PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roger Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hussein Stahl (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.

Nelson
vs
Stahl

210 cm
27
300 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

208 cm
26
323 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roger Nelson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hussein Stahl!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stahl moves away from the strike by Nelson.

Stahl moves into the clinch successfully.

Stahl pulls Nelson into guard.
Stahl not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stahl wants to sweep here but Nelson controlling him for the moment.
Stahl controls Nelson momentarily but Nelson frees himself.
Nelson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stahl's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stahl trying to hold on to Nelson's head to control him but Nelson postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nelson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Stahl actively working from the bottom here.
Nelson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stahl won't allow Nelson to pass to mount.
Nelson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Nelson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nelson trying to control from Stahl's half guard. Stahl has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Stahl controlling the position.

Stahl looking for a guillotine here but Nelson defends easily.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Stahl is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Stahl wants to sweep here but Nelson controlling him for the moment.
Nelson advances position into side control!
Nelson working the ground and pound.
Stahl gets back to half guard.
Stahl is trying to maintain the position but Nelson is very close to passing his half guard.
Stahl is not content to let Nelson control the position.
Stahl trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stahl is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Nelson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Stahl looking for submissions off his back.
Stahl is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

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

Nelson is working for a submission of some sort.
Stahl slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
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 Roger Nelson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stahl shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nelson's guard.
Stahl is looking to work some ground and pound but Nelson has wrist control.

Nelson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stahl postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nelson is looking for a triangle but Stahl pushes his legs off easily.

Nelson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stahl showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stahl forces his way into half guard.

Nelson is defending against the submission attempts here by Stahl.
Nelson is looking for a sweep. Stahl is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stahl is thwarting Nelson's attempts to control the position.

Stahl is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nelson tries to get to full guard but Stahl has control of the leg.
Hussein Stahl has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nelson is pressing down on Stahl's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stahl trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.
Stahl trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Stahl trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

Nelson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stahl preventing the sweep.

Nelson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Nelson working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nelson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Stahl keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nelson.

Stahl gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nelson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Nelson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nelson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stahl drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Stahl gets control of Nelson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stahl will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Stahl is pulling down on Nelson's head. It's preventing any offense from Nelson, at least for the moment.

Nelson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Stahl dives on top into guard.

Stahl in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Stahl trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.

Nelson is looking for a triangle but Stahl pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hussein Stahl showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Stahl moves out of range of the strikes.
Nelson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nelson misses with a lunging right hand

and Stahl counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Nelson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stahl passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nelson looking for a sweep but Stahl has passed into full mount! Oh no!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nelson is squirming around, avoiding Stahl's attempts to control the action.

Stahl swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hussein Stahl!
Hussein Stahl is the new super heavyweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Hussein Stahl thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.