PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Albert Holopainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregor Wilhelm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Albert Holopainen had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Gregor Wilhelm has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Holopainen
vs
Wilhelm

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albert Holopainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gregor Wilhelm!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Wilhelm.
Holopainen looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Wilhelm scores with a jab to the head.
Holopainen checks a leg kick.
Holopainen tries to clinch there but Wilhelm circles away.
Holopainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wilhelm misses with a low kick.
Holopainen tries to clinch there but Wilhelm circles away.
Wilhelm with a jab.
Wilhelm connects with a right hand. Holopainen shakes it off.
Wilhelm fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wilhelm bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Holopainen's head.
Holopainen wants to clinch.
Wilhelm cracks Holopainen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Wilhelm takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holopainen blocks a head kick by Wilhelm.

Wilhelm has taken the fight to the clinch.
Holopainen looking for a takedown.
A nice left hand lands by Wilhelm.
Holopainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Wilhelm has double underhooks.

Holopainen manages to break the clinch.
Wilhelm staying out of range there.
Wilhelm connects with a crisp jab.
Holopainen avoids a kick to the body.
Wilhelm connects with a good right hand that stumbles Holopainen. Holopainen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Wilhelm avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Holopainen wants to clinch.
Holopainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Wilhelm cracks Holopainen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gregor Wilhelm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm with a hook.
Wilhelm throws a nice looking combination but Holopainen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wilhelm misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wilhelm tries to land a front kick but Holopainen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Holopainen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wilhelm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wilhelm lands an overhand right.
Wilhelm scores with a jab to the head.
Wilhelm lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jab by Wilhelm.
Wilhelm connects with a crisp jab.
Holopainen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Wilhelm scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Holopainen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Holopainen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Wilhelm has managed to clinch.
Holopainen keeps control of Wilhelm as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wilhelm stalling.
Wilhelm lands a right hand that snaps the head of Holopainen backwards.
Wilhelm tries to break the clinch but Holopainen is controlling the position.
Holopainen keeps control of Wilhelm as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wilhelm is trying to break free.
Holopainen prevents Wilhelm from breaking the clinch.
Wilhelm is looking to break free of the clinch but Holopainen has double underhooks.
Wilhelm is trying to break the clinch but Holopainen has him pressed against the cage.
Wilhelm changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Holopainen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Wilhelm goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm connects with a jab.
Wilhelm moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Holopainen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wilhelm lands with a nice body punch.
Holopainen throws a sloppy body shot
and Wilhelm connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wilhelm throws a sloppy head kick and Holopainen moves out of range easily.
Wilhelm swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Holopainen.
Holopainen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Holopainen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wilhelm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wilhelm fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wilhelm connects with a crisp jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregor Wilhelm dominated that 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.

Wilhelm throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Wilhelm tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Holopainen tries to clinch there but Wilhelm circles away.
Holopainen tries to close the distance and clinch but Wilhelm swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wilhelm lands with an uppercut that bounces Holopainen off the cage and back into rage.
Holopainen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Wilhelm counters with a stiff right hand.

Wilhelm closes the distance and clinches.
Wilhelm wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wilhelm pushes Holopainen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Wilhelm wants to get back to striking at distance but Holopainen won't allow it.
Holopainen keeps control of Wilhelm as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wilhelm wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Holopainen has him pressed against the cage.
A short left from Wilhelm.
Holopainen prevents Wilhelm from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holopainen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Holopainen prevents Wilhelm from breaking the clinch.
Wilhelm can't break the clinch.
Wilhelm tries to break the clinch but Holopainen is controlling the position.
Wilhelm scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Wilhelm works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Wilhelm.
Wilhelm lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Holopainen backwards.
Wilhelm wants a takedown.
Wilhelm keeps control of Holopainen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Wilhelm gets through Holopainen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Wilhelm is looking to break free of the clinch but Holopainen has double underhooks.
Wilhelm wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Wilhelm tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Holopainen just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Wilhelm is stalling here.
Wilhelm wants to break the clinch but can't.
Wilhelm goes for a takedown attempt but Holopainen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Albert Holopainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gregor Wilhelm.
Wilhelm is looking to chop away at Holopainen's legs.
Wilhelm connects with a crisp jab.
Wilhelm takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Wilhelm sizes up Holopainen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Good shot there by Wilhelm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wilhelm goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Wilhelm getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Holopainen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Holopainen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Wilhelm connects with the punch.
Holopainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wilhelm paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wilhelm throws a leg kick but Holopainen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Wilhelm throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wilhelm scores with a hook.
Wilhelm throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Wilhelm cracks Holopainen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wilhelm tries a head kick but it misses.
Wilhelm is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Wilhelm cracks Holopainen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wilhelm pivots, looking for a leg kick but Holopainen is out of range and Wilhelm settles back down.
Wilhelm connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Danga de danga de dang - Wilhelm scores with a four punch combination!
Holopainen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wilhelm cracks Holopainen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Wilhelm throws a wild body kick that Holopainen sees coming a mile off.
Wilhelm lands a lovely overhand right.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holopainen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wilhelm lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Holopainen circles away quickly and effectively.
Good standup being displayed there by Wilhelm as he connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregor Wilhelm showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

A head kick misses from Wilhelm.
Wilhelm cracks Holopainen with a good jab.
Wilhelm is looking to clinch but Holopainen is avoiding it.
Wilhelm lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Holopainen at a distance.
Holopainen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Wilhelm throws a leg kick but Holopainen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Holopainen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Wilhelm.
Wilhelm moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Holopainen misses the body punch
and Wilhelm counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilhelm scores with the left hand. Holopainen knows he should have avoided that one.
Wilhelm cracks a nice hook into Holopainen's ribs.
Gregor Wilhelm seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wilhelm tries to clinch up but Holopainen circles away and keeps his distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wilhelm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilhelm closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Wilhelm stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Holopainen.

Wilhelm tries to keep at a distance but Holopainen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wilhelm is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holopainen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Holopainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Wilhelm.
Wilhelm lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Wilhelm.
Wilhelm connects with a single shot there.
Wilhelm looks to throw the jab but Holopainen is out of range.

Holopainen moves into range and clinches up with Wilhelm.
Wilhelm wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen is trying to stall.
Wilhelm is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Wilhelm is looking to break free of the clinch but Holopainen has double underhooks.
Wilhelm wants to get back to striking at distance but Holopainen won't allow it.
Wilhelm wants to break free but Holopainen has control.
Wilhelm is trying to break the clinch but Holopainen has him pressed against the cage.
Holopainen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wilhelm wants to break the clinch but can't.
Wilhelm lands with a left to the head.
Wilhelm wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wilhelm lands a body punch in the clinch.

Holopainen breaks the clinch.
Wilhelm scores with a jab. Holopainen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm fails to land with a series of punches.
Wilhelm throws a head kick that misses.
Wilhelm looks to clinch

and Holopainen counters with a takedown into side control.

Holopainen decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Holopainen moves out of range as Wilhelm strikes.
Wilhelm throws a sloppy head kick and Holopainen moves out of range easily.
Wilhelm will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Holopainen rushes Wilhelm and presses him up against the cage.
Wilhelm is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Holopainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Holopainen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wilhelm jabs Holopainen right on the nose. Holopainen blinks but takes it well.
Holopainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gregor Wilhelm is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holopainen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Wilhelm looks to clinch

and Holopainen counters by clinching up.
Wilhelm wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Wilhelm wants to get back to striking at distance but Holopainen won't allow it.
Holopainen trying to stall but Wilhelm improves his position.
Wilhelm wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Albert Holopainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wilhelm has had enough of the clinch but Holopainen keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Albert Holopainen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wilhelm 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregor Wilhelm!