PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nahka Vitonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vitonen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Klamydia - Junttihinttirunkkari. Meridius has chosen Now We Are Free as his entrance music. Maximus Meridius has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Vitonen
vs
Meridius

197 cm
27
270 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

187 cm
31
238 lbs
26 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nahka Vitonen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maximus Meridius!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Vitonen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Meridius scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vitonen in his tracks.
A jab lands there for Vitonen.
Vitonen connects with a leg kick. Meridius looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Vitonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Meridius was well out of range. Poor timing from Vitonen.
Vitonen throws a series of punches but Meridius moves out of range.
Meridius lands with a thumping leg kick.
Meridius cracks Vitonen with an open hand slap.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vitonen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Meridius avoids the body shot from Vitonen.
Vitonen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Meridius misses with a low kick.
Meridius throws a body punch but Vitonen moves out of range.
Vitonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Meridius moves away.
Vitonen throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Meridius to counter with a crisp jab.
Vitonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Meridius manages to avoid it.
Meridius throws a body kick that misses.
Meridius takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Vitonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Vitonen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vitonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Meridius manages to avoid it.
Vitonen throws a jab but it's blocked by Meridius.
Vitonen misses with a left hand
and Meridius counters with a low kick, right behind Vitonen 's knee.
Vitonen throws the kick towards the body but Meridius avoids it.
Vitonen throws a low kick, looking for Meridius's leg but Meridius calmly moves out of range.
Vitonen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Meridius connects with a leg kick. Vitonen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Vitonen is looking to wear down Meridius with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Meridius throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vitonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nahka Vitonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Meridius misses with a kick to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Meridius. That's going to slow Vitonen down.
Vitonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Meridius lands with a kick to the temple. Vitonen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vitonen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Meridius.
Vitonen takes a swing at Meridius's ribcage but misses.
A swing and a miss from Meridius.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vitonen throws the left hand but Meridius avoids the punch easily.

Meridius closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Vitonen quickly recovers to half guard.
Meridius working the head and body with strikes.
Vitonen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Meridius is working away from the top position though.
Meridius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vitonen has hold of Meridius's hands but Meridius slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Meridius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Meridius wants to advance to full mount but Vitonen doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Meridius stopping the sweep attempt from Vitonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius wants to control from the top but Vitonen keeps moving.
Meridius postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Meridius scoring with some ground and pound.
Meridius postures up in Vitonen's guard and throws a big left but Vitonen blocks it.
Meridius trying to control but Vitonen is working from the bottom.
Meridius has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Meridius tries to free his leg and advance position but Vitonen is retaining full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Maximus Meridius hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Meridius tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Meridius dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vitonen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Vitonen jabs Meridius to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Vitonen throws a shot to the body.
Vitonen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vitonen walks into a stiff left hand from Meridius.
Vitonen throws the left hand but Meridius avoids the punch easily.
Vitonen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Meridius's hands.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vitonen lands a jab to Meridius's midsection.
Vitonen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Meridius looks to land a left hand but Vitonen moved out of range nicely.
Meridius defending well as Vitonen loads up on a big left hand.
Vitonen misses with a hook. Meridius ducked under it nicely.
Meridius throws a wild body kick that Vitonen sees coming a mile off.
Vitonen throws a head kick that misses.
Meridius throws a front kick aimed at Vitonen's knee but Vitonen avoids it well.
A head kick misses from Vitonen.
Vitonen blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Meridius takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Meridius fails in his attempt to clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Meridius. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Vitonen throws a body punch but Meridius moves out of range.
Vitonen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Vitonen drops his hands momentarily and Meridius takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Meridius with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Vitonen to score with a decent uppercut.
Nahka Vitonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vitonen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Meridius.
Nice sprawl there from Vitonen as Meridius shoots in.
Vitonen throws a lazy right hand but Meridius sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Meridius tries to clinch but Vitonen moves out of range.
Meridius chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vitonen can pounce on him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Meridius lands a head shot.
Vitonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Meridius is just out of range.
Vitonen misses with a straight right.
Vitonen swings away with a body shot that misses
and Meridius makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitonen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Meridius will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vitonen misses the shot to the body.
Meridius tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Vitonen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Vitonen misses with a body shot.
Vitonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Meridius avoids the body shot from Vitonen.
Vitonen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Meridius. That one must have hurt.
Vitonen throws a big shot that misses.
Vitonen throws a body punch but Meridius moves out of range.
Meridius checks a low kick from Vitonen.
Meridius scoring well with a low kick there.

Meridius has managed to clinch.
Vitonen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Vitonen being controlled against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitonen misses with some punches.
Meridius lands a body punch in the clinch.
Vitonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vitonen working aggressively here.
Nice body punch from Meridius.
Vitonen misses with a punch on the inside.
Vitonen gets through Meridius's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vitonen.
Meridius blocks a body shot from Vitonen.
Meridius lands with a short shot to the head.
Meridius lands an elbow just above Vitonen 's eye.
Nice body punch from Vitonen - that landed with a thud.
Vitonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Meridius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Meridius blocks a body shot from Vitonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meridius lands a good knee to the midsection. Vitonen won't want to take too many of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vitonen swings wildly with an uppercut but Meridius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Meridius throws a punch but it's blocked by Vitonen.
Vitonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vitonen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vitonen is looking to control Meridius's arms but Meridius gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vitonen has his back to the cage.
Vitonen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Meridius pressing his opponent against the cage.
Vitonen throws a punch but it's blocked by Meridius.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Meridius is working for takedown but Vitonen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Meridius blocking some punches.
Meridius lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nahka Vitonen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vitonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Meridius was well out of range. Poor timing from Vitonen.
Vitonen misses with a low kick.
A slow jab from Vitonen misses its intended target.
Meridius ducks under a wild hook from Vitonen.
Meridius moves out of range of the body kick.
Vitonen misses with a straight left.
Vitonen just misses with a punch to the body.

Vitonen gets caught napping as Meridius dives in and scores a takedown. Vitonen manages to retain guard.
Meridius wants to control from the top but Vitonen keeps moving.
Meridius stands and throws Vitonen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meridius tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitonen can't do much from the bottom here.
Meridius in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Meridius with the ground and pound but Vitonen regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Meridius is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Vitonen!
Vitonen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Meridius wants to control the pace but Vitonen is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitonen is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Meridius lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Vitonen 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.
Meridius is trying to control the action in half guard but Vitonen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Maximus Meridius has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vitonen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vitonen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Meridius scores with a couple of nice shots.
Meridius is looking to take a break and control but Vitonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius wants to pass to mount but Vitonen is defending the position.
Meridius throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Meridius wants to pass to mount but Vitonen is defending the position.
Meridius prevents Vitonen from improving his position.
Meridius looks to land a strike but Vitonen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meridius controls from within his opponent's guard.
Meridius trying to control but Vitonen is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vitonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meridius being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Meridius really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vitonen works the jab nicely.
Meridius misses with a low kick.
Vitonen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
That kick from Meridius tenderised Vitonen's leg. Vitonen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Meridius lands the left hand.
Nahka Vitonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Vitonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vitonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vitonen throws an overhand right that lands on Meridius's shoulder, as Meridius tries to avoid the shot.
Vitonen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Meridius lands a really nice looking cross but Vitonen seems unphased.
Vitonen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vitonen lands a body shot.
Meridius lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Vitonen misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius scores with a shot to the body.
Meridius throws a hook but Vitonen avoids it easily.
Meridius takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vitonen throws a body punch but Meridius moves out of range.
Meridius keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vitonen.
Meridius misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Meridius buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Meridius fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vitonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Meridius throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vitonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Meridius throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Vitonen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vitonen throws a leg kick that misses.
Meridius on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Meridius blocks a low kick nicely.
Vitonen misses with a straight left.
Vitonen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitonen finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Vitonen throws an overhand right that lands on Meridius's shoulder, as Meridius tries to avoid the shot.
Nice sprawl there from Vitonen as Meridius shoots in.
Meridius connects with a good right hand that stumbles Vitonen. Vitonen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Good standup being displayed there by Vitonen as he connects with a hook.
Vitonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Vitonen needs to keep his hands up - Meridius had a free shot at his head there.
A slow jab from Vitonen misses its intended target.
Meridius cracks Vitonen with a good jab.
Vitonen scores with a jab. Meridius acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Meridius punishes Vitonen's body with a nice straight punch.
Meridius scores with a decent looking hook.
Meridius lands with a nice body kick.
Vitonen misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitonen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Vitonen looks to throw the jab but Meridius is out of range.
The fighters circling - Vitonen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vitonen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Meridius goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Vitonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Meridius is just out of range.
Vitonen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Vitonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Meridius throws a series of punches but Vitonen moves out of range.
Vitonen throws a big shot that misses.
Vitonen throws an overhand right that lands on Meridius's shoulder, as Meridius tries to avoid the shot.
Meridius throws a body kick that misses.
Vitonen throws a lazy right hand but Meridius sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Meridius throws a body kick that misses.
A left lands for Vitonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Meridius closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Meridius lands in his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vitonen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Meridius has gone for a leg lock! Vitonen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Meridius's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Meridius keeping moving, preventing Vitonen from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Maximus Meridius will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Vitonen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Meridius keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Meridius, as that shot connected.
Meridius swings for the body but Vitonen moves out of range.
Vitonen moves out of range of the body kick from Meridius.
Meridius displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vitonen throws out the jab.
No luck for Meridius with that takedown attempt.
Vitonen scores with a jab. Meridius acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A bone on bone clash there as Meridius blocks the leg kick.

Meridius rushes Vitonen and presses him up against the cage.
Meridius lands with a light punch inside.
Good body shot from Meridius.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Meridius misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vitonen letting Meridius take a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitonen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Meridius tries to stall but Vitonen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Meridius drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vitonen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vitonen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Good standup being displayed there by Vitonen as he connects with a hook.
Meridius moves out of range as Vitonen strikes.
Meridius throws a jab but it's blocked by Vitonen.
Vitonen throws a good cross that connects.
Meridius blocks a jab.
Meridius wants to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Vitonen. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vitonen misses with a double jab.
Vitonen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A thudding body kick lands there by Meridius!
Vitonen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Meridius counter with a right hand.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Meridius avoids the body shot from Vitonen.
Vitonen missing with a left hand there. Meridius was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Vitonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Meridius was well out of range. Poor timing from Vitonen.
Meridius displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Meridius shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vitonen defends it nicely.
Nahka Vitonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximus Meridius.
Meridius fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Vitonen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Maximus Meridius is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Meridius, right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitonen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Meridius.
Meridius showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vitonen.
Meridius swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Meridius. Those never looked like landing.
Vitonen throws out a powerful jab.
Meridius takes one on the button.
Meridius fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Vitonen.
Meridius goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nice defenses there by Meridius.
Meridius connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Vitonen keeps the fight on the outside.
Meridius slips a jab from Vitonen.
Vitonen misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meridius dodges the punch combination from Vitonen.
Meridius gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Vitonen counters with a nice leg kick.
Meridius misses with a low kick.
Vitonen throws a leg kick but Meridius sees it coming and moves out of range.
Vitonen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vitonen stuffs the takedown.
Jab by Meridius.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vitonen throws the left hand but Meridius avoids the punch easily.
Vitonen misses with a hook
and Meridius counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vitonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Vitonen tries to score with a low kick but Meridius moves his leg out of the way.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Meridius moves out of range of the strikes.
The crowd cheers as Vitonen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Meridius doesn't seem phased though.
Jab by Vitonen.
Nahka Vitonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vitonen lands a lovely overhand right.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Maximus Meridius.
I think Meridius 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 47:48
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 46:49
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maximus Meridius!
Maximus Meridius is the new heavyweight champion!
Post fight, Maximus Meridius took to the microphone: 'Are you not entertained? Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here? I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next.'.