PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaarko Hahlund (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luvwig Borga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hahlund
vs
Borga

194 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Inner Beast Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaarko Hahlund!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luvwig Borga!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hahlund displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Borga.
Borga misses with a takedown attempt

and Hahlund counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hahlund.
Hahlund is pressed up against the cage. Borga has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hahlund down to the mat. Hahlund avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Jaarko Hahlund has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luvwig Borga.
Borga shoots for a double leg takedown but Hahlund sprawls well. He's pushed Borga's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Borga looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Borga must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Borga connects with a couple of short punches.
Borga is looking to work some ground and pound but Hahlund has wrist control.
Borga throwing strikes but missing.
Borga throws a big right hand that misses.
Borga throws a strike but Hahlund rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Borga wants to stand and escape but Hahlund is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hahlund passes Borga's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Borga tries to kick Hahlund off in order to stand up. Hahlund Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Hahlund laying and praying for a moment but Borga takes advantage and regains half guard.
Borga looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hahlund throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Borga is trying to stand.
Hahlund takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hahlund throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Luvwig Borga has been cut.

Borga is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hahlund's half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Borga sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hahlund defending well though.
Borga looks to land a strike but Hahlund avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Borga throws a strike but Hahlund rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hahlund passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hahlund performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
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 Jaarko Hahlund will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luvwig Borga's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Borga shoots for a double leg takedown but Hahlund sprawls well. He's pushed Borga's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Borga shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hahlund pinned against the cage. Hahlund gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Jaarko Hahlund is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hahlund tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Borga shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hahlund manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Borga postures up in Hahlund's guard and throws a big left but Hahlund blocks it.
Borga throws a big right hand that misses.
Borga content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Borga with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Borga accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borga throwing strikes from guard but Hahlund blocks nicely.
Hahlund looking to hit a scissor sweep but Borga is one step ahead there.
Borga missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Borga scoring with some ground and pound.
Borga throws an elbow that misses. Hahlund uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Borga's guard. Nice move by Hahlund!
Borga can't keep his opponent in guard - Hahlund advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hahlund trying to control from half guard but Borga is working away.
Borga is looking to escape.
Hahlund is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hahlund is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hahlund trying to control the position from guard on top but Borga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Jaarko Hahlund has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hahlund tries to clinch up but Borga circles away and keeps his distance.
Borga shoots in for a takedown but Hahlund shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jaarko Hahlund has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luvwig Borga.
Hahlund throws a sloppy head kick and Borga moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Borga fails with the takedown.
Borga looks for a takedown but Hahlund sprawls well.
Hahlund wants to clinch up but Borga keeps it at a distance.
Borga keeps the fight on the outside.
Borga shoots in for a double leg but Hahlund sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Borga shoots in but no luck this time.
Borga is breathing heavily.

Hahlund clinches.
Hahlund gets underhooks to prevent Borga's takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hahlund misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Borga.
Hahlund trying to land knees to the body.
Hahlund landing knees to the body.
Borga avoiding damage as Hahlund throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jaarko Hahlund will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luvwig Borga's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hahlund closes the distance and clinches.
Borga is trying to drag Hahlund to the mat but Hahlund just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Borga avoiding damage as Hahlund throws knees to the body.
Hahlund tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Borga avoids it.
Borga is looking for a takedown.
Hahlund tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Borga avoids it.
Hahlund misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Borga.
Hahlund misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Borga.
Borga avoiding damage as Hahlund throws knees to the body.
Borga is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hahlund pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jaarko Hahlund has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luvwig Borga.
Hahlund trying to land knees to the body.
Borga managing to block the knees to the body from Hahlund.
Hahlund working Borga over with knees to the body.
Borga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hahlund tries to land knees in the clinch but Borga avoids the damage to the body.
Hahlund tries to land knees in the clinch but Borga avoids the damage to the body.
Hahlund misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Borga.
Hahlund tries to land knees in the clinch but Borga avoids the damage to the body.
Borga on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hahlund obliges.
Borga tries to score a body lock takedown but Hahlund shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hahlund missing with knees to the body.
Hahlund working Borga over with knees to the body.
Borga on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jaarko Hahlund has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hahlund misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Borga.
Borga on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hahlund tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Borga avoids it.
Borga takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borga tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hahlund tries to land knees in the clinch but Borga avoids the damage to the body.
Hahlund is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Borga is defending well for now.
Hahlund trying to land knees to the body.
Borga on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hahlund gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Borga.
Hahlund lands an elbow inside that Borga shrugs off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hahlund lands an elbow inside that Borga shrugs off.
Hahlund missing with knees to the body.
Borga can't get the takedown.
Hahlund is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Borga is defending well for now.
Borga avoiding damage as Hahlund throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hahlund misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Borga.
Hahlund gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Borga avoids the elbow strike from Hahlund, against the cage.
Hahlund utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hahlund trying to land knees to the body.
Borga managing to block the knees to the body from Hahlund.
Borga avoiding damage as Hahlund throws knees to the body.
Hahlund tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Borga avoids it.
Hahlund trying to land knees to the body.
Borga drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hahlund pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hahlund tries to clinch up but Borga circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hahlund fails with an attempt to clinch.
Borga shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hahlund tries to clinch but Borga is having none of it.
Borga has his takedown stuffed

and Hahlund moves into the clinch.
Hahlund throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hahlund tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Borga avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hahlund lands an elbow that stopped Borga in his tracks for a moment.
Borga blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hahlund crunches a lovely knee into Borga's ribcage.
Hahlund utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Luvwig Borga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jaarko Hahlund is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hahlund landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaarko Hahlund showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hahlund, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jaarko Hahlund!
Jaarko Hahlund managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Inner Beast Nutrition, into his post fight interview.