PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marko Loimula (ranked 1824 p4p, 1876 weight class) and Jemeljans Valter (ranked 235 p4p, 242 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Loimula
vs
Valter

180 cm
25
185
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
171
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Highland Clothing
Fighters Connection

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marko Loimula!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jemeljans Valter!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Peter Branson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valter works Loimula's body with a nice hook.
Valter misses with a wild combination.
Loimula tries to counter with a takedown but Valter is quick to defend against it.
Valter swings widly with a right hand

and Loimula decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Valter's guard.
Loimula pushes down on Valter's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Loimula wants to work for an arm triangle but Valter is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Loimula controlling the action here.
Valter is looking to control Loimula's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Valter avoid being mounted?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loimula missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Loimula is working for a kimura but Valter is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loimula prevents Valter from improving his position.
Valter is still trying to improve position.
Valter trying to control from the bottom.
Loimula stalling.
Loimula trying to control the action but Valter is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Loimula is trying to work for a kimura but Valter is defending well.
Valter wants to get back to full guard.

Loimula seems to be working for a kimura but Valter defends the submission attempt.
Valter regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Loimula.
Valter is trying to keep Loimula in close.
Valter has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Elite Island Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Valter wants to sweep here but Loimula controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valter working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Loimula moves out of range as Valter strikes.
Loimula half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Valter takes a swing at Loimula's ribcage but misses.
Loimula definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Valter misses with a lunging right hand

and Loimula counters with a shoot takedown. Valter fights it but they end up in guard.
Loimula wants to control from the top but Valter keeps moving.
Loimula slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Loimula wants to pass the guard but Valter is keeping the position.
Loimula trying to control but Valter is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loimula tries to free his leg and advance position but Valter is retaining full guard.
Valter seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Loimula pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valter is keeping the position for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Valter can do anything to dispel that myth.
Loimula wants to control from the top but Valter keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Valter throws a body shot but no joy.
Loimula feinted with a counter takedown.
Valter throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Loimula.
Jemeljans Valter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Loimula misses with a looping right.
Valter throws a lazy uppercut

and Loimula counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Valter trying to keep a closed guard but Loimula is proving a slippery customer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Loimula dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Valter clinches.
Valter misses with the head strike.
Valter digs a right hand into Loimula's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Loimula's gas tank.
Loimula misses with some punches.
Valter lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Loimula backwards.

Valter turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Loimula regains half guard.
Loimula is looking for a sweep. Valter is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Valter looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Valter slips a nice elbow through Loimula's hands, connecting with Loimula's forehead.
Loimula is trying to get back to full guard.
Ground and pound from Valter.
Marko Loimula overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Valter stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Loimula does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Valter lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Loimula on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Valter is looking to take a break and control but Loimula is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Valter tries to pass to full mount but Loimula defends it.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Valter lands a nice short elbow.
Valter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Loimula with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Loimula is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Valter scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loimula is trying to control but can't.
Valter seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Valter is trying to control the action in half guard but Loimula is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Valter working Loimula over with strikes.
Valter landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Loimula is rocked!
Valter lands with a punch from half guard.
Oh Loimula is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Valter lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Loimula! More strikes land and this one is all over! Valter jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jemeljans Valter!
Jemeljans Valter is the new welterweight champion!
Jemeljans Valter thanked the fans post fight for their support.