PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Makke Hakala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Obrien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mike Obrien will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hakala
vs
Obrien

190 cm
27
190 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

189 cm
28
195 lbs
5 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Makke Hakala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Obrien!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Joseph Jones and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hakala shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Obrien counters with a two punch combo.
Hakala with a lazy takedown attempt
and Obrien counters with a series of strikes. Hakala will be more careful next time no doubt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hakala doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Obrien connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Makke Hakala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hakala is breathing heavily.
Hakala with a lazy takedown attempt

and Obrien counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hakala!
Obrien content just to control the position here.

Obrien looking to secure an arm triangle but Hakala defends it well.
Obrien in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obrien controlling the pace for now.
Hakala taking shots to the head.
Obrien content just to control the position here.
Obrien thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Obrien controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Obrien might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mike Obrien has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hakala misses with a takedown attempt

and Obrien counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Obrien works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Obrien trying to control but Hakala is working from the bottom.
Hakala can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Obrien controls the pace.

Obrien thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Obrien trying to control but Hakala is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obrien advances position into side control!
Hakala is not content to let Obrien control the position.
Obrien passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hakala!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Obrien content just to control the position here.
Obrien connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Obrien 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.

Obrien lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hakala takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hakala misses with a left hand

and Obrien counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Obrien thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hakala's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hakala on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Obrien trying to pass the guard but Hakala defending well.

Obrien stands up out of the half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Obrien dives in and scores a takedown into Hakala's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hakala keeping full guard, as Obrien tries to pass.
Obrien pushes down on Hakala's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obrien stalling.
Obrien thows a huge punch but Hakala dodges it nicely.

Obrien seems to be looking for submissions.
Obrien is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hakala!

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.
Obrien fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Obrien tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mike Obrien has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hakala on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hakala tries to get out of the position.
Obrien is landing with some decent strikes but Hakala is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obrien landing strikes from the mount.
Hakala is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Obrien looking to secure an arm triangle but Hakala defends it well.
Obrien connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obrien looking to control and managing it successfully.
Obrien landing strikes, looking to finish!
Obrien can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hakala is looking to escape.
Obrien tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Obrien showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hakala has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Obrien.

Obrien clinches with his opponent.

Obrien breaks the clinch.
Hakala shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Obrien counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Obrien trying to control but Hakala is working from the bottom.
Obrien showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Obrien looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obrien trying to control but Hakala is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Mike Obrien has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Obrien gets the takedown into side control.
Obrien looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hakala is avoiding damage well.

Obrien decides to stand back up.

Obrien closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Obrien lands in his opponent's guard.

Obrien decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hakala, up you get!
Makke Hakala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obrien throws a combination. Hakala tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Obrien shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Obrien trying to control the action but Hakala is working from the bottom.

Obrien escapes and gets back to his feet.

Obrien shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hakala's guard.
Obrien stopping the sweep attempt from Hakala.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obrien trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hakala keeping moving, preventing Obrien from controlling successfully.
Hakala can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Obrien controls the pace.

Obrien drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Obrien jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Obrien advances position into side control!
Obrien controlling the position.
Makke Hakala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Obrien is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Obrien comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Obrien 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 24:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 24:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Obrien!