PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juha Koistinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Lindel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Koistinen
vs
Lindel

192 cm
37
280 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

190 cm
37
240 lbs
23 - 22 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Juha Koistinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Lindel!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lindel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Koistinen, pushing him back against the cage.

Lindel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Oh, that's a big right hand from Koistinen and Lindel goes tumbling to the canvas! Koistinen follows him to the ground and looks to finish from half guard.

Lindel is rocked!

It looks like Mikael Lindel has been cut.
Lindel wants to get back to his feet.
Koistinen is trying to control. Lindel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Koistinen is looking to advance position but Lindel won't allow it.
Koistinen content to control rather than advance.
Koistinen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koistinen wants to control but Lindel is keeping him busy.

Koistinen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lindel pushes Koistinen off looking to stand but Koistinen dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Lindel shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lindel showed some decent athleticism there.
Koistinen is pressing down on Lindel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Koistinen is looking for a triangle here but Lindel uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Koistinen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lindel has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Koistinen!
Lindel landing strikes from the mount.
Koistinen is looking to improve his position but Lindel isn't that keen on the idea.
Koistinen is working hard here to advance position.
Lindel cracks Koistinen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Koistinen is trying to escape the mount.
Lindel controlling his opponent.
Lindel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Koistinen is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koistinen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Lindel is trying to control. Koistinen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Lindel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Koistinen is just riding it out for now. Lindel eventually gives up the hold.

Lindel is trying to work for a kimura but Koistinen is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Koistinen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Koistinen keeping full guard, as Lindel tries to pass.
Lindel engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Koistinen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Koistinen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Lindel defends well.
Koistinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lindel wants to stand but Koistinen is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lindel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koistinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Juha Koistinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mikael Lindel's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Koistinen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lindel did well to prevent Koistinen getting side control.
Lindel is looking to escape.

Koistinen seems to be looking for submissions.

Koistinen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lindel sees it coming and defends easily.
Koistinen trying to pass the guard but Lindel defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koistinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lindel keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koistinen is pressing down on Lindel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Lindel is holding on for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Lindel has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lindel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koistinen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lindel swivels and escapes.
Koistinen misses with a takedown attempt - Lindel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Lindel drives through with a takedown into guard.

Koistinen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lindel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lindel preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koistinen is trying to keep Lindel in close.

Koistinen has an active guard here but Lindel has managed to pass into half guard.
Lindel tries to pass to full mount but Koistinen defends it.
Lindel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Koistinen is looking for a sweep. Lindel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lindel passes to side control.
Koistinen gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Koistinen tries to reverse the position but Lindel maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koistinen regains half guard.
Koistinen tries to get to full guard but Lindel has control of the leg.

Lindel is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Koistinen is just riding it out for now. Lindel eventually gives up the hold.
Lindel is pressing down on Koistinen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Koistinen is holding on for now.
Koistinen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lindel wants to pass the guard but Koistinen is defending well.

Koistinen looking for submissions off his back.

Koistinen actively working from the bottom here.
Lindel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Koistinen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Koistinen manages to get to full guard.
Lindel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mikael Lindel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Koistinen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lindel gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mikael Lindel will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mikael Lindel's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Koistinen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Koistinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lindel 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.
Lindel seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Lindel is pushing down on Koistinen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Koistinen is fighting to maintain full guard but Lindel has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Koistinen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Koistinen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lindel works over Koistinen with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindel trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lindel wants to control from the top but Koistinen keeps moving.

Koistinen is looking for a triangle but Lindel pushes his legs off easily.
Lindel trying to control but Koistinen is working from the bottom.

Koistinen isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Lindel stacks Koistinen on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Lindel!
Lindel postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Koistinen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Lindel's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lindel seems to be looking for submissions.

Lindel is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Koistinen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lindel.
Lindel is trying to control. Koistinen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Koistinen looking for subs from the bottom but Lindel mounts him!
Lindel moves to take his opponent's back.

Lindel has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Koistinen has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Lindel trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koistinen is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
A lull in the action here.
Koistinen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Lindel trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Koistinen tries to hold on but Lindel pushes him away.
Koistinen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindel looking to control but Koistinen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Koistinen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lindel can't keep his opponent in guard - Koistinen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Koistinen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lindel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Koistinen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikael Lindel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lindel has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikael Lindel!
Mikael Lindel spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.