PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thor Hammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alberto Del Rio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hammer's entrance music is Amon Amarth - The Pursuit of Vikings. A fine choice. Del Rio has chosen Requiem for a dream as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hammer
vs
Del Rio

182 cm
22
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

197 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thor Hammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alberto Del Rio!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hammer scores with a decent looking hook.
Hammer misses with a jab, cross combination.
Del Rio throws a head kick that misses.
Thor Hammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Del Rio misses with a head kick.
Hammer is looking to land body kicks.
Hammer misses with a low kick.

Del Rio gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Del Rio wants to break free but Hammer has control.

Del Rio manages to pull guard.
Hammer postures up and lands a big shot to Del Rio's brow.
Del Rio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hammer throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Del Rio has his feet on Hammer's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Del Rio darts in and clinches Hammer up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammer throws an elbow that misses.
Hammer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Del Rio fails to pull guard.
Hammer taking a breather.
A head punch on the inside from Hammer fails to land.
Del Rio lands a shoulder strike.
Hammer keeps control of Del Rio as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hammer is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Del Rio is defending well for now.
Del Rio tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hammer lands with a light punch inside.
Hammer swings wildly with an uppercut but Del Rio uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hammer lands a right hand.
Del Rio goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hammer prevents it.
Thor Hammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alberto Del Rio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Del Rio scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Del Rio tries a knee to the head but Hammer blocks it.
Hammer misses with a hook from the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hammer is pressed up against the cage. Del Rio has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hammer down to the mat. Hammer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Del Rio closes the distance and pushes Hammer back into the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hammer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Del Rio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hammer moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hammer connects with a leg kick. Del Rio looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Hammer gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer misses with the head strike.
Hammer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Del Rio throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hammers head.
Hammer misses with some punches.
Hammer blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Del Rio throws a knee to the head but misses.
Del Rio tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hammer tries to work over Del Rio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Del Rio misses with an elbow strike.
Hammer connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Alberto Del Rio has been cut.
Hammer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hammer creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Del Rio jumps guard but Hammer stands there with Del Rio around his waist. Del Rio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hammer throws a punch but it's blocked by Del Rio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Rio effectively controlling the action here.
Del Rio looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hammer.
Hammer misses with the head strike.
Del Rio looking to throw knees to the head but Hammer is blocking nicely.
Hammer trying to stall but Del Rio improves his position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hammer.
Del Rio using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hammer has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hammer has a couple of punches blocked by Del Rio.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Del Rio looking for a takedown.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Del Rio lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Del Rio blocks an elbow strike from Hammer.
Hammer lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Hammer dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alberto Del Rio's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Del Rio has closed the distance and engaged Hammer in a clinch.
Del Rio is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hammer to keep the fight standing.
Del Rio controlling the action here for a moment.
Del Rio is trying to break the clinch but Hammer has him pressed against the cage.
Hammer throws a punch but it's blocked by Del Rio.
Hammer can't find room to land a body shot as Del Rio controls the action.
Hammer lands an elbow inside that Del Rio shrugs off.
Del Rio avoids a wild elbow strike from Hammer.
Hammer throws a punch but it's blocked by Del Rio.
Hammer taking a breather.
A short left from Hammer.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Del Rio avoids the elbow strike from Hammer, against the cage.
Hammer throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Del Rio has Hammer pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hammer manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Del Rio avoiding damage as Hammer throws knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Del Rio.
Hammer looking to slow down the pace here.
A nice left hand lands by Hammer.
Hammer pushes off an throws an elbow but Del Rio leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Del Rio is trying to break the clinch but Hammer is controlling him.
Del Rio blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Del Rio.

Del Rio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Del Rio misses with a head kick.
Hammer throws a nice head kick!
Hammer blocks a head kick by Del Rio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Del Rio clinches with his opponent.
Hammer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Del Rio jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hammer walks away with a smile on his face. Del Rio gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thor Hammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alberto Del Rio.

Del Rio clinches with his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Del Rio wants to break free but Hammer has control.
Hammer tries to work over Del Rio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Del Rio lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Del Rio throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Del Rio lands a body shot in the clinch.
Del Rio effectively controlling the action here.

Del Rio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hammer throws a right and a left that Del Rio avoids nicely.

Hammer rushes Del Rio and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Del Rio has Hammer pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Del Rio fails to pull guard.
Del Rio tries to pull guard but Hammer holds him up against the cage and eventually Del Rio drops back down to his feet.
Del Rio wants to break free but Hammer has control.
Hammer struggles to land a body shot inside as Del Rio controls his hands.
Del Rio is trying to break free.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hammer.
Del Rio tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hammer's elbow.

Del Rio jumps into guard, dragging Hammer to the mat.
Del Rio keeping moving, preventing Hammer from controlling successfully.
Hammer throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Del Rio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer postures up in Del Rio's guard and throws a big left but Del Rio blocks it.
Hammer with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hammer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hammer throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hammer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hammer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hammer throws an elbow that misses. Del Rio uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hammer's guard. Nice move by Del Rio!
Hammer wants to get back to his feet but Del Rio passes into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Del Rio escapes and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Thor Hammer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alberto Del Rio's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hammer blocks a jab.
Hammer scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Del Rio closes the distance and pushes Hammer back into the cage.
Hammer tries to land knees in the clinch but Del Rio avoids the damage to the body.
Hammer wants to stall.
Del Rio tries a knee to the head but Hammer blocks it.
Hammer is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Del Rio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hammer blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hammer throws an elbow but misses.

Del Rio breaks the clinch.

Hammer clinches.
Hammer trying to stall but Del Rio improves his position.
Del Rio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hammer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Del Rio tries to land a knee to the head but Hammer blocks with his arms.
Hammer throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hammer lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hammer is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Del Rio is keeping busy.
Hammer keeps control of Del Rio as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Del Rio is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Del Rio throws an elbow but it misses.
Hammer trying to stall but Del Rio improves his position.
Still in the clinch, Del Rio scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Del Rio.
Hammer struggles to land a body shot inside as Del Rio controls his hands.
Hammer creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Del Rio stalling in the clinch.
Del Rio blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Del Rio gets control of Hammer's arms and successfully pulls guard. Del Rio will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Del Rio is on top in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Del Rio content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Del Rio decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hammer, up you get!
Del Rio has a takedown stuffed.

Del Rio gets tackled into the cage by Hammer. Hammer maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammer gets through Del Rio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hammer throws an elbow that misses.
Hammer misses with a punch on the inside.
Hammer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Del Rio tries to circle away but Hammer has him pinned against the cage.
Hammer lands a shoulder strike.
Hammer lands with a right to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hammer misses with an elbow strike.
Del Rio tries a knee to the head but Hammer blocks it.
Del Rio pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Del Rio is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hammer can't fight it off and eventually Del Rio manages to take the fight to the floor. Hammer looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Del Rio stopping the sweep attempt from Hammer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammer is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Del Rio dives into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammer tries to bench press Del Rio off him but Del Rio keeps the position.

Del Rio stands up.
Hammer looks to land a body kick but Del Rio moved away.
Thor Hammer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Del Rio throws a series of punches but Hammer moves out of range.
Alberto Del Rio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hammer gets in close and instigates a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Thor Hammer.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hammer, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thor Hammer!
Thor Hammer took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'The age of the Vikings is back! Thor, son of Odin, will once again rise!'.