PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Adam Brennan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannu Tappanii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Brennan
vs
Tappanii

188 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

179 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Adam Brennan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hannu Tappanii!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brennan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tappanii.

Brennan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Brennan prevents Tappanii from standing back up.
Brennan lands with a punch from half guard.
Tappanii should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Tappanii is looking to control Brennan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tappanii avoid being mounted?
Tappanii is looking to improve his position.
Tappanii pushes Brennan off looking to stand but Brennan dives back in and keeps control.
Tappanii is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brennan prevents Tappanii from standing back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tappanii can do anything to dispel that myth.
Brennan drops an elbow to the side of Tappanii's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tappanii manages to get to full guard.
Brennan distracts Tappanii with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Brennan's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tappanii wants to stand but Brennan is controlling the position.
Tappanii keeping full guard, as Brennan tries to pass.
Brennan postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brennan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Brennan trying to control the position from guard on top but Tappanii is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tappanii looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Brennan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tappanii tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Brennan swivels and escapes.
Adam Brennan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannu Tappanii.
Brennan tries to bum rush Tappanii with a series of wild strikes but Tappanii uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Brennan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Tappanii.
Nice takedown defense from Tappanii. No joy for Brennan on that attempt.

Brennan feints and as Tappanii raises his hands in defense, Brennan changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Brennan engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Brennan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tappanii looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brennan preventing the sweep.
Brennan wants to stand but Tappanii is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tappanii wants to sweep here but Brennan controlling him for the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tappanii shoots for a double leg takedown but Brennan sprawls well. He's pushed Tappanii's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tappanii shoots in and drives through. Brennan sprawls well.

Tappanii decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Brennan is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brennan is breathing heavily.
Brennan won't allow Tappanii to pass to mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tappanii is stalling here. Brennan is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Tappanii seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Brennan has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Tappanii is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Brennan scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappanii tries to improve position but can't.
Tappanii wants to get back to his feet.
Tappanii wants to control but Brennan postures up.
Brennan working the head with strikes.
Tappanii is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Brennan is looking to take a break and control but Tappanii is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Brennan working the ground and pound.
Tappanii manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Tappanii trying to control the action but Brennan is working from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Brennan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tappanii drops back looking for a leg! Brennan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Brennan manages to kick Tappanii off! Tappanii jumps back into Brennan's guard.
Brennan keeping moving, preventing Tappanii from controlling successfully.
Tappanii passes Brennan's left leg - he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tappanii trying to mount his opponent but Brennan defends it.
Brennan is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Adam Brennan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tappanii drives through with a takedown into guard.
Brennan trying to control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tappanii trying to control the position from guard on top but Brennan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Brennan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Brennan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tappanii stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brennan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tappanii trying to control the position from guard on top but Brennan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tappanii really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Brennan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Tappanii drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Brennan manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tappanii has Brennan in his guard.
Brennan trying to control but Tappanii is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brennan is fighting to break Tappanii's control of his arms but Tappanii is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hannu Tappanii hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Tappanii shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Tappanii seems content to control.
Tappanii is keen to just control but Brennan is a slippery customer.
Brennan looks like he's trying to stand up.

Tappanii is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Brennan is just riding it out for now. Tappanii eventually gives up the hold.
Brennan is staying active underneath Tappanii, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Brennan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tappanii pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tappanii tries to pass to full mount but Brennan defends it.
Brennan wants to control but Tappanii is keeping busy.

Tappanii is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Tappanii is looking for a kimura but Brennan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tappanii to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappanii perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Tappanii trying to control the action but Brennan is working from the bottom.
Tappanii is just content to waste time from the top position. Brennan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Brennan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tappanii trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Brennan manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Tappanii escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Brennan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Tappanii has momentary wrist control but Brennan slips an elbow through the middle.

Tappanii manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Brennan as Tappanii shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tappanii manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Brennan on his heels. He'll look to pass Brennan's guard now, I'm sure.
Brennan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tappanii advances position into side control!
Hannu Tappanii has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tappanii wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Brennan, who protects the arm well.
Brennan is looking for a sweep.

Tappanii is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Brennan has escaped the position, nice work there.
Tappanii has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Brennan!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Tappanii looking to secure an arm triangle but Brennan defends it well.
Tappanii can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brennan is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannu Tappanii showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tappanii throws a hook but Brennan blocks it.
Tappanii throws a body punch but Brennan moves out of range.

Tappanii throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Brennan tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tappanii is in Brennan's guard.

Brennan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tappanii doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tappanii manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tappanii trying to control but Brennan is working from the bottom.

Tappanii thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tappanii sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Brennan's guard.

Brennan actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tappanii is trying to control the action in half guard but Brennan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tappanii working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Brennan's thigh. Brennan counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Tappanii wants to pass the guard but Brennan is keeping the position.
Tappanii must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Brennan keeping moving, preventing Tappanii from controlling successfully.

Tappanii drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Brennan dives on top into guard.
Tappanii trying to control the position.
Tappanii wants to stand and escape but Brennan is having none of it.
Tappanii working a defensive guard here.
Tappanii is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Brennan is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hannu Tappanii wasn't active enough on the ground.
Tappanii takes one to the side of the head.
Brennan dives in and grabs Tappanii's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tappanii pushes down on Brennan's head and hops out.
Adam Brennan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tappanii shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Brennan defends it nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Tappanii is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Brennan's half guard.
Brennan wants to control but Tappanii is keeping busy.
Brennan tries to roll over but Tappanii keeps him under control.
Brennan won't allow Tappanii to pass to mount.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappanii trying to control from half guard but Brennan is working away.
Tappanii wants to pass to mount but Brennan is defending the position.
Brennan is not content to let Tappanii control the position.
Tappanii is just content to waste time from the top position. Brennan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Brennan keeping moving, preventing Tappanii from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hannu Tappanii was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Tappanii throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Brennan was covering up waiting for the punch and Tappanii finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Brennan is trying to keep Tappanii in close.
Tappanii wants to pass the guard but Brennan is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Brennan pulls Tappanii in close to prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hannu Tappanii comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tappanii has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hannu Tappanii!