PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Bortman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baki Hanma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Bortman
vs
Hanma

185 cm
21
215 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

190 cm
21
218 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Fast

Russian Top Team Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Bortman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Baki Hanma!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hanma on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Hanma feints and as Bortman raises his hands in defense, Hanma changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hanma throwing strikes but missing.
Hanma postures up in Bortman's guard and throws a big left but Bortman blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hanma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hanma throws a big elbow that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hanma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hanma working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hanma throws a big elbow that misses.
Hanma stands up over Bortman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hanma lands a couple of elbows.
Bortman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hanma loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hanma postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bortman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hanma trying to control but Bortman is working from the bottom.
Hanma passes Bortman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hanma seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bortman pushes Hanma off looking to stand but Hanma dives back in and keeps control.
Bortman has hold of Hanma's hands but Hanma slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hanma sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bortman defending well though.

Hanma is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bortman sees it coming and defends easily.
Hanma wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bortman keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanma throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hanma thows a huge punch but Bortman dodges it nicely.
Bortman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hanma not doing much here.
Hanma thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hanma is taking a breather. Bortman says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanma throwing shots but Bortman is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bortman knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hanma on the ground.
Bortman is refusing to be controlled, as Hanma sits in half guard.
Hanma lands with a punch from half guard.
Bortman is looking to escape.
Hanma thows a huge punch but Bortman dodges it nicely.
Hanma throwing shots but Bortman is blocking nicely.
Hanma has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Hanma is working for a submission of some sort.
Hanma looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bortman with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hanma prevents Bortman from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanma is trying to control the action in half guard but Bortman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bortman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hanma.
Hanma is just content to waste time from the top position. Bortman takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Hanma working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hanma wants to control from the top but Bortman keeps moving.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hanma stands up from Bortman's guard - Hanma perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hanma blocks a head kick by Bortman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baki Hanma 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.

Bortman throws a right and a left that Hanma avoids nicely.
Bortman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Hanma looking to score a takedown here. Bortman is defending well but Hanma drives through and ends up in Bortman's guard.
Hanma postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hanma looking to sit in guard and control but Bortman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bortman wants to stand but Hanma is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hanma wants to get back to his feet but Bortman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma wants to sweep but no luck.
Bortman wants to stand and escape but instead Hanma has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hanma trying to control the position from guard on top but Bortman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hanma stands up and waves to Bortman to follow him.
Bortman throws a shot from downtown. Hanma moves away and avoids it.
Bortman loads up on a big right hand but Hanma slips the punch.
Bortman moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Alex Bortman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bortman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bortman tries a head kick but it misses.
Hanma takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

It looks like Baki Hanma has been cut.
Bortman throws a right and a left that Hanma avoids nicely.
Bortman misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bortman misses with a double jab.
Bortman missing with a left hand there. Hanma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hanma dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hanma steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bortman.
Hanma shoots for a double leg takedown but Bortman sprawls well. He's pushed Hanma's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Hanma closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bortman quickly recovers to half guard.
Hanma not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hanma thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Hanma is trying to work for a kimura but Bortman is defending well.
Hanma stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanma throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hanma throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bortman is looking to escape.
Bortman is not content to let Hanma control the position.
Hanma sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bortman defending well though.
Hanma stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hanma prevents Bortman from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Baki Hanma will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Baki Hanma's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hanma gets a double leg takedown into Bortman's guard.
Hanma looking to pass the guard.
Bortman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hanma.
Hanma with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hanma content to stall in guard here.
Hanma throwing strikes but missing.
Hanma throwing strikes but missing.
Bortman wants to stand up but Hanma is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanma throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bortman keeping moving, preventing Hanma from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hanma working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hanma loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hanma wants to control from the top but Bortman keeps moving.
Bortman wants to stand but Hanma is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hanma missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hanma gets to his feet - Bortman follows without any prompting.
Bortman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Hanma shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bortman is trying to defend but Hanma finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hanma seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hanma is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Hanma wants to free his trapped foot but Bortman is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Hanma wants to work for an arm triangle but Bortman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hanma is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanma wants to free his trapped foot but Bortman is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Hanma is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bortman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hanma.
Hanma throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hanma throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hanma landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bortman pushes Hanma off looking to stand but Hanma dives back in and keeps control.
Bortman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hanma.
Hanma thows a huge punch but Bortman dodges it nicely.
Hanma throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hanma content to control rather than advance.
Hanma thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hanma is keen to just control but Bortman is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hanma missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hanma sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Alex Bortman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baki Hanma is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hanma scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Baki Hanma comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hanma winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Baki Hanma!