PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hazan Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Vihervuori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juhani Vihervuori told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Ali
vs
Vihervuori

183 cm
30
183 lbs
29 - 11 - 0

179 cm
25
184 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Hardcore Nutrition
CEC Nutrition Q160 & Loans

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 29 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Hazan Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Vihervuori!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vihervuori avoids the body shot from Ali.
Ali looks to land a left hand but Vihervuori moved out of range nicely.
Vihervuori with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vihervuori stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Vihervuori tries to clinch but Ali is having none of it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Vihervuori. That's going to slow Ali down.
Vihervuori is looking to clinch but Ali is avoiding it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Vihervuori. That's going to slow Ali down.
Ali scores with a jab. Vihervuori acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Vihervuori motions for Ali to come forward. Vihervuori throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Vihervuori wants to clinch.
Vihervuori shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ali as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihervuori throws a leg kick but Ali sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Vihervuori throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ali looks to land a right hand but Vihervuori moved out of range.
Vihervuori doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ali connects with a body shot.
Ali circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ali pushes Vihervuori away with a front kick.
Vihervuori throws a nice looking combination but Ali bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vihervuori scores with a one two! Ali had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Ali wants to slow Vihervuori down by chopping away at his legs.
Ali tries a low kick but Vihervuori avoids it.
Ali swings for the body but Vihervuori moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Vihervuori misses its intended target.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vihervuori was well out of range. Poor timing from Ali.
Ali thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vihervuori lands a body shot.
Vihervuori takes a swing at Ali's ribcage but misses.
Ali throws a lazy body kick
and Vihervuori counters with a stiff right hand.
An inside leg kick lands from Vihervuori.
Vihervuori lands a head shot.
Vihervuori is looking to clinch.
Ali tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ali!
Ali throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Vihervuori on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vihervuori takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ali checks a leg kick.
Ali pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ali uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vihervuori.
Ali lands a front kick.
Vihervuori throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vihervuori checks a low kick from Ali.
Ali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vihervuori was well out of range. Poor timing from Ali.
Ali looks to throw the jab but Vihervuori is out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Vihervuori as Ali shoots in.
Vihervuori cracks Ali with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ali takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Vihervuori or perhaps it was just good defense by Ali which made him look bad.
Ali misses with a body kick.
Ali dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vihervuori checks the leg kick.
Vihervuori tries to clinch but Ali is having none of it.
Ali has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Vihervuori.
Ali is looking to wear down Vihervuori with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A telegraphed right hand from Vihervuori misses the target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vihervuori lands a nice shot to the body.
Vihervuori shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Vihervuori lands a head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juhani Vihervuori will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ali lands a nice looking kick to the body. Vihervuori takes a step back to recover.
Vihervuori slips a straight right by Ali.
Vihervuori shoots in for a double leg but Ali sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ali keeps Vihervuori at a distance using the push kick.
Vihervuori on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ali. Ali obviously looking to wear him down.
Vihervuori wants to land a leg kick but Ali is out of range.
Vihervuori on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ali.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Vihervuori crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ali - the referee stops the clock and Vihervuori gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ali. Vihervuori manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Vihervuori is breathing heavily.
Ali throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ali shoots in for a double leg but Vihervuori sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali checks a leg kick.
Vihervuori tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vihervuori wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Vihervuori blocks a leg kick.
Ali slips under a jab from Vihervuori.
Ali works Vihervuori's body with a nice hook.
Vihervuori moves out of range of the leg kick from Ali.
Ali fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Vihervuori.
Juhani Vihervuori seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ali shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Vihervuori takes a swing at Ali's ribcage but misses.
Vihervuori looks to land a combination but Ali avoids it well.
Vihervuori fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Ali looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Vihervuori does no damage.
Ali misses with a straight left.
Ali circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ali ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vihervuori moves away.
Vihervuori misses with a double jab.
Vihervuori fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Vihervuori misses with a wild body shot.
Vihervuori digs a good hook to Ali's body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jab from Ali.
Vihervuori swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vihervuori cracks Ali with a good jab.
Hazan Ali is winning the standup battle so far.
Ali walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Vihervuori checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Ali. Those never looked like landing.
Ali on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vihervuori. Vihervuori obviously looking to wear him down.
Vihervuori throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vihervuori looks to score with a jab to the body but Ali is just out of range.
Ali swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ali scores with a leg kick.
Ali takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vihervuori walks into a jab.
Ali throws a nice outside leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vihervuori. Ali does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ali swings for the body but Vihervuori moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vihervuori connects with an inside leg kick.
Ali buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Vihervuori throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vihervuori throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ali stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vihervuori avoids the body shot from Ali.
Vihervuori with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ali connects with a solid leg kick.
Vihervuori tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ali swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ali fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Vihervuori.
Vihervuori misses the shot to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ali.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hazan Ali dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Vihervuori throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vihervuori has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Ali.
Vihervuori looks for a takedown but Ali sprawls well.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vihervuori. Ali does a little dance to reset his feet.
Vihervuori throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ali counters with a nice kick to the body.
Both fighters circling a little - Ali finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ali keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ali lands a lovely overhand right.
Vihervuori looks to score with a jab to the body but Ali is just out of range.
Vihervuori's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vihervuori takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vihervuori throws a jab when Ali was well out of range.
Ali keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihervuori misses with a wild body shot.
Good shot there by Ali.
Ali feints and then cracks Vihervuori's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Vihervuori down.
Vihervuori fails with an attempt to clinch.

Ali fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Vihervuori to the ground. Ali is now in Vihervuori's guard.
Ali is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ali slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ali trying to control the position from guard on top but Vihervuori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vihervuori controls Ali momentarily but Ali frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali slips nicely into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vihervuori is staying active underneath Ali, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ali content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ali's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Vihervuori is trying to stand.
Vihervuori wants to get back to full guard.
Vihervuori won't allow Ali to pass to mount.
Ali moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali controls the position.
Ali is trying to move to mount but Vihervuori reverses beautifully and ends up in Ali's guard.
Vihervuori stopping the sweep attempt from Ali.
Vihervuori trying to control the position from guard on top but Ali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ali looking to control.
Ali keeping moving, preventing Vihervuori from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ali is on top in guard.
Ali wants to control from the top but Vihervuori keeps moving.
Vihervuori is trying to control the position but Ali postures up.
Ali stopping the sweep attempt from Vihervuori.
Ali pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vihervuori is keeping the position for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vihervuori looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ali passes into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hazan Ali showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ali has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hazan Ali!
Hazan Ali seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.