PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksi Borga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitchell Stehling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Borga's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, People In Planes - Last Man Standing. The crowd seem to be enjoying Stehling's choice of entrance music: Turmion Kätilöt - Minä MÄÄRÄÄN!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Borga
vs
Stehling

193 cm
29
277 lbs
27 - 9 - 0

191 cm
27
261 lbs
24 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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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 27 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aleksi Borga!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mitchell Stehling!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borga throws a poor cross that misses

and Stehling counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Stehling.
Stehling tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Borga's elbow.
Stehling makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Stehling blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Stehling.
Stehling being controlled against the cage.
Borga looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A head punch on the inside from Borga fails to land.
Borga lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Stehling backwards.
Borga misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Borga throws a punch but it's blocked by Stehling.
Borga is trying to push Stehling away but Stehling has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Borga takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Stehling working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Borga working hard to break the clinch.
Stehling misses with some punches.
Stehling lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Borga or not.
Stehling tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borga blocking some punches.

Borga breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Borga closes the distance and clinches.
Borga tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stehling's elbow.
Stehling scores with a shoulder strike.
Borga scores with a shot to the side of Stehling's head.
Stehling stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Borga is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stehling lands with a light punch inside.
Still in the clinch, Stehling scores with a nice short uppercut.

It looks like Aleksi Borga has been cut.
A short body shot lands from Stehling as the two fighters clinch.
Stehling tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Stehling pushes Borga back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Stehling.
Stehling misses with a punch to the body.

Stehling gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Borga regains guard.
Borga working a defensive guard here.
Borga has Stehling pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borga keeping full guard, as Stehling tries to pass.
Stehling trying to control the position from guard on top but Borga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stehling engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Stehling scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Borga doesn't seem bothered though.
Stehling misses with a hook.
Borga throws a leg kick which misses Stehling's front leg but catches the back leg as Stehling tries to avoid it.
Borga gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Some wild striking there from Borga.

Stehling has Borga up against the cage in a clinch.
Borga is trying to maintain a safe position but Stehling gets an underhook and turns Borga into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borga misses with some punches.
Stehling lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Borga or not.
Stehling misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stehling throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Borgas head.
Stehling lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Borga on the inside.
Stehling lands with a short shot to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stehling lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Borga.
Stehling lands a left hand that snaps the head of Borga backwards.
Borga is trying to break the clinch but Stehling is controlling him.
Stehling tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Borga's elbow.
Stehling lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Borga throws a punch but it's blocked by Stehling.
Stehling struggles to land a body shot inside as Borga controls his hands.
Stehling can't find room to land a body shot as Borga controls the action.
Stehling blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stehling lands a hook to the side of the head.
Borga misses with a punch to the body.
Borga is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borga's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short body shot lands from Stehling as the two fighters clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stehling throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Borgas head.
Borga tries to throw a body punch but Stehling avoids it by throwing Borga back against the cage.
Stehling scores with a shoulder strike.
Stehling misses with a punch to the body.
Stehling lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Stehling lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Stehling gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Borga has hold of Stehling's hands but Stehling slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stehling landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Stehling working over Borga with some ground and pound. Borga looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stehling is keen to just control but Borga is a slippery customer.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stehling controlling the action here.
Borga avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stehling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitchell Stehling dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aleksi Borga's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Stehling displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Borga throws out the jab.
Borga swats away the attempt to clinch by Stehling.
Borga turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Stehling checks a leg kick.
Borga slips under a jab from Stehling.
Borga thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Stehling if he has to take too many more of those.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Borga.
Stehling scores with a nice hook to the head.

Borga pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Borga misses with a wild body shot.
Stehling lands a body shot.
Borga displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Stehling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stehling tries to clinch there but Borga circles away.

Borga has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borga gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Stehling.
Borga scores with a nice hook to the head.

Borga's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Borga gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Borga effectively controlling the action here.
Stehling lands a left hand.
Stehling working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Borga tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Borga misses with a short punch on the inside.
Stehling lands with a short shot to the head.
Stehling swings wildly with an uppercut but Borga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Borga scores with a shoulder strike.
Stehling has a couple of punches blocked by Borga.
Stehling misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling tries to throw a body punch but Borga avoids it by throwing Stehling back against the cage.
Borga tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stehling doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Borga stalling in the clinch but Stehling improves position.
Borga lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Stehling.
Borga misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Borga struggles to land a body shot inside as Stehling controls his hands.
Stehling softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Stehling lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stehling misses with some punches.
Borga is looking to break free of the clinch but Stehling has double underhooks.
Borga goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Stehling throws a punch but it's blocked by Borga.
Borga has a couple of punches blocked by Stehling.
Borga tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Stehling's elbow.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Borga creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Stehling is working Borga over against the cage.
Borga swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stehling tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Stehling lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Stehling tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Borga tries to work over Stehling's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Borga fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stehling misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stehling has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Borga after a bit of a struggle.
Aleksi Borga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mitchell Stehling.
Borga lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Borga tries to throw a body punch but Stehling avoids it by throwing Borga back against the cage.
Stehling works on Borga's body with a couple of short punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Borga.
Stehling is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Borga misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Stehling fails to land.

Borga escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Borga takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Aleksi Borga is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stehling checks a low kick from Borga.
Stehling shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Borga counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borga throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Mitchell Stehling seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stehling is trying hard to land a takedown here. Borga sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stehling uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Borga has time to react.
A telegraphed right hand from Stehling misses the target.
Aleksi Borga is winning the standup battle so far.
Borga connects with a high kick.

Borga clinches up with Stehling and pushes him back against the cage.
Stehling misses with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Borga.
A short left from Borga.
Borga misses with some punches.
Borga is trying to force a seperation but Stehling has the dominant position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Borga makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from Stehling.
Stehling swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Stehling goes for a takedown in the clinch but Borga prevents it.
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 Aleksi Borga will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Aleksi Borga's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stehling jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Borga lands with a nice body kick.
Borga swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Stehling feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Stehling advances to half guard.
Borga trying to control from the bottom.
Stehling passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Borga!
Borga is bucking up trying to escape but Stehling cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stehling trying to control but Borga is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stehling postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Borga looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stehling lands with some strikes.
Stehling is landing with some decent strikes but Borga is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Borga really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Borga tries to hold on but Stehling postures up.
Stehling is landing with some decent strikes but Borga is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Stehling has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stehling with the ground and pound from mount.
Stehling controlling the pace for now.
Borga is bucking up trying to escape but Stehling cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stehling lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Stehling landing punches.
Stehling has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Borga wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Borga wants to control but Stehling is having none of it.
Stehling wants to control the pace but Borga is squirming around nicely.
Stehling postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Borga looks a forlorn figure.
Stehling landing strikes, looking to finish!
Borga is in a horrible position here. Stehling smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Stehling scoring with strikes but Borga is staying in there.

Borga is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stehling postures up and throws a big right hand. BOOM! Right on the button! Borga is out cold - huge knockout for Stehling!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Mitchell Stehling!
Mitchell Stehling is the new heavyweight champion!
Mitchell Stehling seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.