PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tiffani Grantham (ranked 6126 p4p, 375 weight class) and Harri Haaparanta (ranked 6332 p4p, 386 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Grantham
vs
Haaparanta

165 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tiffani Grantham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Haaparanta!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haaparanta blocks the body kick.
Grantham throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Haaparanta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grantham.
Haaparanta connects with a jab.

Haaparanta fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Grantham, pushing him back against the cage.
Haaparanta being controlled against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Grantham.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Grantham for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Haaparanta lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Tiffani Grantham has been cut.
Haaparanta throws a knee to the head but misses.

Haaparanta breaks the clinch.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Haaparanta crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Grantham - the referee stops the clock and Haaparanta gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Grantham. Haaparanta manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Haaparanta tries to bum rush Grantham with a series of wild strikes but Grantham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Grantham throws a quick counter head kick but Haaparanta was just out of range.
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!
Haaparanta throws a series of punches but Grantham avoids them all with ease.
Grantham lands a leg kick that knocks Haaparanta off balance momentarily.
Haaparanta doesn't manage to clinch there - Grantham circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haaparanta throws a right and a left that both miss.
Grantham throws a body kick that misses.

Haaparanta pushes Grantham up against the cage in a clinch.

Haaparanta manages to break the clinch.
Haaparanta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Grantham.
Haaparanta misses with the combination.
Haaparanta swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Grantham jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Grantham moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Haaparanta misses with a two punch combination.
Grantham quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Haaparanta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As Haaparanta backs away, Grantham returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Haaparanta throws a nice looking combination but Grantham bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Grantham looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Grantham tries to land a front kick but Haaparanta steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Haaparanta misses the jab.
Grantham takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grantham looks to land a body kick but Haaparanta moved away.
Haaparanta swings widly with a right hand
and Grantham counters with a good, hard body kick but Haaparanta shrugs it off.
Haaparanta misses with a body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Grantham. That's going to slow Haaparanta down.
Haaparanta throws a left and a right that both miss
and Grantham counters with a slapping leg kick.
Haaparanta throws a right and a left that Grantham avoids nicely.
Grantham dodges the punch combination from Haaparanta.
Haaparanta moves out of range as Grantham throws a body kick.
Some wild striking there from Haaparanta.
Grantham throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Haaparanta throws a right hand that Grantham ducks under and follows up with a left that Grantham also avoids with ease.
And Grantham counters with a quick kick to the body but Haaparanta blocks it.
Haaparanta swings for the body but Grantham moves out of range.
Grantham thinks about countering with a body kick.
Haaparanta moves out of range of the body kick.
Harri Haaparanta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haaparanta lands with a nice combination. Grantham backs away looking to recover.
Grantham avoids the head kick by Haaparanta.
Grantham connects with an inside leg kick.
Grantham avoids a punch combination nicely.
Grantham fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Haaparanta.
Haaparanta misses with a double jab.
Grantham slips a jab and a cross from Haaparanta.
Haaparanta moves out of range of the body kick from Grantham.
Haaparanta is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Haaparanta looks to land a combination but Grantham avoids it well.
Haaparanta throws a combination that misses
and Grantham counters with a nice low kick that buckles Haaparanta's knee momentarily.
Haaparanta's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Haaparanta takes a head kick and keeps coming.
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!
That kick from Grantham tenderised Haaparanta's leg. Haaparanta is trying to keep his angry face on.
Grantham fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Haaparanta.
An inside leg kick lands from Grantham.
Grantham scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haaparanta fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Haaparanta throws a series of punches but Grantham avoids them all with ease.
Grantham lands with a slapping head kick.
Haaparanta takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Haaparanta throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Haaparanta throws a combination that misses
and Grantham counters with an outside leg kick.
Grantham scores with a leg kick.
Haaparanta throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Haaparanta misses with a combination
and Grantham counters with a solid body kick.
Grantham lands a nice looking body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haaparanta throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Haaparanta has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Grantham.
Grantham dodges the punch combination from Haaparanta.
Haaparanta clobbers Grantham with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harri Haaparanta dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tiffani Grantham's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Haaparanta throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Grantham counters with a slapping leg kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Haaparanta.
Grantham lands with a thumping leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Grantham. That's going to slow Haaparanta down.
Grantham lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A punch combination from Haaparanta misses.
Grantham pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Danga de danga de dang - Haaparanta scores with a four punch combination!

Grantham is rocked!
Haaparanta tries to clinch but Grantham moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Haaparanta tries to clinch there but Grantham circles away.
Haaparanta throws a combination that misses
and Grantham counters with a good low kick that Haaparanta was not able to check.
Haaparanta lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Grantham backs up against the cage.
Oh Grantham is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Grantham misses with a low kick as Haaparanta jumps back.
Haaparanta is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Grantham uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Haaparanta.
Grantham avoids a punch combination nicely.
Good leg kick by Grantham there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Grantham seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haaparanta takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Grantham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grantham avoids the head kick by Haaparanta.
Harri Haaparanta seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Haaparanta swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Grantham thows a body kick. Haaparanta tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Grantham lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Grantham looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Haaparanta misses with a double jab.
Haaparanta misses with a double jab
and Grantham makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Haaparanta really felt that one!
Grantham throws a leg kick which misses Haaparanta's front leg but catches the back leg as Haaparanta tries to avoid it.
Grantham bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Grantham throws a body kick that misses.
Haaparanta misses with a head kick.
Haaparanta on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Haaparanta lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grantham circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grantham lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Haaparanta is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Grantham.
Grantham feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Haaparanta's calf.
Haaparanta swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Harri Haaparanta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Grantham dodges the punch combination from Haaparanta.
Haaparanta fails to land with a series of punches.
Haaparanta is breathing heavily.
Grantham tries a head kick but it misses.
Haaparanta throws a right and a left that Grantham avoids nicely.
Grantham thuds his shin into the meat of Haaparanta's side.
Haaparanta throws a right hand that Grantham ducks under and follows up with a left that Grantham also avoids with ease.
Grantham looks to land a body kick but Haaparanta moved away.

Grantham gets tackled into the cage by Haaparanta. Haaparanta maintains the clinch.
Grantham has Haaparanta pressed against the cage.
Come on Grantham - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haaparanta using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Grantham has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Grantham on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Haaparanta tries to land a knee to the head but Grantham blocks with his arms.
Grantham has had enough of the clinch but Haaparanta keeps him there for the moment.
Haaparanta scores with a knee to the head.
Haaparanta is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Haaparanta with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Haaparanta misses with a knee strike.
Grantham has Haaparanta pressed against the cage.
Grantham will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Haaparanta up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grantham tries to stall but Haaparanta uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Grantham manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Haaparanta with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Haaparanta tries to land a knee to the head but Grantham blocks with his arms.
Haaparanta looking to throw knees to the head but Grantham is blocking nicely.
Grantham trying to stall but Haaparanta improves his position.
Grantham avoids the elbow strike from Haaparanta, against the cage.
Haaparanta wants to take the fight to the mat but Grantham manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Grantham slows down the pace here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Tiffani Grantham.
A solid leg kick lands there for Grantham.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Harri Haaparanta will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tiffani Grantham's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Grantham thumps Haaparanta with a low kick.
Haaparanta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Haaparanta fails to land with a series of punches.
Haaparanta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Haaparanta throws a series of punches but Grantham avoids them all with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Haaparanta. Those never looked like landing.
Haaparanta misses with a two punch combination.
It appears Grantham was looking to counter with a kick there.
Haaparanta throws a right and a left that Grantham avoids nicely.
Haaparanta throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Haaparanta throws a left and a right that both miss
and Grantham counters with a body kick that stops Haaparanta in his tracks momentarily.
Haaparanta has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Haaparanta chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Grantham can pounce on him.
Grantham thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Haaparanta if he has to take too many more of those.
Haaparanta tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A good leg kick by Grantham.
Haaparanta takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Haaparanta stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Grantham.
Grantham avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grantham looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Grantham chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Grantham thumps Haaparanta with a low kick.
Grantham tries to land a front kick but Haaparanta steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Grantham blocks a head kick by Haaparanta.
Grantham lands a head kick. Haaparanta smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Grantham blocks a head kick by Haaparanta.
Grantham pushes Haaparanta away with a front kick.
Sloppy strikes from Haaparanta. Those never looked like landing.
Haaparanta misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Haaparanta throws a push kick but Grantham slaps the foot to one side.
Haaparanta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
As Haaparanta backs away, Grantham returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A slapping body kick lands there for Grantham.
Grantham delivers a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Grantham throws a push kick but Haaparanta slaps the foot to one side.
Grantham fakes the leg kick and cracks Haaparanta in the body.
Grantham connects with a solid leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Grantham.
Grantham avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grantham thinks about countering with a head kick.
Haaparanta misses with a wild combination.
Grantham looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Haaparanta fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Grantham looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Haaparanta takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Grantham looks to land a body kick but Haaparanta moved away.
A good leg kick by Grantham.
Grantham showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Haaparanta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haaparanta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Grantham throws a nice outside leg kick.
That kick from Grantham tenderised Haaparanta's leg. Haaparanta is trying to keep his angry face on.
Haaparanta throws a series of punches but Grantham moves out of range.
Haaparanta lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Grantham circles away quickly and effectively.
Grantham scoring well with a low kick there.
Haaparanta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Haaparanta takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Haaparanta crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Grantham - the referee stops the clock and Haaparanta gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Grantham. Haaparanta manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Haaparanta tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Grantham avoids a punch combination nicely.
Grantham throws a half hearted mid kick.
A combination from Haaparanta does no damage.
Grantham throws a quick counter kick to the body but Haaparanta avoids it.
Haaparanta rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Grantham moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Grantham lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Grantham throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Haaparanta's head.
Haaparanta tries to bum rush Grantham with a series of wild strikes but Grantham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Haaparanta throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Grantham counters with a low kick, right behind Haaparanta 's knee.
Grantham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Grantham lands a nice looking kick to the body. Haaparanta takes a step back to recover.
Grantham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A little jabbing left from Haaparanta on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Haaparanta swinging wildly here.
Haaparanta misses with a two punch combination.
Grantham throws a nice inside leg kick.
Grantham throws a push kick but Haaparanta slaps the foot to one side.
Haaparanta throws a counter combo.
Grantham looks for the body kick but Haaparanta saw that one coming.
Grantham tries to land a leg kick but Haaparanta saw it coming and moves away.
Tiffani Grantham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Harri Haaparanta is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haaparanta throws a head kick that half lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tiffani Grantham.
Well Haaparanta has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harri Haaparanta!