PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tom Byron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heikki Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byron's entrance music is Roky Erickson - Click your Fingers Applauding the Play . A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Byron
vs
Mela

175 cm
25
282 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

195 cm
22
273 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tom Byron!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Heikki Mela!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mela throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Byron tries to clinch there but Mela circles away.
A jab lands there for Byron.

It looks like Heikki Mela has been cut.
Mela wants to slow Byron down by chopping away at his legs.
Mela fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mela closes the distance and clinches up with Byron, looking for a takedown. Mela pushes Byron against the cage but Byron circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mela misses with a wild body shot.
Byron throws a looping overhand right but Mela ducks down to avoid it.
Byron keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mela throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Byron sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Byron loads up on a big right hand but Mela slips the punch.
Tom Byron is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela shoots for a takedown but Byron saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tom Byron has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heikki Mela.
Mela misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mela fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mela misses the jab.
Mela shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Byron as he jumps to the side.
Byron defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mela.
Byron stuffs the takedown attempt from Mela. Mela gets slowly back to his feet.
Mela looks gassed!
Byron with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Byron moves into the clinch.
Mela is trying to break free.
Mela blocks an elbow strike from Byron.
Byron lands a damaging elbow.
Mela doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Byron pushes off an throws an elbow but Mela leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Byron comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Byron comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice elbow from Byron.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mela takes an elbow to the forehead.

Mela is rocked!

That has opened up Heikki Mela's cut even more.
Mela is pressed against the cage. Byron pushes back and unleashes a big elbow that really hurts Mela! Two more big strikes from Byron and Mela crumples to the mat and taps out furiously due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Tom Byron!