PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zack McLavec (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hasse Skenben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

McLavec
vs
Skenben

165 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zack McLavec!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hasse Skenben!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skenben keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
McLavec swats away the attempt to clinch by Skenben.

McLavec takes the fight into the clinch.
McLavec crunches a lovely knee into Skenben's ribcage.

McLavec manages to pull guard.
Skenben controlling from the top position.
Skenben looking to sit in guard and control but McLavec gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McLavec preventing the sweep.
McLavec is looking to stand up but Skenben won't let him.

Skenben is looking for a triangle but McLavec pushes his legs off easily.
Skenben not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLavec would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Skenben looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Skenben looks gassed!

Skenben is looking for a triangle but McLavec pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McLavec trying to stand up but can't free himself from Skenben's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

McLavec clinches with his opponent.
McLavec tries for a takedown but Skenben manages to get underhooks.
Skenben managing to block the knees to the body from McLavec.
McLavec lands a knee to the body.
McLavec is trying to maintain a safe position but Skenben gets an underhook and turns McLavec into the cage.
Skenben tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nice elbow from McLavec.
McLavec tries to land knees in the clinch but Skenben avoids the damage to the body.

McLavec manages to break the clinch.
Skenben tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but McLavec swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Skenben clinches.

Skenben pulls McLavec into guard.
McLavec preventing the sweep.
Skenben looking to control.

Skenben working for a triangle but McLavec defends it easily.
Skenben wants to sweep but no luck.
Skenben can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as McLavec controls the pace.
Skenben is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McLavec manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skenben tries to keep at a distance but McLavec has taken the fight into the clinch.

McLavec is fighting off a takedown attempt but Skenben is just too persistent for him and manages to trip McLavec to the mat. McLavec regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
McLavec keeping full guard, as Skenben tries to pass.
Skenben prevents McLavec from getting back to his feet.
Skenben trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Skenben is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
McLavec knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Skenben on the ground.
Skenben sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed McLavec's guard.

Skenben is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Skenben works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skenben tries to move to mount but McLavec blocks the move with his legs.
A lull in the action here.

Skenben thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Skenben swings around for an armbar but McLavec sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Skenben's guard.
McLavec preventing the sweep.
Skenben manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McLavec manages to get himself to full guard.
Skenben trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hasse Skenben dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick misses from McLavec.
McLavec misses with a takedown

and Skenben decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McLavec's guard.
Skenben throwing strikes from guard but McLavec blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Skenben gets to his feet - McLavec follows without any prompting.
Skenben shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says McLavec as he avoids it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

McLavec closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Skenben managing to block the knees to the body from McLavec.

Skenben is trying to trip McLavec. He has hold of a leg but McLavec is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Skenben persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Skenben sitting in guard here, content to control.
Skenben passes McLavec's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McLavec is trying to maintain the position but Skenben is very close to passing his half guard.
Skenben wants to control but McLavec is keeping him busy.
Skenben is breathing heavily.
McLavec wants to improve his position but Skenben is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Skenben is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McLavec doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Skenben.
McLavec is trying to maintain the position but Skenben is very close to passing his half guard.
McLavec moves into full guard.
McLavec keeping moving, preventing Skenben from controlling successfully.
McLavec wants to stand up but Skenben is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McLavec wants to clinch

and Skenben counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Skenben prevents McLavec from improving his position.
Skenben missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Skenben is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Skenben is controlling the pace.
McLavec is in trouble now - Skenben has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLavec really wants to buck Skenben off and get back to his feet.
Skenben takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Skenben working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
McLavec is in all sorts of trouble here.

Skenben working for a guillotine from mount but McLavec is in no mood to give up.
Skenben tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Skenben is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! McLavec is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hasse Skenben!