PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hala Alen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Skeletor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Alen
vs
Skeletor

175 cm
23
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

177 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hala Alen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Skeletor!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Alen feints and as Skeletor raises his hands in defense, Alen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Skeletor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alen is one step ahead there.
Skeletor controls Alen momentarily but Alen frees himself.
Alen is looking to work some ground and pound but Skeletor has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Alen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Alen won't allow Skeletor to sweep him here.
Skeletor thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Skeletor keeping full guard, as Alen tries to pass.

Skeletor working for a triangle but Alen defends it easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Alen throws a head kick but Skeletor moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skeletor stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Skeletor fails with the takedown

and Alen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Skeletor won't be happy with that.
Skeletor gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Skeletor has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Alen is working away from the top position though.

Alen seems to be working for a kimura but Skeletor defends the submission attempt.
Skeletor is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skeletor is trying to maintain the position but Alen is very close to passing his half guard.

Skeletor is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Alen pulls his head out easily.
Alen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Skeletor looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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

Skeletor scores with a takedown into Alen's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Skeletor looking to pass the guard.
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 Hala Alen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Skeletor goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Hala Alen has been cut.
Skeletor shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Alen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Skeletor's guard.
Skeletor trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Alen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skeletor is keeping the position for now.

Skeletor throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Skeletor wants to sweep here but Alen controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Skeletor keeping full guard, as Alen tries to pass.
Alen preventing the sweep.
Skeletor trying to control the position.
Alen preventing the sweep.

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

and Alen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Alen.
Skeletor is breathing heavily.
Alen trying to control the position from guard on top but Skeletor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Skeletor lands an upkick as Alen stands over him.
Skeletor is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Alen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Skeletor working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Alen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Skeletor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Skeletor trying to control but Alen is working from the bottom.
Skeletor looking to pass the guard.
Skeletor stands up over Alen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Skeletor gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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

so Alen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hala Alen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Hala Alen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Skeletor throws a right and a left that Alen avoids nicely.
Skeletor fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Alen stuffs the takedown attempt from Skeletor. Skeletor gets slowly back to his feet.
Alen swings for the body but Skeletor moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skeletor misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skeletor shoots in looking for a takedown. Alen tries to sprawl out of it but Skeletor keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Alen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hala Alen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Skeletor.
Skeletor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Skeletor shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Skeletor is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Alen trying to hold on to Skeletor's head to control him but Skeletor postures up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Alen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skeletor passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Skeletor tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Skeletor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alen keeps working.
Alen being controlled for a moment.
Alen is trying to control Skeletor's posture but Skeletor avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Skeletor really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hala Alen's cut.
That's time! Alen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Skeletor throws a combination. Alen tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Skeletor swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No luck for Skeletor with that takedown attempt.
Skeletor shoots for a takedown but Alen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Alen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Alen as Skeletor shoots in.
Hala Alen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Skeletor.
Skeletor is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Alen misses with a combination
and Skeletor makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Skeletor with a lazy takedown attempt

and Alen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Skeletor's guard now.
Skeletor looking to hit a scissor sweep but Alen is one step ahead there.
Alen throws a big right hand that misses.
Skeletor keeping moving, preventing Alen from controlling successfully.
Skeletor seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skeletor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alen!
Skeletor sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Skeletor moves to take his opponent's back.
Skeletor is punishing Alen with strikes - can he finish him?!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Alen is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Skeletor has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Skeletor missing with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Skeletor dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Hala Alen's cut.
That's time! Alen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Skeletor doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Alen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Skeletor's guard.
Alen postures up in Skeletor's guard and throws a big left but Skeletor blocks it.
Alen wants to control from the top but Skeletor keeps moving.
Alen thows a big elbow that misses.
Skeletor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alen!
Skeletor putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Skeletor lands a big shot there that rocks Alen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Skeletor fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alen is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Skeletor tries to control but Alen wriggling away.
Alen is controlling an arm, preventing Skeletor from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Skeletor looking to secure an arm triangle but Alen defends it well.
Alen avoids a series of strikes thrown by Skeletor.
Alen holds of for dear life.
Skeletor misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Skeletor tries to control but Alen wriggling away.
Skeletor pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Alen is trying desperately to improve position.
BOOM! Skeletor connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Skeletor landing strikes from the mount.

Skeletor is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Alen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Skeletor can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Alen is looking to escape.
Alen wants to hold on but Skeletor pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hala Alen.
I think Alen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Hala Alen!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Hala Alen!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Hala Alen!

Hala Alen wins by unanimous decision!