PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Halen (ranked 7544 p4p, 723 weight class) and Asko Asinen (ranked 4073 p4p, 536 weight class). Vlad Halen had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Halen
vs
Asinen

197 cm
29
222 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

188 cm
23
213 lbs
6 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vlad Halen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Asko Asinen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halen throws a head kick that misses.
Asinen swings for the body but Halen moves out of range.
Halen throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Asinen to counter with a crisp jab.

Halen gets caught flat footed, as Asinen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Halen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Asinen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Halen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Asinen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Asinen controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halen has momentary wrist control but Asinen slips an elbow through the middle.
Asinen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Asinen stays in close to Halen's body and controls the position.
Asinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Asinen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Asinen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Halen keeping moving, preventing Asinen from controlling successfully.
Halen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Asinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Halen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Asinen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Asinen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Asinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Halen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asinen stays in close to Halen's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Halen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Asinen steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Vlad Halen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Asinen lands with an uppercut that bounces Halen off the cage and back into range.
Asinen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Halen is rocked!

Asinen throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Halen tumbling to the canvas!
Oh Halen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asinen stands up over Halen, holding on to his feet. Asinen throws the legs to one side and dives in with a huge shot that lands flush on the chin! Halen is out cold! Asinen lands a couple more shots and the ref tackles him out of the way! What a brutal finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Asko Asinen!
During a confident post fight interview, Asko Asinen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.