PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marko Sinisalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Blaze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Sinisalo
vs
Blaze

185 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
176 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marko Sinisalo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Blaze!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sinisalo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
You can see the frustration on Blaze's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Sinisalo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Sinisalo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blaze is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Sinisalo is trying to get an arm triangle but Blaze is defending well.

Sinisalo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Sinisalo tries for a kimura but Blaze is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze is looking to reverse the position.
Blaze really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sinisalo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sinisalo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Blaze, who protects the arm well.
Sinisalo is looking to take a break and control but Blaze is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blaze regains half guard.
Blaze wants to get back to full guard.
Blaze is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sinisalo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sinisalo's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Sinisalo looking very determined here, making life difficult for Blaze.
Blaze throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Sinisalo tries to escape but Blaze has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
What can Sinisalo do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sinisalo wants to control his opponent's hands but Blaze gets his hands free.
Sinisalo is in bad spot here.
Sinisalo trying to control but not successfully.
Blaze is trying to stick to Sinisalo's back but Sinisalo is turning into Blaze. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Blaze's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Sinisalo.
Blaze trying to keep a closed guard but Sinisalo is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Alex Blaze.

Blaze clinches with his opponent.
Sinisalo tries for a takedown. No joy.

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.
Blaze unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Blaze lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Blaze gets underhooks to prevent Sinisalo's takedown attempt.
Blaze works on Sinisalo's body with a couple of short punches.
Sinisalo is trying to drag Blaze to the mat but Blaze just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marko Sinisalo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sinisalo is breathing heavily.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Blaze takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Sinisalo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Blaze is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Sinisalo can't fight it off and eventually Blaze manages to take the fight to the floor. Sinisalo looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marko Sinisalo will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Blaze throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Sinisalo was covering up waiting for the punch and Blaze finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Blaze trying to control the position from guard on top but Sinisalo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sinisalo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Blaze won't allow Sinisalo to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blaze wants to pass the guard but Sinisalo is keeping the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Blaze slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alex Blaze was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Blaze closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Blaze connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sinisalo's face.
Sinisalo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sinisalo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Blaze is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Blaze decides to pull guard.
Blaze wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Blaze holds on and takes a little breather.
Sinisalo won't allow Blaze to sweep him here.
Blaze trying to control the position.
Blaze is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alex Blaze wasn't active enough on the ground.

Blaze scores a takedown into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Blaze has control of Sinisalo's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Sinisalo regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sinisalo tries to lock up and control but Blaze gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sinisalo can't escape the position.
Blaze can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sinisalo is looking to escape.
Alex Blaze has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sinisalo is working to get back to half guard.
Blaze trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sinisalo is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Blaze showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Blaze moves into the clinch.
Sinisalo wants a takedown but no success here.

Blaze decides to pull guard.
Blaze keeping moving, preventing Sinisalo from controlling successfully.
Sinisalo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Blaze is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blaze keeping moving, preventing Sinisalo from controlling successfully.
Blaze trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marko Sinisalo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Blaze tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sinisalo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Blaze shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Blaze showed some decent athleticism there.
Sinisalo trying to control but Blaze postures up.
Sinisalo pushes Blaze off looking to stand but Blaze dives back in and keeps control.
Blaze keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sinisalo throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sinisalo is staying active underneath Blaze, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Blaze slows the pace down in half guard.

Alex Blaze has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Blaze gets a takedown into half guard.
Blaze tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sinisalo controls his leg.
Sinisalo is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blaze tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Blaze is looking to take a break and control but Sinisalo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sinisalo is looking to control Blaze's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sinisalo avoid being mounted?
Sinisalo has his hands clasped together around Blaze's back. He's all about the action.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Marko Sinisalo just wasn't active enough.

Blaze manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Sinisalo on his heels. He'll look to pass Sinisalo's guard now, I'm sure.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sinisalo holds on and takes a little breather.
Sinisalo wants to sweep here but Blaze controlling him for the moment.
Blaze showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Blaze wants to control from the top but Sinisalo keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Blaze comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Blaze 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Blaze!