PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Theophile Bonnet (ranked 22758 p4p, 618 weight class) and Hanno Seppanen (ranked 22752 p4p, 608 weight class). Theophile Bonnet could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Hanno Seppanen's chin.

Bonnet
vs
Seppanen

168 cm
24
191 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

169 cm
27
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Theophile Bonnet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hanno Seppanen!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Taro Takaoka and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Seppanen shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Bonnet eats them both and turns towards Seppanen to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Theophile Bonnet has been cut.
Bonnet looks for a takedown but Seppanen sprawls well.
Bonnet fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bonnet is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bonnet tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bonnet takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Seppanen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Seppanen counters with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Seppanen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bonnet tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Seppanen swivels and escapes.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonnet looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bonnet has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Bonnet trying to strike off his back.
Bonnet throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bonnet looking for a sweep. Not yet Bonnet, not yet.
Seppanen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bonnet is proving hard to escape from.
Seppanen content to stall in guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bonnet controls Seppanen momentarily but Seppanen frees himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bonnet stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bonnet wants it to stay on the feet.
Bonnet tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Seppanen defends well and Bonnet ends up having to push Seppanen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Theophile Bonnet. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Seppanen feints and as Bonnet raises his hands in defense, Seppanen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bonnet looking to hit a scissor sweep but Seppanen is one step ahead there.

Seppanen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bonnet has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Seppanen has managed to get both his arms back between Bonnet's legs - danger averted.
Seppanen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bonnet could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonnet trying to keep a closed guard but Seppanen is proving a slippery customer.

Bonnet escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Seppanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Seppanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bonnet swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bonnet wants to improve his position but instead Seppanen has moved into half guard.
Bonnet wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bonnet misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Bonnet trying to hold on to Seppanen's head to control him but Seppanen postures up.
Seppanen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Bonnet.
Seppanen wants to pass the guard but Bonnet is defending well.
Bonnet misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bonnet is not content to let Seppanen control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Seppanen thumps Bonnet with a low kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanno Seppanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Theophile Bonnet's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bonnet tries to clinch but Seppanen moves out of range.
Bonnet has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bonnet tries to clinch but Seppanen is having none of it.
Hanno Seppanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bonnet.
Bonnet is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Seppanen steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Bonnet.
Bonnet tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Seppanen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bonnet's guard.

Bonnet looking for subs off his back but Seppanen has passed one foot through into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonnet is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seppanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Seppanen passes to full mount!
Bonnet is working to get back to half guard.
Seppanen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Seppanen throws a strike there. Bonnet manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Seppanen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Seppanen stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Bonnet to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonnet swinging wildly here.
Seppanen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Seppanen wants it to stay on the feet.
Seppanen scores with a jab to the body.
Seppanen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bonnet defends well and Seppanen ends up having to push Bonnet into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bonnet keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Seppanen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bonnet defends it nicely.
Theophile Bonnet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hanno Seppanen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonnet tries to clinch up but Seppanen circles away and keeps his distance.
Bonnet is looking to land body kicks.

Seppanen scores with a takedown into Bonnet's guard.

Seppanen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bonnet looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Seppanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonnet is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Seppanen tries to free his leg and advance position but Bonnet is retaining full guard.
Seppanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonnet looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bonnet working a defensive guard but Seppanen passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Seppanen connects with a nice short shot to Bonnet's temple.
Seppanen tries to pass to full mount but Bonnet defends it.
Seppanen is looking to take a break and control but Bonnet is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Seppanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bonnet is looking for a sweep. Seppanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanno Seppanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Theophile Bonnet's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Seppanen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Seppanen counters with a nice body kick.
Seppanen scores with a head kick.
Bonnet tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Seppanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bonnet tries to clinch there but Seppanen circles away.
Seppanen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Seppanen stuffs the takedown.
Bonnet fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from Seppanen as Bonnet shoots in.

Seppanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bonnet is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Seppanen jumps into guard, dragging Bonnet to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Seppanen working a defensive guard but Bonnet passes into half guard.
Seppanen wants to get back to his feet.
Bonnet drops an elbow to the side of Seppanen's head.
Bonnet keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Seppanen is trying is best to control the position here.
Bonnet scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Seppanen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bonnet.
Seppanen pushes Bonnet off looking to stand but Bonnet dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bonnet perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bonnet trying to control from half guard but Seppanen is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Seppanen wants to control but Bonnet is keeping busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Seppanen throws a sloppy head kick

and Bonnet counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Bonnet prevents the takedown attempt.

Seppanen gets control of Bonnet's arms and successfully pulls guard. Seppanen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Seppanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Seppanen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bonnet's guard.

Seppanen is fighting to break Bonnet's control of his arms but Bonnet is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bonnet wants to get back to his feet but Seppanen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bonnet is controlling Seppanen's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonnet is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bonnet is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bonnet keeping moving, preventing Seppanen from controlling successfully.
Seppanen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Bonnet has his foot on Seppanen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Seppanen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Seppanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Seppanen trying to control but Bonnet is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Theophile Bonnet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bonnet throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Seppanen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Seppanen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Bonnet looks for a takedown but Seppanen sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Theophile Bonnet. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bonnet tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Seppanen counters with a series of strikes. Bonnet will be more careful next time no doubt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hanno Seppanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Seppanen 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hanno Seppanen!