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Seppala has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Seppala seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Anselmo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Seppala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Anselmo is refusing to be controlled, as Seppala sits in half guard.
Anselmo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Seppala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Anselmo keeps working.
Seppala scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Seppala throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Anselmo controlling the position for now.
Seppala is keen to just control but Anselmo is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seppala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Seppala scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Anselmo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Seppala works his way into full mount!
Seppala looking to ground and pound but Anselmo is blocking nicely.
Anselmo regains half guard.
Seppala seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Anselmo is in trouble now - Seppala has advanced to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seppala pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Seppala scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Seppala throws a wild left hand from mount and Anselmo manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anselmo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Seppala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Seppala is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Seppala is thwarting Anselmo's attempts to control the position.
Seppala throws a strike but Anselmo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Seppala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Seppala postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henkka Seppala dominated that round.
That's time! Seppala's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Seppala connects with a good right hand that stumbles Anselmo. Anselmo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Seppala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anselmo can do to turn this around?

Seppala shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Anselmo's guard.
Anselmo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Seppala.
Seppala trying to control but Anselmo is working from the bottom.
Anselmo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Seppala lands a couple of elbows.
Seppala throws a big right hand that misses.

Anselmo uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Anselmo lands with a straight right. Seppala didn't see that one coming.
Anselmo throws a hook but Seppala blocks it.
Anselmo swings for the body but Seppala moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anselmo jabs at Seppala's body.
Some bone on bone action there as Seppala checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Seppala tries to counter with a takedown but Anselmo is quick to defend against it.
Anselmo misses with a hook. Seppala ducked under it nicely.
Seppala with a hook.
Anselmo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Seppala.
Seppala misses with a leg kick
and Seppala takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Seppala shoots in but Anselmo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Anselmo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Seppala.

Anselmo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Anselmo keeping full guard, as Seppala tries to pass.
Seppala is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seppala showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Anselmo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Seppala throws an elbow that misses. Anselmo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Seppala's guard. Nice move by Anselmo!

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anselmo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Seppala pulls Anselmo in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Seppala wants to sweep here but Anselmo controlling him for the moment.
Seppala is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Anselmo is controlling him.
Anselmo wants to stand and escape but instead Seppala has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Seppala slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Anselmo keeping moving, preventing Seppala from controlling successfully.
Anselmo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Seppala landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seppala working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Seppala tries to free his leg and advance position but Anselmo is retaining full guard.
Seppala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Seppala is pushing down on Anselmo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Anselmo is fighting to maintain full guard but Seppala has managed to sneak the leg through.
Anselmo has hold of Seppala's hands but Seppala slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Seppala missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Seppala performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Seppala wants to pass to mount but Anselmo is defending the position.
Seppala works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henkka Seppala dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Anselmo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Seppala throws a leg kick but Anselmo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Henkka Seppala is winning the standup battle so far.
Seppala misses with an uppercut. Anselmo saw that one coming.
Seppala shoots for a double leg takedown but Anselmo sprawls well. He's pushed Seppala's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Anselmo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Seppala.
Nice defenses there by Seppala.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Seppala with that takedown attempt.
Seppala swings widly with a right hand
and Anselmo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Anselmo misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anselmo throws a hook but Seppala avoids it easily.
Seppala has his takedown stuffed
and Seppala takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Henkka Seppala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Anselmo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Seppala looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Anselmo is fending him off so far but Seppala persists. Nope, Anselmo circles away and we're back to standing.
Anselmo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Seppala doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Anselmo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anselmo misses with an uppercut. Seppala saw that one coming.
Seppala closes the distance looking to clinch
and Anselmo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Anselmo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Seppala.
Anselmo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Seppala moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seppala misses with a body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Anselmo.
Seppala throws a body shot but no joy.
Seppala will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Anselmo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Seppala.
Troy Anselmo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Seppala shoots in looking for a takedown but Anselmo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Seppala's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Seppala fails with a takedown attempt.
Anselmo lands a glancing blow to the side of Seppala's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anselmo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Seppala.
Anselmo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Seppala.

Seppala is rocked!

It looks like Henkka Seppala has been cut.
Anselmo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Oh Seppala is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anselmo misses with an uppercut.
Seppala attempts a counter takedown but Anselmo avoids it well and moves away.
Anselmo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Seppala seems to have got his legs back now.
Jab by Anselmo.
Seppala looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Troy Anselmo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
No luck for Seppala with that takedown attempt.
Anselmo appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

Seppala decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Anselmo is holding on to half guard well.
Anselmo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Seppala.
Seppala throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Anselmo to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Seppala lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Anselmo bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Seppala's guard.

Anselmo throwing strikes but missing.
Anselmo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Anselmo stands up and waves to Seppala to follow him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anselmo takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Seppala gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Anselmo counters with a solid body kick.
Anselmo throws a body kick that misses.
Seppala shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Anselmo as he avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Troy Anselmo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Seppala has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henkka Seppala!
During a confident post fight interview, Henkka Seppala thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.