PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hala Alen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Sorsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jesse Sorsa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Alen
vs
Sorsa

175 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hala Alen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesse Sorsa!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sorsa blocks a head kick by Alen.
Sorsa moves in looking to clinch but Alen pushes him off.
A telegraphed right hand from Alen misses the target.
Sorsa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A punch lands to the side of Alen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Alen throws a head kick that misses.
Alen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sorsa is fending him off so far but Alen persists. Nope, Sorsa circles away and we're back to standing.

Sorsa clinches up with Alen and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sorsa turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
I wouldn't like to be where Alen is right now.
Alen regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sorsa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Alen's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorsa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sorsa is keen to just control but Alen is a slippery customer.
Alen missing with punches from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Sorsa trying to control from half guard but Alen is working away.
Sorsa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sorsa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Alen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sorsa but Sorsa pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sorsa dodges the punch combination from Alen.

Alen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorsa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Alen 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.

Sorsa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Alen won't allow Sorsa to sweep him here.
Sorsa controls Alen momentarily but Alen frees himself.
Sorsa keeping moving, preventing Alen from controlling successfully.
Sorsa wants to sweep here but Alen controlling him for the moment.
Alen postures up in Sorsa's guard and throws a big left but Sorsa blocks it.

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

Sorsa rushes Alen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sorsa has Alen pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sorsa pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Alen tumbling to the mat - Sorsa dives into Alen's guard.

Alen is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a tringle but Sorsa frees his head nicely. Oh but Alen has switched to an armbar! Sorsa is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Hala Alen!