PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Lindel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ana Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ali is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Apinamies. 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.

Lindel
vs
Ali

190 cm
22
240 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
250 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

xXx - Voodoo Labs - 159+ Energy - $45

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Lindel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ana Ali!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lindel shoots and misses
and Ali counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ali. Lindel does a little dance to reset his feet.

Lindel closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ali's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Lindel throws a big right hand that misses.
Ali preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lindel wanted to stand there but Ali had control of the position.
Lindel controlling from the top position.
Ali working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lindel.
Lindel throws and elbow that misses. Ali uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lindel's guard. Nice move by Ali!
Lindel has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindel pulls Ali in close to prevent any damage.
Ali won't allow Lindel to get back to his feet.
Lindel is adopting a defensive guard.
Lindel throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindel has control of Ali's left arm, preventing Ali from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mikael Lindel just wasn't active enough.
Lindel shoots in for a takedown but Ali shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lindel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ali makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikael Lindel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lindel doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ali counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lindel tries for a takedown but Ali circles away easily
and Ali counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lindel fails with the takedown
and Ali counters with a left to the body.
Lindel is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lindel changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ali tries to avoid it but Lindel manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ali to the ground. Ali escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Lindel has his takedown stuffed
and Ali makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lindel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ali makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lindel misses with a takedown
and Ali counters with a left to the body.
Mikael Lindel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lindel tries for a takedown but Ali circles away easily
and Ali counters with a left to the body.
Lindel with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ali counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ali takes a swing at Lindel's ribcage but misses.
Lindel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ali counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ali swings for the body but Lindel moves out of range.
Lindel dives in and grabs Ali's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ali pushes down on Lindel's head and hops out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ali tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lindel was well out of range. Poor timing from Ali.
Lindel tries for a takedown but Ali circles away easily
and Ali counters with a left to the body.
Ali ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lindel moves away.
Lindel shoots for a takedown but Ali saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lindel shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ali counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ali takes a swing at Lindel's ribcage but misses.
Lindel has his takedown stuffed
and Ali makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ali. Lindel does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ali just misses with a punch to the body.
Lindel fails with the takedown
and Ali counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ana Ali dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ali fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lindel manages to avoid it.
Lindel has his takedown stuffed
and Ali counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Lindel fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Lindel fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikael Lindel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lindel shoots and misses
and Ali counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ali misses the shot to the body.
Ana Ali seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lindel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Lindel looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ali trying to control here.
Lindel is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ali won't allow Lindel to pass to mount.

Lindel is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lindel connects with a nice short shot to Ali's temple.
Ali gets full guard.
Lindel throws and elbow that misses. Ali uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lindel's guard. Nice move by Ali!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lindel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lindel trying to control the position.
Ali trying to control the position from guard on top but Lindel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ali slips nicely into half guard.
Ali seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lindel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali prevents Lindel from improving his position.
Ali trying to control the action but Lindel is working from the bottom.
Lindel has his hands clasped together around Ali's back. He's all about the action.
Lindel throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lindel trying to hold on to Ali's head to control him but Ali postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ali misses the shot to the body.
Lindel shoots in for a takedown but Ali shows good takedown defense.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lindel.
Lindel fails with the takedown
and Ali counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lindel thinking.
Lindel fails with a takedown attempt.
Ali stuffs the takedown attempt from Lindel. Lindel gets slowly back to his feet.
Ana Ali is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lindel with a poor takedown
and Ali counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ali throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ana Ali will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lindel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ali makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lindel.
Ali keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikael Lindel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ali misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lindel.
Lindel shoots and misses
and Ali makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lindel misses with a takedown attempt
and Ali counters with a right hand to the body.
Lindel avoids the body shot from Ali.
Lindel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ali throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Lindel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Lindel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindel avoids the attempt from Ali to control.
Lindel looking to finish with strikes here!
Ali tries to lock up and control but Lindel gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lindel cracks Ali with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ali is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lindel throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Ali is bucking up trying to escape but Lindel cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Mikael Lindel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lindel fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Poor strikes thrown by Lindel there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lindel unloads with some shots from mount but Ali bucks and avoids them well.
Lindel raining down hammerfists from mount.
Lindel punishing his opponent with strikes.
Lindel in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lindel looking to ground and pound but Ali is blocking nicely.
Ali is desperately trying to improve his position but Lindel has a good base and remains in mount.

Lindel is controlling this nicely and is looking to make no mistakes. Ali is trying to wiggle out of this horrible position. Ali flips to his side and attempts to get a leg in for half guard. Lindel anticipates the leg and manages to get behind Ali and secures both hooks! This could be bad! Lindel slips an arm under Ali chin and tries to position for a rear naked choke. Lindel has worked the choke in now and it looks tight. Lindel is squeezing on Ali like an anaconda would it's prey. Ali fails to tap and has fallen unconscious! We've got ourselves a winner by way of a rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mikael Lindel!
Mikael Lindel retains his heavyweight title!
Our winner, Mikael Lindel, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.