PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Saxton Hale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pera Vihtahousu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vihtahousu has chosen Konevitsan Kirkonkellot as his entrance music. Saxton Hale has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hale
vs
Vihtahousu

183 cm
24
192 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

166 cm
28
190 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Saxton Hale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Pera Vihtahousu!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hale thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hale slips under a jab.
Hale tries to clinch up but Vihtahousu circles away and keeps his distance.
Hale stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Vihtahousu looks to throw the jab but Hale is out of range.
Vihtahousu throws a series of punches but Hale avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hale rushes Vihtahousu and presses him up against the cage.
Hale misses with a body punch.
Hale tries to work over Vihtahousu's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihtahousu tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hale just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hale misses with a punch to the body.
Hale misses with a body punch.
Vihtahousu fails to pull guard.
Vihtahousu jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hale walks away with a smile on his face. Vihtahousu gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Saxton Hale has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pera Vihtahousu.
Hale moves out of range of the strikes.
Hale slips a jab from Vihtahousu.
The fighters circling - Vihtahousu throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A punch combination from Vihtahousu misses.

That's two 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.

Vihtahousu closes the distance and clinches.
Hale softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hale lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Vihtahousu backwards.
Hale misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vihtahousu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hale gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hale misses with some punches.
Vihtahousu wants to break free but Hale has control.
Hale goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vihtahousu wants to break free but Hale has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vihtahousu gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Nice body punch from Hale - that landed with a thud.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vihtahousu.
A head punch on the inside from Hale fails to land.

Vihtahousu breaks the clinch.
Vihtahousu throws out a loose jab but Hale uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vihtahousu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hale defends it nicely.
Hale throws a good cross that connects.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vihtahousu throws a right and a left that Hale avoids nicely.
Vihtahousu slaps away a takedown attempt from Hale, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vihtahousu tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hale is able to avoid easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Saxton Hale dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hale bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Hale takes the fight into the clinch.
Hale misses with the head strike.
Hale prevents Vihtahousu from breaking the clinch.
Vihtahousu is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Vihtahousu lands a shot to the body.
Vihtahousu stops a takedown attempt from Hale.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vihtahousu prevents a body shot from Hale.
Hale misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vihtahousu tries to throw a body punch but Hale avoids it by throwing Vihtahousu back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihtahousu lands a shot to the body.

Vihtahousu drags the fight down to the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vihtahousu is on top in guard.
Vihtahousu trying to move into half guard but instead Hale has managed to sweep!

Vihtahousu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Vihtahousu tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Vihtahousu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hale doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hale manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hale keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vihtahousu's head.
Vihtahousu is trying to control the position but Hale postures up.

Vihtahousu working for a triangle but Hale defends it easily.
Vihtahousu tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vihtahousu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hale working some strikes from top position.
Hale will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hale's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hale postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vihtahousu lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hale!

Vihtahousu has hold of Hale's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hale manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vihtahousu lands a big elbow.
Hale stops Vihtahousu from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Vihtahousu landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vihtahousu goes for an armbar but Hale turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hale.

Vihtahousu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Vihtahousu looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Hale is defending well. Vihtahousu quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Hale has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Vihtahousu celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Pera Vihtahousu!