PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ric Borden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joakim Akterhall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Borden
vs
Akterhall

175 cm
19
161 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ric Borden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joakim Akterhall!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borden tries to clinch but Akterhall moves away
and Akterhall counters with an inside leg kick.
Akterhall has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Borden is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Borden gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Akterhall takes a knee to the side of the body.
Borden misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Akterhall.
Akterhall is trying to break the clinch but Borden has him pressed against the cage.
Akterhall wants to break free but Borden has control.
Borden with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Borden throws a punch but it's blocked by Akterhall.
Borden is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Akterhall is defending well for now.
Borden misses with a knee strike.
Borden with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Borden misses with a knee to the head.
Borden with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Akterhall misses with a body punch.
Akterhall avoiding damage as Borden throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borden misses with a knee to the head.

Akterhall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Borden closes the distance and clinches.
Borden utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Akterhall working hard to break the clinch.
Borden trying to land knees to the body.
Akterhall looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Akterhall takes a knee right on the jaw!
Borden with a knee to the head.
Borden is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Akterhall working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akterhall is trying to break the clinch but Borden is controlling him.
Come on Borden - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Borden connects with a knee to the head.
Borden using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akterhall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Akterhall breaks the clinch.
Akterhall throws a low kick but Borden avoids it.
We've been told by Borden's head coaches at NGT's Elite Facility that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Akterhall rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Borden moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Borden looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Borden moves into range and clinches up with Akterhall.
Borden landing knees to the head.
Borden tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borden with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Borden tries to land a knee to the head but Akterhall blocks with his arms.
Borden prevents Akterhall from breaking the clinch.
Borden working aggressively here.
Borden has Akterhall pressed against the cage.
Akterhall can't break the clinch.
Akterhall wants to break free but Borden has control.
A knee to the head by Borden.
Akterhall is trying to force a seperation but Borden has the dominant position.
Akterhall wants to break free but Borden has control.
Borden tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Borden using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akterhall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Borden keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Akterhall's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borden will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Akterhall up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Borden.
Akterhall wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Akterhall tries to circle away but Borden has him pinned against the cage.
Borden keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Akterhall's efforts to push away.
Borden connects with a nasty looking knee right to Akterhall's face.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Akterhall is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ric Borden dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Akterhall circles away from the clinch attempt
and Akterhall counters with a slapping leg kick.
No joy there for Akterhall, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Akterhall connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Borden moves in looking to clinch but Akterhall pushes him off.
Borden checks a leg kick.
Borden wants to clinch.
Akterhall throws a head kick but Borden moves out of range.
Akterhall lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Borden misses with a body kick.
Joakim Akterhall is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Borden rushes Akterhall and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Borden using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akterhall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Borden takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Borden looking to throw knees to the head but Akterhall is blocking nicely.
Akterhall can't break the clinch.
Akterhall takes a knee to the side of the body.
Borden swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Borden with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Borden fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Akterhall is trying to force a seperation but Borden has the dominant position.
Borden with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ric Borden has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Borden misses with a short punch on the inside.
Borden using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akterhall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Akterhall is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borden throws a knee to the head but misses.
Akterhall has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Akterhall doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Borden stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Borden throws a punch but it's blocked by Akterhall.
Akterhall wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Borden misses with some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akterhall can't find room to land a body shot as Borden controls the action.
Borden working aggressively here.
Borden looking to throw knees to the head but Akterhall is blocking nicely.
Akterhall takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borden swings wildly with an uppercut but Akterhall uses good head movement to avoid it.

Akterhall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Akterhall pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Borden moves in looking to clinch but Akterhall pushes him off.
Borden misses with a two punch combination.

Akterhall gets tackled into the cage by Borden. Borden maintains the clinch.
Borden landing knees to the body.
Borden scores with a knee to the head.

Akterhall pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Borden tries to clinch up but Akterhall circles away and keeps his distance.
Borden misses with an attempted mid kick.
Akterhall pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borden fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akterhall finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Akterhall.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Akterhall in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Nice shot by Akterhall.
Akterhall looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Borden looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Borden lands with a slapping head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Borden tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Borden fails with an attempt to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akterhall turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Akterhall circles away from the clinch attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Akterhall wants to get back to striking at distance but Borden won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ric Borden dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Akterhall swats away the attempt to clinch by Borden.
Borden tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Akterhall counters with a left and a right that stings Borden.

Borden clinches.
Akterhall is trying to break the clinch but Borden is controlling him.
Akterhall tries to break the clinch but Borden is controlling the position.
Borden misses with some punches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Borden tries a knee to the head but Akterhall blocks it.
Akterhall wants to break the clinch but can't.
Borden landing knees to the body.
Borden looking to throw knees to the head but Akterhall is blocking nicely.
Borden using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akterhall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Borden tries a knee to the head but Akterhall blocks it.
Borden throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Akterhall blocks it with crossed arms.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borden throws a knee to the head but misses.
Borden lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Akterhall backwards.
Borden prevents Akterhall from breaking the clinch.
Borden tries to land a knee to the head but Akterhall blocks with his arms.
Borden lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Borden using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akterhall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Borden misses with a knee to the head.
Borden throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Akterhall blocks it with crossed arms.
Borden with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Borden using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Akterhall has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Borden leaning his opponent against the cage.
Borden throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Akterhall blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borden misses with a knee to the head.
Borden looking to stall.
Borden scores with a knee to the head.
Borden swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Borden throws a knee to the head but misses.
Borden tries to land a knee to the head but Akterhall blocks with his arms.
Akterhall blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Borden.
Akterhall wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Borden has Akterhall pressed against the cage, preventing Akterhall from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Akterhall working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borden misses with a knee to the head.
Akterhall has a couple of punches blocked by Borden.
Borden has Akterhall pressed against the cage, preventing Akterhall from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Borden misses with a knee strike.
Borden misses with a knee strike.
Borden with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Borden prevents a body shot from Akterhall.
Akterhall has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Borden throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Akterhall blocks it with crossed arms.
Akterhall is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Borden.
Akterhall wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Borden has him pressed against the cage.
Borden misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borden tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Borden tries to land a knee to the head but Akterhall blocks with his arms.
Akterhall being controlled against the cage.
Borden misses with a hook from the clinch.
Akterhall wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Borden has him pressed against the cage.
Akterhall is trying to break the clinch but Borden is controlling him.
Akterhall wants to break the clinch but can't.
Borden looking to throw knees to the head but Akterhall is blocking nicely.
Joakim Akterhall has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Borden takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Akterhall takes a knee right on the jaw!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ric Borden showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Borden has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ric Borden!