PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Odin Markkanen (ranked 53 p4p, 333 weight class) and Hin Areni (ranked 5 p4p, 33 weight class). Areni is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Mosaique. On his way into the cage it seems that Odin Markkanen has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Odin Markkanen seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Markkanen
vs
Areni

170 cm
34
150
15 - 1 - 0

169 cm
39
145
24 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Odin Markkanen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hin Areni!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Areni throws a jab when Markkanen was well out of range.
Markkanen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Areni.
Markkanen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Areni throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Areni has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A nice leg kick lands there from Areni.
Markkanen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Areni misses with a body punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Markkanen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Areni walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Markkanen throws a hook to the side of Areni's head but Areni sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Areni looks to throw the jab but Markkanen is out of range.
Markkanen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Areni stuffs the takedown.
Markkanen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Areni. Markkanen shrugs it off though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Areni has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Markkanen.
Areni bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Markkanen's head.
A clash of legs there as Markkanen blocks the low kick.

Areni has managed to clinch.
Areni struggles to land a body shot inside as Markkanen controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Areni blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Markkanen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Areni tries a body shot but Markkanen blocks it.
Areni blocks an uppercut.
Areni lands with a short shot to the head.
Markkanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Areni won't allow it.
Areni tries to work over Markkanen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Areni lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Areni tries to work over Markkanen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Areni tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Areni tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Markkanen's elbow.

Markkanen pulls Areni into guard.
Areni wants to control from the top but Markkanen keeps moving.
Areni missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Areni looking to sit in guard and control but Markkanen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markkanen 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.
Areni working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Markkanen.
Markkanen looking to sit in guard and control but Areni gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Markkanen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Areni can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areni loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Markkanen seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Areni content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Markkanen trying to control the position.

Areni got a little sloppy there for a moment and Markkanen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Areni has managed to get both his arms back between Markkanen's legs - danger averted.
Areni lands a couple of digs.
Areni throws a strike but Markkanen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Markkanen 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Areni wants to stand but Markkanen is controlling the position.
Areni keeping moving, preventing Markkanen from controlling successfully.
Markkanen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Areni wants to stand but Markkanen is controlling the position.
Markkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Areni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hin Areni dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Areni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Markkanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Areni fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Markkanen, pushing him back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Markkanen.
A short right from Markkanen.
Areni misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Markkanen pulls guard.
Areni pushing down on Markkanen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Markkanen has hold of Areni's hands but Areni slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Areni is nestled in close to Markkanen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Areni is keen to just control but Markkanen is a slippery customer.
Areni prevents Markkanen from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ground and pound from Areni.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Areni connects with a nice short shot to Markkanen's temple.
Areni working over Markkanen with some ground and pound. Markkanen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markkanen is pressing down on Areni's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Areni working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Markkanen's head.
Odin Markkanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Markkanen is trying to control the position but Areni postures up.
Areni with a nice head shot there.
Areni postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Areni in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Areni trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Areni postures up in Markkanen's guard and throws a big left but Markkanen blocks it.
Markkanen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Markkanen is pressing down on Areni's thigh, looking to free his foot. Areni is holding on for now.
Markkanen is looking to pass Areni's guard but actually Areni recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markkanen stops Areni from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Markkanen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Markkanen wants to control from the top but Areni keeps moving.
Areni wants to stand up but Markkanen is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areni fakes the leg kick and cracks Markkanen in the body.
Areni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Markkanen.
Markkanen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Areni defends it nicely.
Areni takes a swing at Markkanen's ribcage but misses.
Markkanen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Areni wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sloppy strikes from Markkanen. Those never looked like landing.
Markkanen throws a solid leg kick but Areni takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Markkanen.
Markkanen avoids the body shot from Areni.
Markkanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Markkanen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Areni throws the kick towards the body but Markkanen avoids it.
Markkanen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Markkanen misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Areni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Markkanen moves out of range as Areni throws a body kick.
Markkanen throwing a counter right hand but Areni manages to avoid it.
Markkanen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Areni misses with an uppercut
and Areni takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Areni throws a leg kick but Markkanen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Markkanen avoids the body shot from Areni.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Markkanen misses with a straight right.
Areni counters with a body kick.
Areni throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Areni throws a wild body kick that Markkanen sees coming a mile off.
Areni misses with an uppercut.
Areni lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hin Areni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice uppercut there from Markkanen.
Hin Areni seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Areni misses with a straight right.
Areni moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Areni goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Areni misses the shot to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Markkanen. That's going to slow Areni down.
Areni scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Markkanen doesn't seem bothered though.
Markkanen slips a straight right by Areni.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hin Areni will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Areni connects with an inside leg kick.
Areni waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Markkanen.
Areni checks a leg kick.
Markkanen slips a jab from Areni.
Areni misses the jab.
Areni misses with a low kick.
Markkanen throws a counter high kick but Areni was just alert enough to avoid it.
Markkanen throws an overhand right that lands on Areni's shoulder, as Areni tries to avoid the shot.
Areni darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Areni gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Areni takes a swing at Markkanen's ribcage but misses.
Areni chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Markkanen can pounce on him.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A combination from Markkanen does no damage.
Markkanen misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markkanen lands a body shot.
Markkanen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Areni. Areni circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Markkanen throws a jab when Areni was well out of range.
Areni takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Areni throws a hook but Markkanen avoids it easily.

Markkanen gets tackled into the cage by Areni. Areni maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Areni lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Markkanen backwards.

Markkanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Markkanen takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Markkanen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Areni stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Areni looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Areni lands a high kick!
Areni misses with a low kick.
Markkanen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Areni.
Areni misses with a hook.
Markkanen thows a leg kick but Areni checks it

and Areni decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Markkanen's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Areni postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Areni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Markkanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Markkanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Areni.
Markkanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Areni postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Areni trying to control but Markkanen is working from the bottom.
Markkanen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Areni manages to get himself to full guard.

Markkanen throwing strikes from guard but Areni blocks nicely.
Markkanen wants to control from the top but Areni keeps moving.
Areni wants to stand and escape but Markkanen is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markkanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Areni is looking to stand up but Markkanen isn't so interested in that idea.
Markkanen throws a strike but Areni rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Markkanen has momentary wrist control but Areni slips an elbow through the middle.
Areni trying to control but Markkanen is working from the bottom.
Markkanen controls Areni momentarily but Areni frees himself.
Areni wants to control from the top but Markkanen keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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.
Markkanen wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A decent looking cross lands there for Areni.

Areni fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Markkanen, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right from Areni.
Areni lands a nice uppercut.
Markkanen misses with a body punch.
Markkanen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Areni is leaning against Markkanen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Areni lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Areni tries a body shot but Markkanen blocks it.
Markkanen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A short right from Markkanen.
Areni misses with a body punch.
Areni swings wildly with an uppercut but Markkanen uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Hin Areni really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A jab from Markkanen does it's job there.
Areni scores with a nice strike.
Markkanen digs a good body shot into Areni's ribs.
Both fighters circling a little - Areni finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Areni is looking to score with low kicks.
Areni scores with a body shot.
Areni misses the shot to the body.
Areni misses with an attempted mid kick.
Markkanen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Areni momentarily.
Areni throws a nice outside leg kick.
Markkanen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Areni.
A nice leg kick from Markkanen, right into the meat of the thigh.
A shot to the liver by Areni. Beautiful body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Areni throws a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circling - Areni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Markkanen tries to counter with a takedown but Areni is quick to defend against it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Markkanen.
Areni lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markkanen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Areni.
Markkanen throws a lazy right hand but Areni sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Markkanen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Markkanen attempts a counter takedown but Areni avoids it well and moves away.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Areni.
Areni thuds his right hand into Markkanen's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Areni misses the body punch

and Markkanen counters with a single leg into guard. Areni didn't expect that.
Markkanen stops Areni from standing up.
Markkanen throws a big right hand that misses.
Areni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Markkanen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Areni is looking to stand up but Markkanen isn't so interested in that idea.
Areni keeping moving, preventing Markkanen from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markkanen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Areni's head.
Markkanen is looking to advance position but Areni has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Areni looking to control but Markkanen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Markkanen is looking to improve his position but Areni isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Areni raining down shots from the mount!
Areni cracks Markkanen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Markkanen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Areni breaks from Markkanen's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Areni scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Markkanen?
Markkanen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Areni putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Areni pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Markkanen is rocked!
Areni postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Markkanen looks a forlorn figure.
Oh Markkanen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Areni unloads with some shots from mount but Markkanen bucks and avoids them well.
Markkanen seems to have got his legs back now.
Areni lands a nice shot to the head.
Areni dominating with strikes here.
Areni raining down hammerfists from mount.
Markkanen is trying desperately to improve position.
Areni lands a big shot to the head and Markkanen winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Hin Areni!
Hin Areni is the new featherweight champion!
Hin Areni took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Urban Fighter for their support in the buildup to the fight.