PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antti Hirvi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Monroe has chosen Bad boy 4 Life as his entrance music. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Hirvi
vs
Monroe

174 cm
22
156 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
27
152 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Great elbows
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Hirvi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of London, Dan Monroe!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hirvi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hirvi lands with a thumping leg kick.
Monroe misses with a straight left.
Monroe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hirvi.
Monroe misses with a body shot.
A leg kick checked by Hirvi.
Hirvi fails with an attempt to clinch.
A low kick from Monroe is predictable there
and Hirvi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Monroe is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hirvi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Monroe's head.
Monroe throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hirvi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Monroe moves out of range of the body kick from Hirvi.
Hirvi throws a leg kick which misses Monroe's front leg but catches the back leg as Monroe tries to avoid it.
Hirvi misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirvi tries to close the distance and clinch but Monroe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dan Monroe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Monroe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hirvi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hirvi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Monroe.
Hirvi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A bone on bone clash there as Monroe blocks the leg kick.

Hirvi clinches.
Hirvi lands an elbow that stopped Monroe in his tracks for a moment.
Monroe blocks the elbow strike.
Hirvi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hirvi takes a shot to the head.
Monroe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Monroe blocks the elbow strike.
Hirvi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe taking a breather.
Monroe takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Dan Monroe has been cut.

Hirvi gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Monroe wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Monroe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hirvi is one step ahead there.
Monroe is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Monroe keeping full guard, as Hirvi tries to pass.
Monroe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dan Monroe hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A jab from Monroe misses.
Monroe throws a low kick but Hirvi avoids it.
Hirvi tries to clinch up.
Hirvi misses with a low kick.
Monroe misses with a leg kick
and Hirvi counters with a solid body kick.
Hirvi throws a solid leg kick but Monroe takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hirvi.
Monroe stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hirvi.
Monroe throws a hook but Hirvi blocks it.
Monroe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hirvi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Antti Hirvi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hirvi.

Hirvi shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe trying to control here.
Hirvi stops Monroe from getting back to his feet.
Hirvi prevents Monroe from improving his position.
Hirvi tries to pass to full mount but Monroe defends it.
Monroe is trying to stand back up but Hirvi is controlling him
Hirvi misses with a head shot. Monroe uses the momentum to regain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Hirvi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dan Monroe's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hirvi throws a leg kick which misses Monroe's front leg but catches the back leg as Monroe tries to avoid it.
Monroe misses with a wild body shot.
Hirvi throws a sloppy head kick and Monroe moves out of range easily.
Hirvi fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Monroe checks it well.
Hirvi lands a nice looking body kick.
Monroe throws a hook to the side of Hirvi's head but Hirvi sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hirvi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Monroe, pushing him back against the cage.
Monroe looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Monroe blocks the elbow strike.
Hirvi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Monroe is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Monroe wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hirvi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Monroe.
Monroe takes an elbow to the temple.
Monroe has had enough of the clinch but Hirvi keeps him there for the moment.
Hirvi landing knees to the body.
Hirvi tries to land knees in the clinch but Monroe avoids the damage to the body.
Monroe is trying to break free.
Monroe wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hirvi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hirvi throws an elbow but it misses.

Monroe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hirvi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hirvi throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws a shot from downtown. Hirvi moves away and avoids it.
Monroe throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hirvi.
Monroe throws a leg kick
and Hirvi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Hirvi throws a body kick that misses.
Hirvi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Monroe throws out the jab.
Hirvi defending well as Monroe loads up on a big left hand.
Monroe misses with a hook. Hirvi ducked under it nicely.
Monroe missing with a left hand there. Hirvi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hirvi thows a body kick. Monroe tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hirvi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Monroe is out of range.
No joy there for Monroe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Hirvi.
Monroe throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

so Hirvi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Monroe looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hirvi tries to free his leg and advance position but Monroe is retaining full guard.

Monroe uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Monroe is breathing heavily.
Hirvi misses with a low kick as Monroe jumps back.
Monroe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hirvi.
Hirvi misses with a kick to the body.
Hirvi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hirvi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe misses with an uppercut.
Monroe is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hirvi.
Hirvi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hirvi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Monroe. That did some damage!
Hirvi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Monroe cracks the inside of Hirvi's front leg.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hirvi.
Monroe throws out a loose jab but Hirvi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Monroe checks a low kick from Hirvi.
Hirvi scores with a leg kick.
Hirvi bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Hirvi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dan Monroe's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hirvi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Monroe!
Hirvi thowing shots but they're missing.
Hirvi fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hirvi cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Monroe tries to hold on but Hirvi postures up.
Monroe is working to get back to half guard.
Monroe tries to hold on but Hirvi postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Monroe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hirvi has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Hirvi wants to finish this one by submission but Monroe is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hirvi.
Hirvi working the ground and pound effectively.
Hirvi connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Monroe sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Monroe wants to improve his position but Hirvi is controlling well.
Monroe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hirvi is working away from the top position though.
Monroe takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirvi thows a huge punch but Monroe dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hirvi wants to pass to mount but Monroe is defending the position.
Monroe wants to improve his position but Hirvi is controlling well.
Monroe on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hirvi tries to pass to full mount but Monroe defends it.
Monroe looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hirvi trying to mount his opponent but Monroe defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Monroe is pressing down on Hirvi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hirvi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monroe swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hirvi preventing the sweep.
Antti Hirvi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Monroe looking to control.
Hirvi prevents Monroe from getting back to his feet.
Monroe is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Monroe can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hirvi controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Monroe was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hirvi cracks the inside of Monroe's front leg.
Dan Monroe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Monroe throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hirvi counters with a solid body kick.
Hirvi is looking to slow Monroe down with leg kicks.
Hirvi is looking to clinch.
Hirvi lands with a kick to the temple. Monroe shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hirvi.
Monroe takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A head kick from Hirvi lands but Monroe takes it in his stride.
Monroe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hirvi lands with a thumping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Hirvi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hirvi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Hirvi!