PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tarja Halonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aron Person (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?

Halonen
vs
Person

180 cm
19
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tarja Halonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aron Person!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Person tries for a takedown but Halonen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Halonen keeps the fight on the outside.

Halonen drives through and clinches with Person against the cage.
Person is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Halonen has Person pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Person manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Person prevents Halonen from breaking the clinch.
Person keeps control of Halonen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Halonen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Person is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Halonen looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tarja Halonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Halonen tries for a takedown but Person manages to get underhooks.
Halonen is trying to break the clinch but Person has him pressed against the cage.
Halonen tries to score a body lock takedown but Person shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Halonen has Person pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Person manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Person prevents the takedown attempt.
Person gets underhooks to prevent Halonen's takedown attempt.
Halonen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Person stops a takedown attempt from Halonen.
Halonen tries for a takedown but Person manages to get underhooks.
Halonen is breathing heavily.
Person trying to land knees to the body.

Halonen gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Person wants to get back to full guard.
Person trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Person is looking to escape.
Person wants to control but Halonen is keeping busy.
Halonen prevents Person from improving his position.
Person trying to hold on to Halonen's head to control him but Halonen postures up.
Person wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Halonen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Halonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Person wants to get back to his feet but Halonen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Person not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Halonen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Halonen prevents Person from getting back to his feet.
Halonen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Person trying to keep a closed guard but Halonen is proving a slippery customer.
Halonen prevents Person from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Halonen scores with a takedown into Person's guard.
Person is trying to control the position but Halonen postures up.
Person wants to stand but Halonen is controlling the position.
Halonen controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Person is trying to keep Halonen in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Person being controlled here, momentarily.
Halonen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Person has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Halonen has passed into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarja Halonen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Halonen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Person did well to prevent Halonen getting side control.
Halonen trying to pass the guard but Person defending well.
Halonen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Person is trying to control but Halonen passes into side control!
Person is looking to reverse the position.
Person is letting Halonen control him for a moment.
Person is breathing heavily.
Person is looking to get back to his feet here but Halonen is keeping cool and he's managed to take Person's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
I would not like to be Person right now.
Halonen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Person for as long as he can get away with.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Tarja Halonen just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Halonen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Person's half guard.
Halonen trying to control the pace.
Person is looking to control Halonen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Person avoid being mounted?
Halonen trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halonen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Halonen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Halonen prevents Person from standing back up.
Halonen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Halonen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Person!
Halonen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Person is desperately trying to improve his position but Halonen has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Person wants to try and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarja Halonen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Halonen scores with a takedown into Person's guard.
Person is trying to keep Halonen in close.
Halonen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Person takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Person looking to control.
Halonen looking to pass the guard.
Person is looking to stand up but Halonen isn't so interested in that idea.
Halonen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Halonen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Person on the ground.
Person keeping full guard, as Halonen tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Person is looking to stand up but Halonen isn't so interested in that idea.
Halonen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Person wants to get back to his feet but Halonen passes into half guard.
Person is trying to stand back up but Halonen is controlling him
Halonen is taking a breather. Person says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Person pushes Halonen off looking to stand but Halonen dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halonen passes to side control.
Halonen is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Person is trying to improve his position.
Halonen takes a little break here. Person wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Tarja Halonen just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Halonen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Tarja Halonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Person looking for a sweep but Halonen has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Halonen controlling from the full mount.
Person tries to lock up and control but Halonen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Halonen content just to control the position here.
Aron Person has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Person is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tarja Halonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Halonen, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tarja Halonen!