PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gustav Harakka (ranked 800 p4p, 986 weight class) and Harris Mint (ranked 110 p4p, 136 weight class). Gustav Harakka had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Harakka
vs
Mint

183 cm
26
179
11 - 5 - 0

188 cm
27
175
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Carnage
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gustav Harakka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harris Mint!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mint shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mint trying to control from half guard but Harakka is working away.
Harakka is trying to control but can't.

Mint is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Harakka defends it well.
Harakka keeping hold of Mint's head, controlling as best he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harakka wants to improve his position but Mint is controlling well.
Harakka is refusing to be controlled, as Mint sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mint seems to be looking for submissions.

Mint is working for a submission of some sort.
Mint is stalling here. Harakka is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Mint seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Harakka has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Mint is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Mint's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Harakka stands up and beckons Mint to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mint shoots in but no luck this time.
Harakka lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
A swing and a miss from Harakka.
Jab, jab by Harakka - just one landing.
Harakka wants to slow Mint down by chopping away at his legs.
Harakka waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mint.
Mint uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Harakka.
Harakka fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Mint shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mint was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Mint working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harakka is not content to let Mint control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mint tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Mint swings around for an armbar but Harakka sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mint's guard.

Mint working for a triangle but Harakka defends it easily.
Harakka is stalling in the full guard.
Harakka has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mint wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Mint is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Harakka defends well.
Mint is pulling down on Harakka's head. It's preventing any offense from Harakka, at least for the moment.
Harakka controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Harakka has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mint is proving hard to escape from.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Harakka dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mint shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Harakka as he jumps to the side.
Mint tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Harakka swivels and escapes.
A jab from Harakka does it's job there.
Harakka throws a poor cross that misses
and Mint counters with a thumping low kick.
Mint closes the distance and clinches up with Harakka, looking for a takedown. Mint pushes Harakka against the cage but Harakka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gustav Harakka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harris Mint.
Harakka misses with a straight left.
Gustav Harakka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mint takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harakka catches Mint with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Harakka tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Mint steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Harakka.
Harakka misses with a hook

and Mint counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mint is trying to trip Harakka. He has hold of a leg but Harakka is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Mint persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Harakka scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Mint will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Harakka throwing a counter right hand but Mint manages to avoid it.
Mint shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Harakka defends it nicely.
Mint fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harakka avoids it really well and circles away.
It looked like Harakka wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Harakka scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harakka scores with a head kick. Mint tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Harris Mint has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mint avoids the head kick by Harakka.
Mint drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Harakka defends it well.
Good work by Mint as he checks the leg kick.

Mint shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mint was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Harakka is not content to let Mint control the position.
Harakka is trying to control Mint's posture but Mint avoids it.
Harakka tries to buck Mint off but Mint is having none of it.
Gustav Harakka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mint moves into full mount!

Mint working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Mint looking to control but Harakka is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Harakka is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Mint works his way to his opponent's back.
Harakka looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Mint is looking for the choke from the back position but Harakka is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mint not allowing Harakka to control his hands.
Harakka is trying to stand back up.

Harakka is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Harakka is having to fend off submission attempts from Mint, who is looking to sink in the choke. Mint doesn't have the hooks in though and Harakka manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.

Mint has his foot on Harakka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Harakka works his way back into a safe position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Harakka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Harris Mint's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Harakka swings widly with a right hand
enabling Mint to counter with a crisp jab.
Harakka wants to slow Mint down by chopping away at his legs.
Harakka misses with an uppercut.
Mint shoots and misses
enabling Harakka to counter with a crisp jab.
Harakka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mint can do to turn this around?
Harakka is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mint tries for a takedown but Harakka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Harakka throws a sloppy head kick and Mint moves out of range easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mint takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Harakka takes a swing at Mint's ribcage but misses.
Mint lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Mint shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Harakka pinned against the cage. Harakka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gustav Harakka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harris Mint.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mint dives in for a single leg takedown but Harakka sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Harakka misses with a body shot.
Crack! A monster head kick from Harakka and Mint falls like a tree - timbeeeeeeeeeeerrrr! A highlight reel knockout by Harakka!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Gustav Harakka!
Our winner, Gustav Harakka, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.