PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aj Benn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julle Hallava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benn comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica-master of puppets. Hallava is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Kotiteollisuus - Iankaikkinen. Julle Hallava will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Benn
vs
Hallava

190 cm
27
216 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
212 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Good chin

Dangerous GnP
Great elbows
Granite chin

Sinister Nutrition

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Aj Benn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Julle Hallava!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Albert Achterberg and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hallava gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Benn being controlled here momentarily.
Benn wants to stand but Hallava is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hallava looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hallava seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Benn trying to control the position from guard on top but Hallava is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

We're going to have a standup here because Aj Benn wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Benn swats away the attempt to clinch by Hallava.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benn shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hallava wants to get back to full guard.

Hallava is defending against the submission attempts here by Benn.

Benn is working for a submission of some sort.

Benn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hallava is looking for a sweep. Benn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benn is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hallava is just riding it out for now. Benn eventually gives up the hold.
Hallava is controlling Benn's trapped leg to prevent Benn from advancing to side control.
Benn trying to control from half guard but Hallava is working away.
Hallava trying to control here.
Benn seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hallava does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallava wants to improve his position but Benn is controlling well.
Benn is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Benn drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hallava looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hallava looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hallava!
Hallava working the head with strikes.
Benn is not content to let Hallava control the position.
Hallava is working Benn over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hallava working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hallava is looking to take a break and control but Benn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benn struggling a bit here.
Hallava wants to control but Benn is keeping him busy.
Benn is trying to control Hallava's posture but Hallava avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hallava in side control lands a decent elbow.
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 Aj Benn will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hallava has Benn up against the cage in a clinch.
Benn wants a takedown.
Benn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hallava is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Benn tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aj Benn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hallava lands a shoulder strike.
Hallava can't find room to land a body shot as Benn controls the action.
A short left from Hallava.
Hallava misses with the head strike.
Hallava lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Aj Benn has been cut.
A head punch on the inside from Hallava fails to land.
Benn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benn tries to break the clinch but Hallava is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hallava goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benn has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hallava after a bit of a struggle.
Hallava swings wildly with an uppercut but Benn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hallava misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benn dodges an elbow strike from Hallava.
Hallava tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benn's elbow.
Hallava prevents the takedown attempt.
Benn avoids a wild elbow strike from Hallava.
Benn can't get the takedown.
Hallava tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hallava gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benn working aggressively here.
Benn managing to block the knees to the body from Hallava.
Hallava goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hallava prevents the takedown attempt.
Benn prevents a body shot from Hallava.
Hallava digs a right hand into Benn's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Benn's gas tank.
Benn avoids a wild elbow strike from Hallava.
Hallava misses with a body punch.
Benn dodges an elbow strike from Hallava.
Hallava throws a punch but it's blocked by Benn.
Hallava throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A short right from Hallava.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hallava.
Hallava lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hallava tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Benn avoids it.
Hallava tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hallava tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benn's elbow.
Hallava using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hallava misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hallava creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Benn dodges an elbow strike from Hallava.
A hook to the body from Hallava.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Hallava fails to land.
Benn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hallava gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Benn blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hallava misses with an elbow over the top.

Benn works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hallava manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Benn manages to get himself to full guard.
Benn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benn being controlled here, momentarily.

Benn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hallava doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hallava manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julle Hallava showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aj Benn's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hallava avoids the head kick by Benn.
Hallava stuffs the takedown.
Hallava tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aj Benn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hallava's waist but Hallava gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benn off to one side.
Benn takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hallava throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benn dives in and grabs Hallava's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hallava pushes down on Benn's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aj Benn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hallava throws a head kick but Benn moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benn.
Benn lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hallava circles away quickly and effectively.
Hallava throws a series of punches but Benn avoids them all with ease.
Hallava throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benn throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hallava connects with a good right hand that stumbles Benn. Benn circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Benn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hallava blocks a head kick by Benn.
Benn shoots for a takedown but Hallava saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Benn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hallava tries a head kick but it misses.
Hallava keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Benn shoots in looking for a takedown but Hallava manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benn's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hallava.
Benn throws a head kick that misses
and Hallava counters with a straight right hand.
Aj Benn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Benn checks a leg kick.
Hallava throws a head kick that misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benn.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hallava ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benn moves away.
Hallava lands with an uppercut that bounces Benn off the cage and back into range.
Hallava looks to throw the jab but Benn is out of range.
Hallava scores with a hook.
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!
Benn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hallava but Hallava pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Julle Hallava is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benn.
Hallava bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Benn's head.
Hallava throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Julle Hallava seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benn closes the distance and clinches up with Hallava, looking for a takedown. Benn pushes Hallava against the cage but Hallava circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Benn shoots in for a takedown but Hallava shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Benn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hallava sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Benn somewhat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hallava scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Hallava moves out of range of the strikes.
Hallava throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Benn digs a good body shot into Hallava's ribs.
Hallava looks to land a right hand but Benn moved out of range.

Hallava has managed to clinch.
Benn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Benn wants a takedown.
Hallava misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benn blocks an elbow strike from Hallava.
Hallava swings wildly with an uppercut but Benn uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hallava.

Aj Benn's cut is getting worse.
Hallava creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Benn's defenses.
A short right from Hallava.
A short right from Hallava.
Benn takes a shot to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hallava tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benn has Hallava pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hallava manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hallava gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hallava lands an elbow just above Benn 's eye.
Benn avoids a wild elbow strike from Hallava.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julle Hallava comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hallava has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julle Hallava!
A relieved looking Julle Hallava thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.