PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hjalmar Thorhalla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Lindel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorhalla comes to the cage accompanied by Disturbed / Down With The Sickness. Lindel has chosen Clawfinger - Biggest & The Best as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Thorhalla
vs
Lindel

200 cm
32
249 lbs
22 - 17 - 0

190 cm
34
240 lbs
20 - 18 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hjalmar Thorhalla!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Lindel!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lindel connects with a body shot that sends Thorhalla's belly button to the back.
Thorhalla misses with a body kick.

Lindel drives through with a takedown into guard.
Thorhalla keeping moving, preventing Lindel from controlling successfully.
Lindel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thorhalla is keeping the position for now.
Lindel passes into half guard.
Thorhalla won't allow Lindel to pass to mount.
Thorhalla has his hands clasped together around Lindel's back. He's all about the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lindel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thorhalla tries to kick Lindel off but Lindel keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lindel working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lindel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lindel wants to take a breather but Thorhalla is having none of it.
Lindel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thorhalla defending well though.
Lindel moves nicely into side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Thorhalla's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thorhalla wants to control but Lindel postures up.

Lindel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Thorhalla knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lindel in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorhalla is looking to regain half guard here but Lindel keeps moving and retains side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Lindel.
Lindel in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Lindel lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thorhalla down.
Lindel scoring with punches and elbows.
Thorhalla parries the strikes from Lindel easily there. Lindel is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Thorhalla to escape.
Lindel working the strikes but Thorhalla uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Thorhalla wants to get back to his feet.
Lindel working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindel stalling.
Lindel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lindel wants to free his trapped foot but Thorhalla is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Thorhalla avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lindel.
Thorhalla blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lindel.
Lindel working the head and body with strikes.
Lindel is pressing down on Thorhalla's thigh, looking to free his foot. Thorhalla is holding on for now.
Lindel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lindel missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lindel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Thorhalla punching from the bottom.
Lindel not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lindel working Thorhalla over with strikes.

Lindel is looking for a kimura here.
Thorhalla is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Lindel scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Thorhalla is trying to stand.
Lindel thows a huge punch but Thorhalla dodges it nicely.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lindel in particular looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Lindel fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Thorhalla ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lindel moves away.
Nice uppercut there from Thorhalla.

It looks like Mikael Lindel has been cut.
Lindel takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lindel shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thorhalla as he avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Lindel. No joy for Thorhalla on that attempt.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Thorhalla - that will leave a mark!

Lindel drives through with a takedown into guard.
Lindel is looking to work some ground and pound but Thorhalla has wrist control.
Lindel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thorhalla is keeping the position for now.
Lindel connects with a couple of short punches.
Thorhalla doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Thorhalla preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindel throwing strikes from guard but Thorhalla blocks nicely.
Lindel trying to control but Thorhalla is working from the bottom.
Lindel wants to pass the guard but Thorhalla is keeping the position.
Lindel trying to control but Thorhalla is working from the bottom.
Lindel passes Thorhalla's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lindel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lindel thows a huge punch but Thorhalla dodges it nicely.
Thorhalla is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lindel is trying to control. Thorhalla wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lindel prevents Thorhalla from standing back up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lindel throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Lindel misses with a straight right.
Lindel walks into a straight right hand from Thorhalla.
Lindel bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Lindel dives in and grabs Thorhalla's left leg, looking for a takedown. Thorhalla pushes down on Lindel's head and hops out.
Lindel jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Lindel closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lindel lands in his opponent's guard.
Thorhalla not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lindel works over Thorhalla with some ground and pound from guard.
Thorhalla throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Thorhalla keeping moving, preventing Lindel from controlling successfully.
Thorhalla avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Lindel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lindel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Lindel throws a big elbow that misses.
Thorhalla controls Lindel momentarily but Lindel frees himself.
Thorhalla has momentary wrist control but Lindel slips an elbow through the middle.
Thorhalla is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lindel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

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.
Lindel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thorhalla is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Thorhalla tries to land a front kick but Lindel steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lindel connects with a right hand. Thorhalla shakes it off.
Lindel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Thorhalla throws out the jab.

Lindel gets a double leg takedown into Thorhalla's guard.
Lindel wants to control from the top but Thorhalla keeps moving.
Thorhalla has momentary wrist control but Lindel slips an elbow through the middle.
Thorhalla is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lindel connects with a couple of short punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Lindel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mikael Lindel's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lindel takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lindel cracks Thorhalla with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Thorhalla looks to land a right hand but Lindel moved out of range.
Thorhalla takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Thorhalla is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lindel ducks under a wild hook from Thorhalla.

Lindel shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Thorhalla napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Thorhalla is trying to get back to his feet.
Thorhalla is working to avoid the ground and pound but Lindel connects with a decent elbow.
Lindel working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Thorhalla's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Lindel wants to control but Thorhalla is keeping him busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lindel working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lindel working the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Lindel.
Thorhalla regains half guard, as Lindel was trying to land strikes.
Lindel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Thorhalla defending well though.
Thorhalla on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Thorhalla wants to get back to his feet.
Thorhalla keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lindel drops an elbow to the side of Thorhalla's head.

Lindel is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lindel is just content to waste time from the top position. Thorhalla takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lindel postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lindel with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lindel postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mikael Lindel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lindel trying to control the position from guard on top but Thorhalla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lindel distracts Thorhalla with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Thorhalla wants to stand but Lindel is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lindel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Thorhalla is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lindel throws out a loose jab but Thorhalla uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thorhalla goes for a double leg but Lindel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lindel continues to drive forward.

Lindel manages to break the clinch.
Lindel takes one to the chin there.
Thorhalla swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lindel throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thorhalla sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Mikael Lindel seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lindel jabs at Thorhalla's body.
Thorhalla throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Lindel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Thorhalla.
Lindel throws a hook but Thorhalla blocks it.
Hjalmar Thorhalla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorhalla moves out of range as Lindel strikes.

Lindel fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Thorhalla to the ground. Lindel is now in Thorhalla's guard.

Thorhalla is looking for a triangle but Lindel pushes his legs off easily.
Thorhalla trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Lindel wants to pass the guard but Thorhalla is keeping the position.
Mikael Lindel is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Lindel controlling from the top position.
Lindel works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Thorhalla misses with some strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikael Lindel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lindel 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikael Lindel!
Mikael Lindel took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) for their support in the buildup to the fight.