PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Robert Sethliko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarja Halonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tarja Halonen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sethliko
vs
Halonen

182 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Sethliko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tarja Halonen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sethliko fails with the takedown.
Halonen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Halonen stuffs the takedown.
Halonen scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Robert Sethliko has been cut.
Sethliko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Halonen counters with a shoot takedown. Sethliko fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Robert Sethliko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sethliko keeping full guard, as Halonen tries to pass.
Halonen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Halonen trying to control but Sethliko is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Halonen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sethliko's guard.
Sethliko being controlled here, momentarily.
Halonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halonen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Halonen tries to free his leg and advance position but Sethliko is retaining full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tarja Halonen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Halonen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Sethliko quickly recovers to half guard.
Halonen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Halonen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halonen wants to pass to mount but Sethliko is defending the position.
Still in half guard, Halonen seems content to control.

Tarja Halonen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Halonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sethliko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Halonen shoots for a double leg takedown but Sethliko sprawls well. He's pushed Halonen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Halonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Halonen moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sethliko has worked his arm free - good work by Sethliko!

Halonen goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sethliko rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Halonen's guard! Nice work there by Sethliko!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sethliko trying to control but Halonen is working from the bottom.

Halonen working for submissions but it's allowed Sethliko to get to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sethliko trying to control the action but Halonen is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarja Halonen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robert Sethliko's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Halonen tries to clinch up.
Halonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Sethliko throws a leg kick but Halonen checks it.
Halonen fails with the takedown.
Halonen shoots for a double leg takedown but Sethliko sprawls well. He's pushed Halonen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Robert Sethliko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarja Halonen.
Halonen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sethliko sprawls well. Sethliko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Halonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Sethliko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sethliko tries to clinch but Halonen moves out of range.
Halonen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Halonen wants it to stay on the feet.
Sethliko misses with a takedown

and Halonen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sethliko keeping moving, preventing Halonen from controlling successfully.
Sethliko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Halonen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tarja Halonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Halonen tries to free his leg and advance position but Sethliko is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tarja Halonen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Halonen misses with a body shot.
Sethliko shoots in for a takedown but Halonen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sethliko doesn't manage to clinch there - Halonen circles away.
Nice straight punches there by Halonen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Halonen.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Halonen tries to clinch but Sethliko moves away
and Sethliko counters with an outside leg kick.
Halonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Halonen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Halonen wants it to stay on the feet.
Halonen is looking to clinch but Sethliko is avoiding it.

Halonen feints and as Sethliko raises his hands in defense, Halonen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sethliko keeping moving, preventing Halonen from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tarja Halonen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Halonen throws a shot to the body.
Robert Sethliko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Halonen dives in and grabs Sethliko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sethliko pushes down on Halonen's head and hops out.
Halonen looks to land a body kick but Sethliko moved away.
Halonen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Halonen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Halonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Halonen blocks a head kick by Sethliko.
Sethliko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halonen tries to clinch but Sethliko is having none of it.
Halonen misses with a low kick.
Halonen throws a sloppy head kick and Sethliko moves out of range easily.
Sethliko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sethliko doesn't manage to clinch there - Halonen circles away.
A jab lands there for Halonen.

Halonen shoots in and gets a takedown into Sethliko's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Halonen throws a big elbow that misses.
Halonen wants to control from the top but Sethliko keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarja Halonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Robert Sethliko's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Halonen throws the kick towards the body but Sethliko avoids it.

Halonen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sethliko manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Sethliko has a closed guard, preventing Halonen from standing up.
Halonen with a flurry of punches that miss.

Sethliko is looking for a triangle but Halonen pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Halonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Sethliko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tarja Halonen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sethliko tries to clinch up but Halonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Halonen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sethliko but Sethliko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Halonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Sethliko misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halonen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Sethliko's guard.
Halonen wants to get up but he can't break Sethliko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Tarja Halonen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Halonen has a takedown stuffed.
Robert Sethliko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tarja Halonen.

Sethliko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Halonen wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halonen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Halonen trying to keep a closed guard but Sethliko is proving a slippery customer.

Sethliko drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sethliko jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Halonen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sethliko manages to get himself to full guard.
Halonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sethliko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Tarja Halonen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sethliko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tarja Halonen seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Halonen feints and as Sethliko raises his hands in defense, Halonen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Halonen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sethliko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Halonen is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Tarja Halonen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No joy there for Halonen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tarja Halonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Halonen 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tarja Halonen!