PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jappe Jihu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Vanhala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Jihu
vs
Vanhala

185 cm
23
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
186 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jappe Jihu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Vanhala!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jihu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vanhala drops Jihu with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Jihu looks back up at him and smiles so Vanhala waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Jihu is rocked!

It looks like Jappe Jihu has been cut.

Vanhala drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Oh Jihu is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
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!
Vanhala scoring with punches and elbows.
Jihu manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Jihu seems to have got his legs back now.
Jihu prevents Vanhala from improving his position.
Vanhala is looking to control Jihu's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vanhala avoid being mounted?

Jihu is looking for a kimura here.
Vanhala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vanhala is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanhala is looking for a sweep. Jihu is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Jihu trying to mount his opponent but Vanhala defends it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vanhala drops his shoulder and cracks Jihu with a huge uppercut! Jihu goes down! Can Vanhala finish him?

Jihu has his foot on Vanhala's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vanhala works his way back into a safe position though.
Vanhala seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Jihu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jihu has momentary wrist control but Vanhala slips an elbow through the middle.
Vanhala controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vanhala with a nice head shot there.

Jihu looking for a guillotine here but Vanhala defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jihu is breathing heavily.
Vanhala tries to free his leg and advance position but Jihu is retaining full guard.
Vanhala must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala wants to control from the top but Jihu keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Jihu trying to control the position.
Vanhala trying to control the position from guard on top but Jihu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vanhala with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vanhala lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Vanhala postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jihu has momentary wrist control but Vanhala slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala postures up.

Jihu has his foot on Vanhala's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vanhala works his way back into a safe position though.
Vanhala scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vanhala thows a big elbow that misses.
Vanhala postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vanhala missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Vanhala got a little sloppy there for a moment and Jihu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vanhala has managed to get both his arms back between Jihu's legs - danger averted.
Jihu keeping moving, preventing Vanhala from controlling successfully.
Vanhala works over Jihu with some ground and pound from guard.
Vanhala with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vanhala keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jihu's head.

Vanhala avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vanhala scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Jihu keeping moving, preventing Vanhala from controlling successfully.
Vanhala connects with a couple of short punches.
Vanhala pushes down on Jihu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jihu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vanhala.
Vanhala throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vanhala drops an elbow to the side of Jihu's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jihu is looking to improve his position.
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. Vanhala connects with a nice short shot to Jihu's temple.

Jihu looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Vanhala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jappe Jihu's cut.
That's time! Jihu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Good standup being displayed there by Vanhala as he connects with a hook.
Vanhala jabs Jihu right on the nose. Jihu blinks but takes it well.
Jihu doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Vanhala counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Jihu's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vanhala's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vanhala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vanhala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jihu is keeping the position for now.
Vanhala loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jihu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Jihu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vanhala defends well.
Vanhala throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jihu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanhala with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vanhala scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Vanhala avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vanhala thows a big elbow that misses.
Vanhala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vanhala's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vanhala is looking to work some ground and pound but Jihu has wrist control.
Vanhala working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vanhala with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vanhala connects with a couple of short punches.

Vanhala drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jihu looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jihu looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jihu!
Vanhala throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala tries to bench press Jihu off him but Jihu keeps the position.
Jihu trying to control the action but Vanhala is working from the bottom.
Vanhala tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Jihu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vanhala manages to get back to half guard.
Vanhala is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jihu's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jihu's back!
Vanhala lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Vanhala lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Jihu.
Jihu takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Jihu has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala punishes Jihu with strikes from the back mount.
Jihu rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Nice strikes from Vanhala there.
Vanhala tries to pass to full mount but Jihu defends it.
Vanhala throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vanhala looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jihu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Jihu taking some punishment here, with Vanhala in his half guard.
Vanhala trying to control from half guard but Jihu is working away.
Jihu blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vanhala.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jihu regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vanhala trying to control the position from guard on top but Jihu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vanhala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Jihu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vanhala is aware though and is defending well.
Vanhala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jihu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vanhala scoring with some ground and pound.
Ari Vanhala has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jihu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Jihu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vanhala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vanhala makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Vanhala landing some decent shots from guard.
Vanhala wants to control from the top but Jihu keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Vanhala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jappe Jihu's cut.
That's time! Jihu's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Jihu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Vanhala counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Jihu's guard now.
Jihu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vanhala trying to control but Jihu is working from the bottom.
Vanhala is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Vanhala postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jihu wants to sweep here but Vanhala controlling him for the moment.

Vanhala avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vanhala connects with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vanhala chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanhala looking to pass the guard.
Vanhala is working Jihu over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Vanhala pushes down on Jihu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jihu is staying active underneath Vanhala, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Jihu is trying to control but can't.
Ground and pound from Vanhala.
Vanhala lands strikes from half guard.
Well, if Vanhala is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Jihu is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jihu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Vanhala drops an elbow to the side of Jihu's head.
Vanhala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Vanhala has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vanhala drops an elbow to the side of Jihu's head.
Vanhala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vanhala is taking a breather. Jihu says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Jihu avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vanhala.
Vanhala takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vanhala working over Jihu with some ground and pound. Jihu looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Vanhala.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jihu tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Vanhala has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Vanhala unloading with bombs!
Jihu taking shots to the head.
Jihu is bucking up trying to escape but Vanhala cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Jihu is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vanhala working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Vanhala unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Jihu wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Vanhala celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ari Vanhala!