PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gregor Wilhelm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Vanhala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Vanhala's choice of entrance music: Bad Religion - Generator. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wilhelm
vs
Vanhala

180 cm
24
190 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
186 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gregor Wilhelm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Vanhala!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilhelm throws a body punch but Vanhala moves out of range.
Gregor Wilhelm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vanhala uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wilhelm.
Wilhelm thows a body shot but no joy.
Wilhelm slips under a jab from Vanhala.
Vanhala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wilhelm was well out of range. Poor timing from Vanhala.
A jab from Wilhelm does it's job there.

It looks like Ari Vanhala has been cut.
Vanhala connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Wilhelm ducks under a wild hook from Vanhala.
Vanhala lands with a nice body punch.
Vanhala throws a shot from downtown. Wilhelm moves away and avoids it.
Wilhelm throws out a loose jab but Vanhala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vanhala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vanhala fails with a takedown attempt.
Wilhelm misses with a straight left.
Vanhala on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wilhelm throws a wild body kick that Vanhala sees coming a mile off.
Wilhelm scores with the left hand. Vanhala knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vanhala fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wilhelm sprawls well initially but Vanhala persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Vanhala throwing shots but Wilhelm is blocking nicely.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Vanhala in particular looking to stall.
Vanhala is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Wilhelm!
Vanhala is trying to control here but Wilhelm has managed to regain half guard.
Wilhelm is looking for a sweep. Vanhala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Wilhelm on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Vanhala seems to be working for a kimura but Wilhelm defends the submission attempt.
Vanhala stops Wilhelm from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vanhala misses with a head shot. Wilhelm uses the momentum to regain guard.
Wilhelm is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wilhelm keeping full guard, as Vanhala tries to pass.
Vanhala wants to control from the top but Wilhelm keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vanhala staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm throws a head kick but Vanhala moves out of range.
A slow jab from Vanhala misses its intended target.
Wilhelm keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Vanhala looks to land a left hand but Wilhelm moved out of range nicely.
Vanhala moves out of range of the body kick from Wilhelm.
Gregor Wilhelm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vanhala shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wilhelm but Wilhelm pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vanhala staying out of range there.
Wilhelm jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Vanhala takes a swing at Wilhelm's ribcage but misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Vanhala as he connects with a hook.
Wilhelm misses with a straight right.
Wilhelm swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wilhelm scores with a jab to the head.
Vanhala scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanhala throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vanhala fails with a takedown attempt.
Gregor Wilhelm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ari Vanhala.
Vanhala fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Wilhelm drops Vanhala with a beautiful combination! Vanhala stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Wilhelm is looking for the KO!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wilhelm walks into a left hand.
Wilhelm fakes a right and follows up with a big left that drops Vanhala to one knee - oooooh, he's wobbly! Vanhala looks to clinch but Wilhelm throws him off and pummels him into the canvas! Vanhala taps out under the strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Gregor Wilhelm!