PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Helio Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pasi Rantala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Ali
vs
Rantala

185 cm
26
194 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

195 cm
27
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Good low kicks
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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Helio Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pasi Rantala!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rantala misses with a wild body shot.
Rantala shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ali eats them both and turns towards Rantala to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

It looks like Helio Ali has been cut.
Ali blocks a head kick by Rantala.
Rantala wants to clinch up but Ali keeps it at a distance.
Rantala is looking to clinch.
Ali defending well as Rantala loads up on a big left hand.
Rantala tries to clinch but Ali moves out of range.
Pasi Rantala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rantala punishes Ali's body with a nice straight punch.
Ali swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
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!
Ali moves out of range of the body kick.
Rantala wants to clinch.
Rantala listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali shoots in for a double leg but Rantala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rantala lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Rantala listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rantala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rantala lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Helio Ali's cut is getting worse.
Rantala scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
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!
Rantala connects with an inside leg kick.
Rantala uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Ali is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rantala drops Ali with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Ali looks back up at him and smiles so Rantala waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Oh Ali is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Rantala clinches.
Ali seems to have got his legs back now.

Rantala breaks from the clinch.
Rantala has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Rantala clinches up against the cage.
Ali has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Rantala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rantala throws a series of punches but Ali moves out of range.
Ali fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ali looks to land a combination but Rantala avoids it well.
Ali throws a right and a left that Rantala avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rantala tries to clinch up.
Rantala moves in looking to clinch but Ali pushes him off.
Rantala lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Helio Ali's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

Rantala rushes Ali and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rantala breaks from the clinch.
Rantala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rantala scores with a hook.

Jeez, Helio Ali's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Ali misses with a series of wild punches.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rantala wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rantala throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rantala lands a slapping body shot.
Ali changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rantala tries to avoid it but Ali manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rantala to the ground. Rantala escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rantala lands a nice looking body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rantala throws a head kick but Ali moves out of range.
Rantala lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Helio Ali's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Pasi Rantala!