PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Muru Aalto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paulo Henrique (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Aalto
vs
Henrique

175 cm
27
160 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

192 cm
20
162 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Muru Aalto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paulo Henrique!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henrique throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Henrique looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Aalto stuffs the takedown attempt from Henrique. Henrique gets slowly back to his feet.
Henrique shoots in and drives through. Aalto sprawls well.
Muru Aalto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Henrique.
Some wild striking there from Aalto.

Henrique clinches.
Aalto tries to break free but Henrique pushes him back against the cage.
Aalto is trying to break free.
Henrique tries to land a knee to the head but Aalto blocks with his arms.
Henrique with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Henrique utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Henrique prevents Aalto from breaking the clinch.
Henrique is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Aalto working hard to break the clinch.
Henrique is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Henrique has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henrique misses with a knee to the head.
Henrique tries to land a knee to the head but Aalto blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Henrique.
Aalto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Henrique pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Paulo Henrique seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henrique tries to clinch
letting Aalto counter with a right hand.
A big left from Aalto misses.
Aalto misses with an uppercut.
Aalto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Henrique.
Aalto bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Aalto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Henrique misses with a head kick.
Henrique shoots in looking for a takedown. Aalto tries to sprawl out of it but Henrique keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Aalto manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Henrique tries to clinch up but Aalto circles away and keeps his distance.
Henrique looks for a takedown but Aalto sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henrique uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aalto.
Henrique shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aalto as he avoids it easily.
Aalto connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aalto lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Henrique moves out of range of the strikes.
Henrique moves away from the strike by Aalto.
Henrique tries to clinch up.
Aalto throws a lazy right hand but Henrique sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Henrique tries to close the distance and clinch but Aalto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Henrique fails with an attempt to clinch.
Henrique throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Aalto.
Aalto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Henrique ducks under a wild hook from Aalto.
Henrique doesn't manage to clinch there - Aalto circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Aalto. No joy for Henrique on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aalto scores with a shot to the body.
Nice shot by Aalto.
Henrique tries to close the distance and clinch but Aalto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Henrique tries to clinch but Aalto moves out of range.
Henrique fails to land the takedown.
Henrique shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Henrique tries to clinch but Aalto is having none of it.
A head kick misses from Henrique.
Aalto leaves Henrique with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Aalto is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Henrique looks gassed!
Henrique tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aalto's jab looks to have found its range, popping Henrique under the eye.
Aalto walks into a jab.
Aalto throws a hook to the side of Henrique's head but Henrique sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henrique throws a head kick that misses.
Aalto misses with an uppercut.
Henrique displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Aalto throws out the jab.
Henrique throws a right and a left that Aalto avoids nicely.
Henrique ducks under a wild hook from Aalto.
Henrique moves out of range as Aalto strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Henrique.
Aalto loads up on a big right hand but Henrique slips the punch.
Henrique is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Henrique closes the distance and pushes Aalto back into the cage.

Henrique escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henrique uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Aalto.
Henrique wants to clinch up but Aalto keeps it at a distance.

Henrique drives through and clinches with Aalto against the cage.

Henrique escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paulo Henrique will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Henrique wants to clinch
and Aalto counters with a nice uppercut.
Henrique shoots in but Aalto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Aalto misses the jab.
Henrique feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Aalto's calf.
Henrique fails with an attempt to clinch.
Henrique tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Henrique tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aalto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Henrique tries to clinch but Aalto moves out of range.
Henrique is looking to clinch but Aalto is avoiding it.
Aalto lands with an overhand left.
Henrique misses with a head kick.
Henrique ducks under a wild hook from Aalto.
Henrique throws a sloppy head kick and Aalto moves out of range easily.
A big right from Aalto misses.
Henrique fails in his attempt to clinch.
Muru Aalto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henrique moves out of range of the strikes.
Aalto misses with a low kick.
Henrique uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Aalto.
Henrique tries to close the distance and clinch but Aalto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Henrique tries to clinch there but Aalto circles away.
Henrique is looking to chop away at Aalto's legs.
Henrique throws a head kick that misses.
Henrique tries to close the distance and clinch up but Aalto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Muru Aalto is winning the standup battle so far.
Henrique doesn't manage to clinch there - Aalto circles away.
Aalto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Henrique fails in his attempt to clinch.

Henrique darts in and clinches Aalto up against the cage.
Henrique prevents Aalto from breaking the clinch.
Henrique looking to throw knees to the head but Aalto is blocking nicely.
Henrique tries to land a knee to the head but Aalto blocks with his arms.
Henrique is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aalto tries to circle away but Henrique has him pinned against the cage.
Henrique misses with a knee strike.
Aalto is trying to break the clinch but Henrique is controlling him.
Henrique throws a knee to the head but misses.
Henrique looking to throw knees to the head but Aalto is blocking nicely.
Henrique tries to break the clinch but Aalto is controlling the position.
Henrique is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Aalto keeps control of Henrique as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Aalto wants to get back to striking at distance but Henrique won't allow it.
Knees to the body from Henrique.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henrique looking to slow down the pace here.
Henrique with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henrique with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Aalto wants to get back to striking at distance but Henrique won't allow it.
Aalto is trying to break the clinch but Henrique is controlling him.

Henrique breaks from the clinch.
Aalto blocks a low kick nicely.
Henrique fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Henrique is breathing heavily.
Aalto throws a hook but Henrique avoids it easily.
Henrique moves out of range as Aalto strikes.
Aalto swats away the attempt to clinch by Henrique.
Henrique tries to clinch but Aalto is having none of it.
Aalto missing with a left hand there. Henrique was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Aalto misses with a straight left.
Henrique slips under a jab.
Aalto stuffs the takedown.
Muru Aalto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Henrique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aalto misses with a straight left.
Henrique takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Henrique moves into the clinch.
Henrique throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Aalto blocks it with crossed arms.
Henrique looking to throw knees to the head but Aalto is blocking nicely.

Henrique breaks the clinch.
Aalto misses with a straight right.
Aalto looks to land a right hand but Henrique moved out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Aalto, as that shot connected.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henrique tries to clinch but Aalto moves away
and Aalto counters with a right hand to the body.
Henrique slips under a jab from Aalto.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henrique tries to close the distance and clinch but Aalto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aalto blocks a head kick by Henrique.
Henrique fails to land the takedown.
Henrique misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Paulo Henrique will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Aalto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Henrique uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Aalto.
Aalto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Henrique throws a head kick that half lands.
Henrique slips under a jab from Aalto.
Henrique blocks a jab.
Aalto throws out a loose jab but Henrique uses good head movement to avoid it.
Aalto just misses with a punch to the body.
Aalto misses with a straight right.
A slow jab from Aalto misses its intended target.
Henrique tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Henrique lands a glancing blow to the side of Aalto's head.
Henrique moves away from the strike by Aalto.
Henrique fails to land the takedown.
Henrique fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aalto avoids it really well and circles away.
Aalto misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aalto throws a shot from downtown. Henrique moves away and avoids it.
Henrique tries to clinch up but Aalto circles away and keeps his distance.
Henrique pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Henrique lands a head kick!
Henrique takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Henrique wants to clinch but Aalto slips to the side
and Aalto counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Henrique wants to clinch.
Aalto throws a big shot that misses.
Henrique throws a head kick that misses.
Aalto jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Aalto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Henrique.
Paulo Henrique is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henrique slips a straight right by Aalto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aalto swats away the attempt to clinch by Henrique.
Aalto jabs Henrique right on the nose. Henrique blinks but takes it well.
Henrique shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Muru Aalto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paulo Henrique.
A swing and a miss from Henrique.
Aalto stuffs the takedown attempt from Henrique. Henrique gets slowly back to his feet.
Aalto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Henrique moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Henrique ducks under a wild hook from Aalto.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henrique wants to clinch up but Aalto keeps it at a distance.
Aalto scores with a decent looking hook.

Henrique is rocked!
Aalto misses with a hook. Henrique ducked under it nicely.
Henrique is still on wobbly legs! Can Aalto finish him?
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henrique is defended easily by Aalto.
Aalto throws a good cross that connects.
Aalto with a body punch. A glancing blow.
and Aalto counters with a massive uppercut that badly hurts Henrique! He's just covering up as Aalto starts to tee off till referee steps in and stops the fight!

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