PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hallis Mollen (ranked 560 p4p, 1114 weight class) and Trond Asmundsen (ranked 92 p4p, 179 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Mollen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Rise Against - Like the Angel. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mollen
vs
Asmundsen

194 cm
33
195
13 - 4 - 1

188 cm
31
190
19 - 15 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Voodoo Nutrition

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 13 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hallis Mollen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Trond Asmundsen!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Sam Margolis and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asmundsen looks to throw the jab but Mollen is out of range.
Mollen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Asmundsen avoids the body shot from Mollen.
Mollen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mollen was well out of range. Poor timing from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen misses with a hook. Mollen ducked under it nicely.
Asmundsen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Asmundsen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mollen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Asmundsen.
Mollen throws an overhand right that lands on Asmundsen's shoulder, as Asmundsen tries to avoid the shot.
Asmundsen misses with the body kick

and Mollen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Asmundsen's guard.

Mollen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mollen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Asmundsen.
Mollen ducks under a wild hook from Asmundsen.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mollen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Asmundsen tests Mollen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mollen tries to score with a low kick but Asmundsen moves his leg out of the way.
A lazy body kick from Asmundsen

and Mollen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Asmundsen!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mollen working away.
Asmundsen is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Mollen is staying active.
Asmundsen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Mollen stands up.
Asmundsen scores with a body shot.
Mollen slips under a jab from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen with a nice calf kick.
Mollen slips a straight right by Asmundsen.
Some wild striking there from Asmundsen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen walks into a straight right hand from Mollen.

It looks like Trond Asmundsen has been cut.
Asmundsen throws a hook to the side of Mollen's head but Mollen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mollen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Mollen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mollen misses with an uppercut
and Asmundsen counters with a nice uppercut.
Asmundsen lunges at Mollen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Mollen's hand.
Asmundsen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mollen manages to avoid it.
Mollen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Asmundsen fails with the takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fighters circling - Mollen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Asmundsen throws out a counter right but Mollen avoids it with no problem.
Asmundsen ducks under a wild hook from Mollen.
Mollen throws a looping overhand right but Asmundsen ducks down to avoid it.
A slow jab from Asmundsen misses its intended target.
Mollen avoids the body shot from Asmundsen.
Mollen ducks under a wild hook from Asmundsen.
Mollen quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mollen ducks under a wild hook from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Asmundsen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mollen.
Mollen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Mollen throws a sloppy head kick and Asmundsen moves out of range easily.
Asmundsen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Mollen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Asmundsen lands a glancing blow to the side of Mollen's head.
Mollen ducks under a wild hook from Asmundsen.
Mollen throwing a counter right hand but Asmundsen manages to avoid it.
Asmundsen throws an off balance right hand
and Mollen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mollen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Mollen misses with an uppercut. Asmundsen saw that one coming.
Asmundsen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Asmundsen throws a head kick that misses.
Asmundsen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mollen on the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Asmundsen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mollen is looking to counter punch.
Asmundsen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Asmundsen checks a leg kick.
Mollen scores with a nice strike.
Asmundsen throws a right hand that misses
and Mollen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Asmundsen blocks a jab.
Mollen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Asmundsen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
It looked like Mollen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Asmundsen misses with a lunging right hand
and Mollen counters with a low kick, right behind Asmundsen 's knee.
Asmundsen throws a right hand that misses
and Mollen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Asmundsen is rocked!
A punch combination from Asmundsen misses.
Mollen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Mollen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mollen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Asmundsen.
Mollen tries to counter with a takedown but Asmundsen is quick to defend against it.
Mollen is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Asmundsen looks to throw the jab but Mollen is out of range.
Mollen throws a shot from downtown. Asmundsen moves away and avoids it.
Mollen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Hallis Mollen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Trond Asmundsen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Asmundsen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Asmundsen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Asmundsen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Asmundsen misses with a body shot.
Mollen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Nice defenses there by Asmundsen.
Mollen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Asmundsen was well out of range. Poor timing from Mollen.
Asmundsen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mollen fires out a quick counter leg kick but Asmundsen just manages to avoid it.
Mollen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Asmundsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Asmundsen.
Asmundsen just misses with a punch to the body.
Mollen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mollen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Asmundsen.
Trond Asmundsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asmundsen staying out of range there.
A telegraphed right hand from Mollen misses the target.
Mollen throws a hook to the side of Asmundsen's head but Asmundsen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Asmundsen scores with a shot to the body.
Mollen throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Asmundsen's head.
Mollen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Asmundsen.
Mollen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mollen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mollen defending well as Asmundsen loads up on a big left hand.
Asmundsen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mollen throws a shot from downtown. Asmundsen moves away and avoids it.
Mollen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Mollen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Asmundsen connects with a right hand. Mollen shakes it off.
Mollen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mollen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Asmundsen.
Asmundsen with the counter takedown but Mollen avoids it easily.
Asmundsen misses the jab.
Mollen is looking to counter punch.
Asmundsen throws a hook but Mollen blocks it.
Mollen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Asmundsen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mollen fails to land with a series of punches.
Mollen throws a hook but Asmundsen avoids it easily.
Mollen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mollen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Asmundsen scores with a jab. Mollen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Mollen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Asmundsen connects with a body shot.
Mollen misses with a straight left.
Mollen moves out of range of the strikes.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Asmundsen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mollen doesn't seem bothered though.
Asmundsen cracks a nice hook into Mollen's ribs.
Asmundsen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Mollen takes one on the button.
Mollen stuffs the takedown.
Trond Asmundsen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Asmundsen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Asmundsen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mollen slips under a jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Mollen misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mollen cracks Asmundsen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Asmundsen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mollen was well out of range. Poor timing from Asmundsen.
Asmundsen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mollen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mollen throws a lazy right hand but Asmundsen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mollen misses with an uppercut. Asmundsen saw that one coming.
A left lands for Mollen.
Mollen jabs at Asmundsen's body.
Asmundsen lands with an overhand left.
Asmundsen misses with a jab to the body
and Mollen counters with a straight right hand.
Mollen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Asmundsen lands with a straight right. Mollen didn't see that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Mollen. Those never looked like landing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Asmundsen lands with an uppercut that bounces Mollen off the cage and back into range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Asmundsen.
Mollen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Asmundsen is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asmundsen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Asmundsen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mollen lands a nice shot that snaps Asmundsen's head back.
Mollen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A slow jab from Mollen misses its intended target.
Mollen slips under a jab from Asmundsen.

Mollen clinches up against the cage.
Asmundsen misses with a punch on the inside.
Asmundsen throws a head punch that misses.
Still in the clinch, Mollen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Asmundsen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Nice elbow from Mollen.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mollen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Asmundsen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Mollen backwards.
Mollen misses with a hook from the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Asmundsen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hallis Mollen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Trond Asmundsen's cut.
That's time! Mollen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A big right from Mollen misses.
A big right from Asmundsen misses.
Asmundsen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mollen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Asmundsen.
Mollen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Asmundsen.
Mollen throws a jab but it's blocked by Asmundsen.
Mollen throws a looping overhand right but Asmundsen ducks down to avoid it.
Mollen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Mollen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Asmundsen.
Mollen moves out of range of the strikes.
Asmundsen takes a swing at Mollen's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mollen connects with a right hand. Asmundsen shakes it off.
Mollen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Asmundsen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Asmundsen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Mollen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mollen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Asmundsen.
Mollen thumps Asmundsen with a low kick.
Asmundsen lands a right hook to the body.
Asmundsen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Asmundsen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Asmundsen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mollen missing with a left hand there. Asmundsen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Good shot there by Asmundsen.
Asmundsen tries to land a front kick but Mollen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Asmundsen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jab from Asmundsen.
Mollen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Asmundsen avoids the body shot from Mollen.
Asmundsen feints the counter takedown.
Asmundsen looks to land a combination but Mollen avoids it well.
Asmundsen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mollen moves away.
Hallis Mollen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mollen throws a low kick but Asmundsen moves out of range easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mollen attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Asmundsen swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Mollen counters with a takedown into side control.
Asmundsen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Mollen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Asmundsen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Mollen off and has taken his back!
Asmundsen has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Mollen.
Asmundsen throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Mollen is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Asmundsen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Asmundsen is striking from the back but Mollen escapes and manages to recover to half guard.
Trond Asmundsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mollen is staying active underneath Asmundsen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mollen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Asmundsen throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Mollen to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mollen wants to get back to his feet but Asmundsen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Asmundsen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mollen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Asmundsen has Mollen in his guard.

Asmundsen controls Mollen momentarily but Mollen frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Asmundsen working a defensive guard but Mollen passes into half guard.

Asmundsen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Asmundsen wants to get back to full guard.
Mollen wants to stand up but Asmundsen has a hold of him and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hallis Mollen.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mollen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hallis Mollen!
Hallis Mollen decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.