PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pena Hirmu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasara Markku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hirmu comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - War Machine. The key to victory for Pena Hirmu has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hirmu
vs
Markku

180 cm
25
195 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pena Hirmu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vasara Markku!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Markku misses with a wild body shot.
Hirmu takes a swing at Markku's ribcage but misses.
Hirmu tries to close the distance and clinch but Markku swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hirmu misses the body punch

and Markku holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Markku has Hirmu pressed against the cage, preventing Hirmu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Hirmu works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Hirmu has gone for a leg lock! Markku slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hirmu's guard.
Hirmu working a defensive guard here.
Markku trying to control but Hirmu is working from the bottom.

Hirmu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hirmu wants to sweep here but Markku controlling him for the moment.
Hirmu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Markku's guard.
Markku controlling the position.
Hirmu won't allow Markku to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirmu trying to control but Markku is working from the bottom.
Hirmu is fighting to break Markku's control of his arms but Markku is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hirmu looking to sit in guard and control but Markku gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Markku must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hirmu keeping moving, preventing Markku from controlling successfully.

Hirmu is looking for a triangle but Markku pushes his legs off easily.
Markku stays in close to Hirmu's body and controls the position.
Markku trying to control the position from guard on top but Hirmu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

Hirmu isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Markku stacks Hirmu on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Markku!
Markku trying to control the action but Hirmu is working from the bottom.
Markku is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vasara Markku.
Hirmu misses with a few strikes there.
Hirmu throws a jab when Markku was well out of range.
Markku looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hirmu throws a big shot that misses.
Hirmu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Markku moves away.
Hirmu clinches but Markku breaks the clinch

and Markku counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hirmu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Markku gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hirmu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hirmu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Hirmu is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Markku has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Markku!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Markku's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hirmu is trying to keep Markku in close.
Hirmu keeping moving, preventing Markku from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirmu has momentary wrist control but Markku slips an elbow through the middle.

Hirmu looking for subs off his back but Markku has passed one foot through into half guard.
Hirmu has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Markku is working away from the top position though.
Hirmu manages to get to full guard.
Markku trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Markku trying to control but Hirmu is working from the bottom.
Hirmu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Hirmu jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Markku is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Markku and Hirmu has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasara Markku dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hirmu ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Markku looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Markku throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hirmu is trying to stand up here but Markku is controlling him well.
Hirmu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hirmu regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markku tries to free his leg and advance position but Hirmu is retaining full guard.

Hirmu isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Markku stacks Hirmu on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Markku!
Markku scoring with punches from side control.
Hirmu taking punishment in the form of punches.
Markku grinds an elbow into Hirmu's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Markku lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Hirmu down.
Hirmu tries to buck Markku off but Markku is having none of it.
Vasara Markku has got the better of the ground game so far.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Markku wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hirmu keeps working.
Hirmu tries to escape but Markku is in control.
Hirmu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hirmu gets back to half guard.

Hirmu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Markku pulls his head out easily.
Hirmu is looking to improve his position.
Hirmu is trying to escape back to his feet but Markku uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hirmu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Markku cracks Hirmu with a big elbow.
Hirmu tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Hirmu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Markku cracks Hirmu with a big right hand but Hirmu just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hirmu is looking to reverse the position.
Markku is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirmu is trying to improve his position.
Markku working the ground and pound from side control.
Hirmu is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Markku's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Hirmu actively working from the bottom here.
Ground and pound from Markku.
Hirmu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hirmu wants to sweep but Markku has passed to side control!
Hirmu is looking for a sweep.
Hirmu sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirmu tries to get to full guard but Markku has control of the leg.

Hirmu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Markku scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Markku seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Markku working Hirmu over with strikes.
Hirmu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hirmu trying to control but Markku postures up.
Hirmu taking some punishment here, with Markku in his half guard.
Markku is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Markku wants to pass the guard but Hirmu is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasara Markku showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Markku moves into the clinch.

Hirmu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Markku.
Hirmu manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hirmu manages to get to full guard.
Markku working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hirmu keeping moving, preventing Markku from controlling successfully.
Markku stands and throws Hirmu's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hirmu is looking for a sweep.
Hirmu regains half guard.
Hirmu wants to control but Markku is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirmu manages to get to full guard.

Hirmu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Markku pushes down on Hirmu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Hirmu punching from the bottom.
Hirmu tries to kick Markku off but Markku keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hirmu trying to control but Markku postures up.

Hirmu looking for submissions off his back.
Markku prevents Hirmu from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hirmu looking for submissions off his back.
Hirmu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Markku trying to control but Hirmu is working from the bottom.

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

Hirmu shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hirmu showed some decent athleticism there.
Markku is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hirmu is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Markku has managed to free his arm - good work.

Hirmu is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Markku gets back to full guard.
Hirmu wants to pass the guard but Markku is keeping the position.
Markku controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hirmu looking to pass the guard.
Hirmu pushes down on Markku's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Markku won't allow Hirmu to pass to mount.
Pena Hirmu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hirmu seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Hirmu throws a strike but Markku avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Markku wants to sweep here but Hirmu controlling him for the moment.
Markku can't keep his opponent in guard - Hirmu advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Pena Hirmu.
I think Markku has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasara Markku!