PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Drake Bradstone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taavetti Merimies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merimies has chosen Turbonegro - Sailor man as his entrance music. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Bradstone
vs
Merimies

185 cm
28
190 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

189 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Drake Bradstone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Taavetti Merimies!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merimies's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Merimies duly obliges.

It looks like Drake Bradstone has been cut.
Merimies misses with a double jab.

Bradstone throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Merimies was covering up waiting for the punch and Bradstone finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Merimies keeping moving, preventing Bradstone from controlling successfully.
Bradstone is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Merimies is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bradstone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

We're going to have a standup here because Drake Bradstone wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Bradstone instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merimies prevents the takedown attempt.
Merimies wants to break free but Bradstone has control.

Merimies pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Merimies ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bradstone moves away.
Bradstone shoots in looking for a takedown but Merimies manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bradstone's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Bradstone gets a clinch.
Merimies prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drake Bradstone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bradstone tries for a takedown but Merimies manages to get underhooks.
Bradstone keeps control of Merimies as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bradstone prevents Merimies from breaking the clinch.
Bradstone is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Bradstone breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bradstone dives in and grabs Merimies's left leg, looking for a takedown. Merimies pushes down on Bradstone's head and hops out.
Merimies closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merimies cracks Bradstone with an open hand slap.

Bradstone moves into the clinch.

Bradstone breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Merimies circles away from the clinch attempt
and Merimies counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bradstone tries a head kick but it misses.
Bradstone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merimies displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bradstone.
Merimies lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Merimies misses its intended target.
Merimies digs a good body shot into Bradstone's ribs.
Merimies connects with a looping right hand.
Merimies lands with a straight right. Bradstone didn't see that one coming.
Bradstone fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Merimies rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bradstone moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bradstone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bradstone moves out of range as Merimies strikes.
Bradstone fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bradstone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bradstone wants to clinch
and Merimies counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bradstone wants to clinch but Merimies slips to the side
and Merimies counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Merimies throws a series of strikes that have Bradstone backpedaling.
Bradstone throws a jab when Merimies was well out of range.
Merimies ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bradstone moves away.

Bradstone shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Merimies napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bradstone fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Bradstone connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Merimies some visible discomfort.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bradstone controls the position from side control.
Merimies is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bradstone off and has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taavetti Merimies dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Drake Bradstone's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bradstone throws a head kick that half lands.
Merimies misses with an uppercut.
Bradstone walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Bradstone fails with a takedown attempt.
Merimies moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Merimies throws a nice looking combination but Bradstone bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bradstone shoots for a takedown but Merimies saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Bradstone shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merimies is holding on to half guard well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bradstone throwing shots but Merimies is blocking nicely.
Bradstone controlling the action here.
Merimies is looking for a sweep. Bradstone is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bradstone controlling the action here.
Bradstone working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bradstone wants to take a breather but Merimies is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Merimies can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bradstone thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Merimies to regain full guard.
Bradstone passes Merimies's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bradstone seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Merimies does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bradstone perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bradstone wants to lay and pray for a moment but Merimies keeps working.
Bradstone is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Merimies!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bradstone unloads with some shots from mount but Merimies bucks and avoids them well.
Bradstone lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Merimies is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
A nice elbow there by Bradstone.
Merimies is working to get back to half guard.
Merimies is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bradstone trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bradstone looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bradstone landing strikes, looking to finish!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bradstone looking to control but Merimies is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bradstone cracks Merimies with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Bradstone scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bradstone controlling from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bradstone can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Merimies is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Bradstone dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Drake Bradstone's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Bradstone drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bradstone is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Drake Bradstone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bradstone trying to control the position from guard on top but Merimies is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Merimies preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bradstone content to stall in guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Merimies preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bradstone trying to control but Merimies is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Drake Bradstone just wasn't active enough.
Merimies's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bradstone connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Merimies scrambles back to his feet.
Bradstone tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Merimies paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Merimies swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Bradstone counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bradstone trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Merimies keeping moving, preventing Bradstone from controlling successfully.
Bradstone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bradstone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bradstone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Merimies works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Merimies working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bradstone.
Merimies wants to get back to his feet but Bradstone is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Merimies keeping full guard, as Bradstone tries to pass.
Bradstone controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Merimies keeping moving, preventing Bradstone from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Drake Bradstone wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Bradstone throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bradstone tries to close the distance and clinch but Merimies swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bradstone looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Merimies feints a jab promting Bradstone to slip. Merimies then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Bradstone slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Taavetti Merimies is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merimies throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bradstone.
Bradstone shoots for a takedown but Merimies saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bradstone throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Merimies's waist but Merimies gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bradstone off to one side.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Merimies!
Merimies takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bradstone throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Merimies's waist but Merimies gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bradstone off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Drake Bradstone. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bradstone has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bradstone shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Merimies as he avoids it easily.
Bradstone has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bradstone drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bradstone shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Merimies but Merimies pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bradstone doesn't manage to clinch there - Merimies circles away.
Bradstone bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Drake Bradstone is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bradstone throws a low kick but Merimies avoids it.
Merimies throws a right hand that Bradstone ducks under and follows up with a left that Bradstone also avoids with ease.

And that's the end of the fight!
Drake Bradstone showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bradstone has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Drake Bradstone!