PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Torben Bornholm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valko Hai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bornholm
vs
Hai

160 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
163 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Torben Bornholm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valko Hai!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hai darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hai's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Valko Hai hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Bornholm tries to keep at a distance but Hai has taken the fight into the clinch.

Hai successfully pulls guard.
Bornholm looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hai is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bornholm wants to control from the top but Hai keeps moving.
Bornholm throws a big elbow that misses.
Hai has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bornholm slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Torben Bornholm just wasn't active enough.
Bornholm tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hai counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bornholm won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bornholm is being controlled here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Hai has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
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!
Bornholm might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Valko Hai.
Bornholm misses with a body kick.

Bornholm tries to sprawl but Hai drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bornholm tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bornholm is trying to control but can't.
Bornholm is trying to escape back to his feet but Hai uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Hai content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bornholm is trying to control Hai's posture but Hai avoids it.
Hai controls the position.
Bornholm tries to control but Hai manages to take his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hai controlling from the back.
Bornholm just trying to survive but Hai is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Hai is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Valko Hai hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bornholm throws a hook but Hai blocks it.

Hai bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bornholm is letting Hai control him for a moment.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bornholm manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Bornholm perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hai is holding on to half guard well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bornholm is stalling here. Hai is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bornholm seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hai has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Hai working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valko Hai dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hai blocks a head kick by Bornholm.
Hai moves out of range of the body kick.

Bornholm tries to sprawl but Hai drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Bornholm looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hai is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Valko Hai hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Hai shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bornholm wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hai with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Bornholm looking for submissions off his back.
Valko Hai has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hai is controlling the pace.
Bornholm is looking to control Hai's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bornholm avoid being mounted?
Hai tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bornholm knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hai is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hai trying to control the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Valko Hai wasn't active enough on the ground.

Bornholm moves into the clinch.

Hai has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Bornholm is trying to keep an underhook but Hai manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hai prevents Bornholm from improving his position.
Hai is thwarting Bornholm's attempts to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bornholm is trying to get back to full guard.
Hai stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hai darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hai stalling.
Bornholm is positioning himself well to prevent Hai advancing to mount.
Hai trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Valko Hai.

Hai has Bornholm up against the cage in a clinch.

Hai works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Hai trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bornholm manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bornholm trying to control but Hai is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bornholm advances position into side control!

Bornholm tries for a kimura but Hai is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valko Hai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bornholm tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hai paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hai bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bornholm tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hai wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bornholm is being controlled here.
Bornholm wants to control but Hai postures up.
Bornholm tries to buck Hai off but Hai is having none of it.
Hai controls the position from side control.
Bornholm is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hai tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Bornholm's face as Hai controls the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hai closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bornholm quickly recovers to half guard.
Hai keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Bornholm is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hai pulls his head out easily.
Hai looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Bornholm trying to control from the bottom.
Hai performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Valko Hai.

Hai closes the distance and clinches.

Hai wants the takedown. Bornholm is fighting it off but Hai persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bornholm's guard against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bornholm is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bornholm doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Bornholm is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hai slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bornholm swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Torben Bornholm has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bornholm throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Hai scores a takedown into full mount!
Hai controlling the position easily from mount.
Bornholm working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hai controlling from mount.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Valko Hai has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Bornholm tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hai paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bornholm could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Hai is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bornholm's half guard.
Bornholm wants to control but Hai is keeping busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hai is controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hai wants to pass to mount but Bornholm is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valko Hai comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hai has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valko Hai!