PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shukri Hakala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Browne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hakala's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Eminem: Just Lose It. Browne comes into a darkened arena with his song building. UFC - Face the Pain kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Travis Browne is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hakala
vs
Browne

199 cm
20
279 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

201 cm
29
251 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Shukri Hakala!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Travis Browne !
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Browne fails with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Browne with that takedown attempt.

Hakala dives in and scores a takedown into Browne 's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hakala looking to pass the guard.
Hakala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Browne working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hakala doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hakala manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hakala postures up in Browne 's guard and throws a big left but Browne blocks it.

Hakala drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hakala jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Browne throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Browne is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hakala has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hakala 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.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Hakala thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Browne has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hakala can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hakala with a flurry of punches that miss.
Browne utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Browne controls Hakala momentarily but Hakala frees himself.
Browne striking off his back but it's not causing Hakala any problems.

Hakala has gone for a leg lock! Browne slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hakala's guard.

Hakala is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Browne is aware though and is defending well.
Browne must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Browne wants to pass the guard but Hakala is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Browne throws a big right hand that misses.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hakala working for submissions but it's allowed Browne to get to half guard.
Hakala blocking the ground and pound attempt from Browne .
Hakala has hold of Browne 's hands but Browne slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hakala gets back to full guard.

Hakala working for a triangle but Browne defends it easily.
Browne postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Hakala is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Browne is aware though and is defending well.
Browne landing some decent shots from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hakala looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Browne passes into half guard.
Browne working over Hakala with some ground and pound. Hakala looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hakala trying to get back to full guard but Browne takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Hakala is in a horrible position here. Browne smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Browne tries to control but Hakala wriggling away.
Browne lands a big shot there that rocks Hakala but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

It looks like Shukri Hakala has been cut.
Hakala sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hakala wants to get back to full guard.
Browne 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.

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

Browne is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Browne drops an elbow to the side of Hakala's head.
Hakala gets back to full guard.

Hakala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Browne is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Browne avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Browne works over Hakala with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Browne is working Hakala over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hakala tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hakala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Browne doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Browne manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Browne dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Shukri Hakala's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Browne leaves Hakala with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hakala misses with a straight left.
Hakala tries for a takedown but Browne circles away easily

and Browne counters with a single leg into guard. Hakala didn't expect that.
Hakala wants to sweep but no luck.
Browne scoring with punches to the head and body.
Browne trying to control the position from guard on top but Hakala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hakala preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Browne throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hakala is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Browne trying to control but Hakala is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Browne content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Browne accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Browne stopping the sweep attempt from Hakala.

Hakala looking for a guillotine here but Browne defends easily.

Hakala has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Browne is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hakala.
Hakala tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Browne working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hakala on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Browne scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hakala is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Travis Browne has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hakala looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Browne pushes past his half guard into mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hakala wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Hakala tries to escape but Browne has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Hakala grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Browne has Hakala flattened out and is raining down punches.

Shukri Hakala's cut is getting worse.
Hakala covers up after that shot from Browne .

Jeez, Shukri Hakala's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Shukri Hakala's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Travis Browne !
Travis Browne is the new heavyweight champion!