PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Bortman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Kastinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bortman
vs
Kastinen

185 cm
23
215 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

180 cm
23
205 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Bortman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Seppo Kastinen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Bortman blocks the low kick.

Kastinen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kastinen is chipping away with strikes.
Kastinen is looking to take a break and control but Bortman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kastinen is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bortman will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Bortman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kastinen is looking to take a break and control but Bortman is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bortman is trying to get back to his feet.
Bortman manages to get back to half guard.
Kastinen trying to control from half guard but Bortman is working away.
Bortman is trying to get back to full guard.

Seppo Kastinen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kastinen avoids the head kick by Bortman.
Kastinen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bortman's waist but Bortman gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kastinen off to one side.
Kastinen throws a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kastinen shoots in but Bortman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alex Bortman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kastinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kastinen on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Seppo Kastinen has been cut.
Bortman lands the left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kastinen shoots in for a double leg but Bortman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alex Bortman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Kastinen.
Bortman scores with a punch to the head.
Kastinen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bortman at a distance.
Bortman moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kastinen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kastinen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kastinen misses the shot to the body.
Bortman lands a glancing blow to the side of Kastinen's head.
Horrible takedown by Kastinen or perhaps it was just good defense by Bortman which made him look bad.

Kastinen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kastinen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kastinen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bortman is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kastinen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bortman is desperately trying to improve his position but Kastinen has a good base and remains in mount.

Kastinen goes for an armbar but Bortman turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Bortman.
Kastinen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bortman controls the pace.
Bortman trying to control but Kastinen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kastinen wants to sweep but no luck.
Bortman wants to get up but he can't break Kastinen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kastinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Alex Bortman just wasn't active enough.
Kastinen throws out a loose jab but Bortman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kastinen dives in and grabs Bortman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bortman pushes down on Kastinen's head and hops out.
Bortman swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kastinen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kastinen.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kastinen trying to control but Bortman is working from the bottom.
Kastinen stops Bortman from standing up.
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 Alex Bortman will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Seppo Kastinen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kastinen shoots in for a takedown but Bortman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bortman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bortman takes a swing at Kastinen's ribcage but misses.

Bortman gets caught napping as Kastinen dives in and scores a takedown. Bortman manages to retain guard.
Kastinen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bortman is keeping the position for now.
Bortman wants to stand up but Kastinen is controlling him.
Kastinen trying to control but Bortman is working from the bottom.
Bortman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kastinen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bortman is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bortman being controlled here, momentarily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kastinen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bortman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kastinen somewhat.
Kastinen lands a body shot.

Kastinen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bortman is trying to keep Kastinen in close.
Bortman keeping moving, preventing Kastinen from controlling successfully.
Bortman keeping full guard, as Kastinen tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bortman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kastinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bortman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Seppo Kastinen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A combination from Bortman does no damage.
Bortman stuffs the takedown.
Alex Bortman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Kastinen.
Bortman fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kastinen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bortman throws a series of punches but Kastinen moves out of range.
Kastinen tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Alex Bortman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kastinen dodges the punch combination from Bortman.
Good standup being displayed there by Bortman as he connects with a hook.
Nice body kick there by Bortman.
Kastinen is breathing heavily.
Kastinen takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That has opened up Seppo Kastinen's cut even more.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bortman connects with a body shot that sends Kastinen's belly button to the back.
Kastinen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bortman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bortman throws a head kick that misses.
Bortman ducks under a wild hook from Kastinen.
Kastinen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bortman is fending him off so far but Kastinen persists. Nope, Bortman circles away and we're back to standing.
Bortman comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bortman lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kastinen tries to move into range but Bortman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

The cut above Seppo Kastinen's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Bortman connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bortman scores with a jab. Kastinen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kastinen walks into a straight right hand from Bortman.

Kastinen is rocked!
Bortman swings for the body but Kastinen moves out of range.
Kastinen gets caught by a brutal right hook which buckles his knees! Kastinen tries to backpedal with his spaghettilegs but Bortman is headhunting and goes for the kill. A jab and a right hook connect and Kastinen buckles badly as his eyes roll back. The referee steps in and saves Kastinen!! Kastinen is complaining but he was clearly out on his feet. Bortman throws his mouthpiece into the crowd. Mmmm spit-tastic.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:19 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alex Bortman!
After winning the bout, Alex Bortman thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.