PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Sundqvist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert Holopainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Albert Holopainen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sundqvist
vs
Holopainen

188 cm
19
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Sundqvist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albert Holopainen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sundqvist shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Holopainen trying to control the position.
Sundqvist pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holopainen is keeping the position for now.
Sundqvist trying to control the position from guard on top but Holopainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sundqvist tries to free his leg and advance position but Holopainen is retaining full guard.
Sundqvist trying to control the position from guard on top but Holopainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Holopainen tries to clinch there but Sundqvist circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sundqvist misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sundqvist tries to clinch up
and Holopainen counters with a nice body shot.
Holopainen tries to clinch but Sundqvist is having none of it.
Sundqvist is looking to clinch.
Sundqvist tries to clinch up but Holopainen circles away and keeps his distance.
Sundqvist gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Holopainen counters with a head kick. That will keep Sundqvist thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Sundqvist closes the distance but Holopainen moves to the side

and Holopainen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Holopainen.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Holopainen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sundqvist's brow.
Sundqvist is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holopainen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Holopainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Sundqvist won't allow it.
Holopainen can't break the clinch.
Sundqvist goes for a takedown in the clinch but Holopainen prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikael Sundqvist. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Holopainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Holopainen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sundqvist just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sundqvist tries for a takedown but Holopainen manages to get underhooks.
Holopainen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sundqvist is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holopainen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sundqvist is breathing heavily.

Sundqvist breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sundqvist swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Sundqvist has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sundqvist is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holopainen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Sundqvist turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Holopainen is trying to control Sundqvist's posture but Sundqvist avoids it.
Sundqvist moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
You can see the frustration on Holopainen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sundqvist lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Sundqvist in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Holopainen is looking for a sweep.
Holopainen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sundqvist. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
You can see the frustration on Holopainen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sundqvist is looking to score with low kicks.
Sundqvist fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Holopainen on the side of the head.
Holopainen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Sundqvist has taken the fight to the clinch.
Holopainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Sundqvist breaks the clinch.
Holopainen tries to clinch but Sundqvist is having none of it.
Sundqvist shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holopainen as he avoids it easily.
Sundqvist shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holopainen as he avoids it easily.
Sundqvist showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Holopainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sundqvist tries to close the distance and clinch up but Holopainen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sundqvist circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sundqvist closes the distance looking to clinch

and Holopainen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sundqvist tries for a takedown. No joy.

Holopainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sundqvist attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Holopainen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sundqvist counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sundqvist is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holopainen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Holopainen tries to land knees in the clinch but Sundqvist avoids the damage to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Holopainen throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sundqvist.
Sundqvist looking for a takedown.
Sundqvist is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Holopainen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Holopainen gets underhooks to prevent Sundqvist's takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Holopainen is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Sundqvist dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Holopainen is looking to clinch but Sundqvist is avoiding it.
Sundqvist misses with a leg kick

and Holopainen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Holopainen.
Holopainen tries to free his leg and advance position but Sundqvist is retaining full guard.
Holopainen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Sundqvist wants to sweep but no luck.
Holopainen trying to control but Sundqvist is working from the bottom.
Holopainen stays in close to Sundqvist's body and controls the position.
Holopainen thows a big elbow that misses.
Sundqvist working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holopainen's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Holopainen has managed to clinch.
Sundqvist goes for a takedown in the clinch but Holopainen prevents it.
Sundqvist is trying to drag Holopainen to the mat but Holopainen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sundqvist tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikael Sundqvist. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Holopainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Holopainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Sundqvist has double underhooks.
Holopainen has had enough of the clinch but Sundqvist keeps him there for the moment.
Holopainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sundqvist has him pressed against the cage.
Holopainen struggles to land a body shot inside as Sundqvist controls his hands.
Holopainen wants to break free but Sundqvist has control.
Sundqvist lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sundqvist stalling the fight.
Holopainen can't break the clinch.
Holopainen fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen trying to control the position but instead, Sundqvist has worked for underhooks and has pushed Holopainen into the cage.
Sundqvist gets underhooks to prevent Holopainen's takedown attempt.
Sundqvist lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Holopainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Sundqvist has double underhooks.
Holopainen is trying to drag Sundqvist to the mat but Sundqvist just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Sundqvist has hold of one of Holopainen's legs. Holopainen is fighting the takedown attempt but Sundqvist gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Sundqvist controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sundqvist scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sundqvist controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Sundqvist stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Holopainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sundqvist controlling from the top position.

Sundqvist gets to his feet - Holopainen follows without any prompting.
Sundqvist uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Sundqvist slips under a jab from Holopainen.
Mikael Sundqvist is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Holopainen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sundqvist controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sundqvist stands and throws Holopainen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Sundqvist is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Sundqvist lands a few punches from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Holopainen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Sundqvist dominated that second round.
That's time! Sundqvist's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Holopainen keeps the fight on the outside.
Holopainen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sundqvist swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Holopainen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sundqvist throws a left and a right that both miss

and Holopainen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Holopainen.
Sundqvist is pressed up against the cage. Holopainen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sundqvist down to the mat. Sundqvist avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sundqvist tries to clinch
and Holopainen counters with a head kick.

Sundqvist looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Holopainen!
Sundqvist scoring with strikes but Holopainen is staying in there.
Sundqvist looking to finish Holopainen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Holopainen!
Sundqvist cracks Holopainen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sundqvist landing punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sundqvist controlling from mount.
Sundqvist postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Holopainen looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sundqvist takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Sundqvist wants to finish this one by submission but Holopainen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Sundqvist.
A nice elbow there by Sundqvist.
Sundqvist postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Holopainen looks a forlorn figure.
Holopainen squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sundqvist tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Sundqvist working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Sundqvist has isolated one of Holopainen's arms. Holopainen looking to fight him off but Sundqvist twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mikael Sundqvist!