PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hans Lankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Kolari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lankari kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is AC/DC - Thunderstruck. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lankari
vs
Kolari

177 cm
23
142 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

173 cm
29
155 lbs
12 - 11 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Powerful

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hans Lankari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Kolari!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kolari wants to land a leg kick but Lankari is out of range.
Lankari checks a leg kick.
Kolari connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lankari. Lankari circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Lankari tries to clinch there but Kolari circles away.
Sami Kolari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lankari is looking to clinch.
Lankari is looking to land body kicks.
Lankari shoots in for a double leg but Kolari sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lankari checks a leg kick.
Lankari avoids the head kick by Kolari.
Lankari displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kolari throws out the jab.
Lankari avoids the head kick by Kolari.
Jab, jab by Lankari - just one landing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lankari.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lankari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kolari keeps working.

Lankari is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kolari has escaped the position, nice work there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kolari regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolari is not content to let Lankari control the position.
Kolari is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lankari looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kolari trying to control from the bottom.
Kolari might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lankari kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Hans Lankari has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A head kick misses from Kolari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Lankari scores with a four punch combination!
Kolari scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Kolari takes the fight into the clinch.
Lankari jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kolari walks away with a smile on his face. Lankari gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kolari tries a head kick but it misses.
Kolari throws a head kick but Lankari moves out of range.
Kolari tries a low kick but Lankari avoids it.
Kolari misses with a head kick.
Kolari misses with a head kick.
A leg kick checked by Lankari.
Kolari scores with a leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kolari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kolari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Kolari. No joy for Lankari on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hans Lankari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kolari misses with a leg kick
and Lankari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolari throws a leg kick
and Lankari counters with a nice body kick.
Lankari blocks a low kick nicely.
Kolari scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kolari throws a head kick that misses.
Kolari tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Lankari is able to avoid easily.
Lankari tries a head kick but it misses.
Lankari blocks a head kick by Kolari.
Lankari closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kolari circles away.
Lankari scores with a leg kick.
Kolari jabs Lankari to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Kolari drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lankari controls Kolari momentarily but Kolari frees himself.
Lankari is really struggling to control Kolari but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Lankari is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kolari is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Lankari has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kolari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kolari wants to control from the top but Lankari keeps moving.

Lankari working for a triangle but Kolari defends it easily.
Lankari keeping moving, preventing Kolari from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lankari is striking but Kolari is not phased and passes to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sami Kolari will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kolari misses with a body shot.
Kolari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kolari throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lankari is defended easily by Kolari.
Kolari throws a sloppy head kick
and Lankari counters with a series of strikes. Kolari will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kolari turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Lankari blocks the low kick.

Lankari gets tackled into the cage by Kolari. Kolari maintains the clinch.
Kolari keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lankari's efforts to push away.
Lankari slowing the pace effectively.

Kolari has hold of one of Lankari's legs. Lankari is fighting the takedown attempt but Kolari gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Lankari wants to stand up but Kolari is controlling him.
Kolari trying to control the position from guard on top but Lankari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolari stays in close to Lankari's body and controls the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kolari with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kolari slips nicely into half guard.
Kolari landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sami Kolari has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lankari tries to get to full guard but Kolari has control of the leg.
Kolari wants to free his trapped foot but Lankari is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Lankari trying to control but Kolari postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lankari misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kolari controlling the action here.
Lankari is trying to maintain the position but Kolari is very close to passing his half guard.
Kolari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Kolari seems to be looking for submissions.
Lankari is not content to let Kolari control the position.
Kolari controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolari 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.
Lankari has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kolari is working away from the top position though.

Kolari seems to be looking for submissions.

Kolari wants to work for an arm triangle but Lankari is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Kolari is trying to work for a kimura but Lankari is defending well.
Lankari is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kolari's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kolari's back!
Lankari is trying to stick to Kolari's back but Kolari is turning into Lankari. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Lankari's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kolari.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kolari being controlled here momentarily.
Kolari works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Kolari is looking for a kimura here.

Kolari is working for a submission of some sort.
Lankari punching from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Kolari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kolari takes a swing at Lankari's ribcage but misses.
Kolari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kolari throws a body punch but Lankari moves out of range.
Kolari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Horrible takedown by Lankari or perhaps it was just good defense by Kolari which made him look bad.
Kolari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Lankari is out of range.
Lankari fails to land the takedown.
Lankari blocks a low kick nicely.
Lankari ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Sami Kolari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lankari blocks a low kick nicely.
Kolari comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lankari enables Kolari to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lankari manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Lankari managing to control the position.
Kolari is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kolari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kolari tries to free his leg and advance position but Lankari is retaining full guard.
Lankari working a defensive guard here.
Kolari postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Lankari throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kolari drops back looking for a leg! Lankari is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lankari manages to kick Kolari off! Kolari jumps back into Lankari's guard.
Kolari postures up.

Lankari working for a triangle but Kolari defends it easily.
Kolari keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lankari's head.

Kolari is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lankari working a defensive guard here.
Kolari trying to control but Lankari is working from the bottom.
Lankari trying to control the position.
Kolari trying to control the position from guard on top but Lankari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kolari pushes down on Lankari's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lankari trying to get back to full guard but Kolari takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Sami Kolari is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Kolari has control of Lankari's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Lankari regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kolari sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lankari wants to control but Kolari is having none of it.
Hans Lankari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lankari working to try and regain half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Kolari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kolari 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Kolari!