PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aleksei Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert Holopainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aleksei Ivanov had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Ivanov
vs
Holopainen

183 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksei Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Albert Holopainen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holopainen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ivanov pinned against the cage. Ivanov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ivanov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Holopainen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ivanov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Holopainen.
Holopainen being controlled against the cage.

Holopainen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ivanov wants to clinch but Holopainen slips to the side
and Holopainen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Holopainen darts in trying to clinch
and Ivanov counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Holopainen throws a right hand that Ivanov ducks under and follows up with a left that Ivanov also avoids with ease.

Holopainen moves into the clinch.

Holopainen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Holopainen.
Holopainen looks to clinch

and Ivanov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Holopainen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ivanov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holopainen wants to break free but Ivanov has control.
Holopainen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ivanov up against the cage.
Holopainen tries to break free but Ivanov pushes him back against the cage.
Holopainen misses with a knee strike.
Ivanov tries a body shot but Holopainen blocks it.

Holopainen breaks from the clinch.

Holopainen drives through and clinches with Ivanov against the cage.
Holopainen scores with a hook to the body.
Holopainen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Holopainen goes for a takedown attempt but Ivanov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Aleksei Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Holopainen.

Holopainen moves into the clinch.
Holopainen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Holopainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Ivanov won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Holopainen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ivanov takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Holopainen gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Holopainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Holopainen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Holopainen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Holopainen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Holopainen misses with a few strikes there.
Ivanov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Holopainen counters with a nice body kick.
Holopainen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Holopainen has managed to clinch.
Holopainen scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holopainen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ivanov wants to clinch

and Holopainen counters by moving into the clinch.
Ivanov takes a shot to the head.

Holopainen tightens his grip and picks Ivanov up, before dumping him to the ground. Ivanov manages to land in guard.
Holopainen wants to pass the guard but Ivanov is keeping the position.
Holopainen trying to control but Ivanov is working from the bottom.
Holopainen connects with a couple of short punches.
Holopainen trying to control but Ivanov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is trying to control the position but Holopainen postures up.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing Holopainen from controlling successfully.
Ivanov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Holopainen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ivanov closes the distance but Holopainen moves to the side

and Holopainen counters by clinching up.
Holopainen effectively controlling the action here.

Holopainen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Holopainen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ivanov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Albert Holopainen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Holopainen is looking to clinch.
Holopainen throws a head kick that half lands.
Holopainen fails to land with a series of punches.
Holopainen is looking to clinch.
Ivanov misses with a leg kick

and Holopainen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Holopainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ivanov keeps working.
Ivanov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ivanov tries to get out of the position.
Ivanov trying to control but Holopainen postures up.
Holopainen wants to take a breather but Ivanov is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Holopainen drops an elbow to the side of Ivanov's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov is refusing to be controlled, as Holopainen sits in half guard.
Holopainen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ivanov is refusing to be controlled, as Holopainen sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holopainen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ivanov swats away the attempt to clinch by Holopainen.
Ivanov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Holopainen closes the distance and clinches.
Holopainen lands a knee to the body.
Holopainen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ivanov pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen throws a head kick that misses.
Ivanov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Holopainen.
Ivanov with a poor takedown

and Holopainen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Ivanov scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Aleksei Ivanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ivanov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ivanov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Aleksei Ivanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ivanov clinches but Holopainen breaks the clinch

and Holopainen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Holopainen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ivanov has him pressed against the cage.
Ivanov wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen tries to break the clinch but Ivanov is controlling the position.
Holopainen lands a nice shot to the body.

Holopainen breaks the clinch.
Holopainen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Holopainen has Ivanov up against the cage in a clinch.
Holopainen working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Holopainen manages to break the clinch.
Holopainen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ivanov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Aleksei Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Holopainen.
Ivanov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Holopainen looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen keeping moving, preventing Ivanov from controlling successfully.
Ivanov pushes down on Holopainen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Holopainen lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Ivanov is trying to control. Holopainen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Holopainen lands a high kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Albert Holopainen 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!

Holopainen throws a combination. Ivanov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Holopainen fakes the leg kick and cracks Ivanov in the body.
Holopainen misses with a double jab.
Ivanov stuffs the takedown attempt from Holopainen. Holopainen gets slowly back to his feet.
Holopainen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ivanov's head backwards.
Holopainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ivanov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Holopainen moves into range and clinches up with Ivanov.
Holopainen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Holopainen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ivanov.
A right hand to the body from Holopainen.
Holopainen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ivanov is keeping busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Holopainen manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holopainen forces Ivanov back against the cage and clinches.
Holopainen wants to break free but Ivanov has control.
Ivanov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Holopainen pulls his leg out and moves away.

Holopainen has Ivanov up against the cage in a clinch.
Holopainen lands a body punch.
Holopainen slowing the pace effectively.

Holopainen pulls Ivanov into guard.
Ivanov trying to control but Holopainen is working from the bottom.
Ivanov preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holopainen keeping moving, preventing Ivanov from controlling successfully.
Ivanov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Holopainen is looking to stand up but Ivanov isn't so interested in that idea.

Holopainen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ivanov defends well.
Ivanov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Holopainen trying to keep a closed guard but Ivanov is proving a slippery customer.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ivanov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Holopainen.
Holopainen clinches but Ivanov breaks the clinch

and Ivanov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Holopainen looking to stall.
Holopainen tries to pull guard but Ivanov won't allow it.
Ivanov avoiding damage.
Holopainen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Holopainen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Holopainen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Aleksei Ivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Albert Holopainen.
Ivanov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Holopainen has Ivanov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ivanov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ivanov avoiding damage.
Holopainen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Holopainen tries to land knees in the clinch but Ivanov avoids the damage to the body.
Holopainen taking a breather.

Ivanov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ivanov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Holopainen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holopainen misses with a head kick.
Ivanov wants to clinch.
Aleksei Ivanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Albert Holopainen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Holopainen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Albert Holopainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Holopainen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Albert Holopainen!