PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Costner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Markus Lindblom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Markus Lindblom enters the cage!

Costner
vs
Lindblom

180 cm
19
170 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
27
177 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kevin Costner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Markus Lindblom!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costner lands a nice looking body shot.
Lindblom fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Costner looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Lindblom clinches up with Costner and pushes him back against the cage.
Costner's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Costner goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lindblom dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Costner takes an elbow to the temple.
Lindblom tries to work over Costner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lindblom misses with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costner blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lindblom keeps control of Costner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Costner is trying to break free.
Lindblom doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lindblom struggles to land a body shot inside as Costner controls his hands.
Costner blocks a body shot from Lindblom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costner is trying to force a seperation but Lindblom has the dominant position.
Lindblom misses with a knee to the head.
Lindblom misses with some punches.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lindblom.
Costner misses with an elbow strike.
Costner blocks an uppercut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Costner - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Lindblom just misses with a elbow thrown towards Costner's brow.
A frustrated look appears on Costner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Costner using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lindblom has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Costner misses with an elbow over the top.
A head punch on the inside from Lindblom fails to land.
Lindblom doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lindblom fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lindblom wants to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Costner content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Lindblom can't find room to land a body shot as Costner controls the action.
Lindblom lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Costner backwards.
Lindblom misses with a punch to the body.
Lindblom manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Lindblom slowing the pace effectively.
Costner throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Lindblom taking a breather.
Costner managing to block the knees to the body from Lindblom.
Costner is trying to push Lindblom away but Lindblom has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lindblom struggles to land a body shot inside as Costner controls his hands.
Lindblom landing knees to the body.
Lindblom throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindblom pressing his opponent against the cage.
Costner is trying to force a seperation but Lindblom has the dominant position.
Lindblom leaning his opponent against the cage.
Lindblom has Costner pressed against the cage, preventing Costner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Costner is trying to break the clinch but Lindblom has him pressed against the cage.
Lindblom misses with a hook from the clinch.
Costner tries to break the clinch but Lindblom is controlling the position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lindblom.
Costner blocks an uppercut.
Costner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lindblom with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindblom has Costner pressed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Lindblom.
Lindblom pushes off an throws an elbow but Costner leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lindblom taking a breather.
Knees in the clinch landing for Lindblom.
Lindblom looking to stall.
Costner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Costner takes an elbow to the forehead.
Lindblom is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Costner is keeping busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lindblom wants to stall.
Costner can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Lindblom dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lindblom takes one to the chin there.
A big right from Lindblom misses.

Lindblom has managed to clinch.
Lindblom tries to land knees in the clinch but Costner avoids the damage to the body.
Lindblom trying to stall but Costner improves his position.
Lindblom has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lindblom wants to stall.
Lindblom lands an elbow inside.
Lindblom on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Costner.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costner is trying to force a seperation but Lindblom has the dominant position.
Costner is trying to break the clinch but Lindblom is controlling him.
Costner taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Costner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Markus Lindblom seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Costner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lindblom tries to clinch there but Costner circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costner uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lindblom.
Costner is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lindblom.

Lindblom clinches.
Costner stalling in the clinch.
Lindblom working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Costner working hard to break the clinch.
Costner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Costner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Lindblom lands an elbow just above Costner 's eye.
Lindblom misses with the head strike.
Lindblom tries to land knees in the clinch but Costner avoids the damage to the body.
Lindblom misses with a punch on the inside.
Costner is looking to break free of the clinch but Lindblom has double underhooks.
Lindblom misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Lindblom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindblom swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lindblom blocks a body shot from Costner.
Costner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lindblom throws a punch but it's blocked by Costner.
Costner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lindblom has him pressed against the cage.
Costner letting Lindblom take a breather here.
Lindblom lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Costner is trying to push Lindblom away but Lindblom has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lindblom prevents Costner from breaking the clinch.
Lindblom is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Costner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Costner as Lindblom tries to tie him up.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Costner.
Lindblom misses with a hook from the clinch.
Costner tries to stall but Lindblom uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Costner dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Lindblom keeps control of Costner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Costner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lindblom misses with a knee to the head.
Lindblom wants to stall.
Costner blocking some punches.
Lindblom prevents Costner from breaking the clinch.
Lindblom tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Lindblom keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Costner's efforts to push away.
Costner managing to block the knees to the body from Lindblom.

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.
Lindblom using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Costner has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lindblom's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Lindblom misses with a hook from the clinch.
Costner is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Costner can't break the clinch.
Costner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lindblom tries to land a knee to the head but Costner blocks with his arms.
Costner is trying to push Lindblom away but Lindblom has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lindblom lands with a left to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lindblom looking to slow down the pace here.
Lindblom prevents Costner from breaking the clinch.
Lindblom blocks a body shot from Costner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Lindblom showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The fighters circle momentarily. Costner darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Costner fails to land with a series of punches.
Costner lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Costner moves out of range of the strikes.
Lindblom wants to clinch up but Costner keeps it at a distance.
Costner is looking for a counter combo.

Costner gets tackled into the cage by Lindblom. Lindblom maintains the clinch.
Lindblom tries to work over Costner's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lindblom can't find room to land a body shot as Costner controls the action.
Costner wants to break the clinch but can't.

Costner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lindblom is looking to clinch.
Lindblom takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Costner gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lindblom.

Lindblom rushes Costner and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Costner.
Lindblom throws a punch but it's blocked by Costner.
Lindblom works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A shot in the inside from Lindblom.
Costner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Lindblom lands an uppercut.
Lindblom is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Lindblom fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lindblom letting Costner take a breather here.
Lindblom keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Costner's efforts to push away.
Lindblom lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindblom misses with the head strike.
Lindblom misses with a hook to the ribs.
Costner looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Lindblom lands an elbow inside that Costner shrugs off.
Costner has had enough of the clinch but Lindblom keeps him there for the moment.
Costner wants to break free but Lindblom has control.
Lindblom lands a left hand.
Lindblom misses with the head strike.
Come on Lindblom - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Costner displaying some good clinch control by pressing Lindblom up against the cage.
Costner seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Costner being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Costner.
Lindblom tries to throw a body punch but Costner avoids it by throwing Lindblom back against the cage.
Lindblom lands a good knee to the midsection. Costner won't want to take too many of those.
Lindblom keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Costner's efforts to push away.
Lindblom tries a body shot but Costner blocks it.
Lindblom swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short uppercut from Lindblom.
Costner is trying to force a seperation but Lindblom has the dominant position.
Lindblom pushes Costner back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lindblom lands with a left to the head.
Costner trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Costner tries to circle away but Lindblom has him pinned against the cage.
Lindblom taking a breather.
The referee is keeping an eye on Lindblom - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Lindblom with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Costner tries to circle away but Lindblom has him pinned against the cage.
Lindblom controlling the action here for a moment.
Costner has had enough of the clinch but Lindblom keeps him there for the moment.
Lindblom slowing the pace effectively.
Lindblom managing to block the knees to the body from Costner.
Kevin Costner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Markus Lindblom is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Costner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lindblom has him pressed against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markus Lindblom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lindblom 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Markus Lindblom!