PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Maximo Meridio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Koskinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meridio kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is O Fortuna - Carl Orff. Mikael Koskinen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Meridio
vs
Koskinen

174 cm
26
163 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
162 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maximo Meridio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Koskinen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meridio is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Koskinen.
Meridio throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Meridio changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Koskinen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Koskinen tries to buck Meridio off but Meridio is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Meridio tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Meridio has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Koskinen tries to bench press Meridio off him but Meridio keeps the position.
Koskinen is trying to control Meridio's posture but Meridio avoids it.
Koskinen is looking to regain half guard here but Meridio keeps moving and retains side control.
Meridio throws a strike aimed at the side of Koskinen's head but Koskinen avoids it well.
Koskinen tries to buck Meridio off but Meridio is having none of it.
Koskinen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridio is trying to control. Koskinen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Meridio throwing shots but Koskinen is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koskinen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Meridio defends it nicely.
Meridio takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Meridio walks into a jab.
Koskinen is looking to clinch.
Meridio throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Meridio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koskinen.
Maximo Meridio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Koskinen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Koskinen looking to pass the guard.
Koskinen throws and elbow that misses. Meridio uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Koskinen's guard. Nice move by Meridio!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koskinen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Koskinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Meridio.
Meridio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Koskinen is trying to keep Meridio in close.
Meridio looking to pass the guard.
Koskinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Koskinen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Koskinen lands with a nice body punch.
Meridio takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridio tries a head kick but it misses.
Koskinen misses with an uppercut.
Meridio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Meridio fails to land with a series of punches.
Koskinen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Koskinen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Meridio paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Meridio misses with a hook.
A lazy left from Meridio finds it's target.
Meridio misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Koskinen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Meridio won't be happy with that.
Koskinen working away.
Koskinen cracks Meridio with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Meridio can't do much from the bottom here.
Koskinen tries to move to mount but Meridio blocks the move with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Meridio is looking for a sweep.
Meridio keeps Koskinen under control for a moment.
Koskinen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Meridio's legs.
Meridio is not content to let Koskinen control the position.
Koskinen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Meridio kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Koskinen landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Koskinen dominated that 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.

Koskinen shoots in for a double leg but Meridio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Koskinen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Koskinen checks a low kick from Meridio.
Nice takedown defense from Meridio. No joy for Koskinen on that attempt.
Koskinen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Meridio takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Meridio takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Koskinen throws a good cross that connects.
Koskinen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
The fighters circling - Meridio throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Koskinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Meridio.
Koskinen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Meridio.
Meridio misses with a hook to the body
and Koskinen counters with a straight right hand.
Koskinen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Meridio counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Maximo Meridio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikael Koskinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Meridio.
Meridio swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Koskinen counters with a nice body shot.
Meridio swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Koskinen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Meridio throws a predictable looking body shot

and Koskinen counters with a takedown into side control.
Koskinen throws a strike aimed at the side of Meridio's head but Meridio avoids it well.

Koskinen goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Meridio has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Koskinen but great work by Meridio.
Koskinen is breathing heavily.
Koskinen is trying to improve his position.
Koskinen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Meridio's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Koskinen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen is looking to improve his position.
Meridio throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Koskinen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Meridio scores with a couple of nice shots.
Meridio passes to side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koskinen is trying to improve his position.
Koskinen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Meridio lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Koskinen is pressing down on Meridio's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridio missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Meridio won't allow Koskinen to sweep him here.
Koskinen keeping moving, preventing Meridio from controlling successfully.
Meridio throws a strike but Koskinen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Meridio has his feet on Koskinen's thighs here. He's pushed Koskinen off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Koskinen screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Maximo Meridio!