PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erkki Torkylainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larson Merkuao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Torkylainen's entrance music is Sky Residents - Krilia. A fine choice. Erkki Torkylainen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Torkylainen
vs
Merkuao

190 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

189 cm
25
220 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Torkylainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Larson Merkuao!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merkuao circles away from the clinch attempt.
Torkylainen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Merkuao is out of range.
Torkylainen scores with a nice body kick.

Merkuao closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Merkuao lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Merkuao prevents Torkylainen from getting back to his feet.
Merkuao stopping the sweep attempt from Torkylainen.
Torkylainen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Merkuao wants to control from the top but Torkylainen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torkylainen wants to stand and escape but Merkuao is having none of it.
Merkuao landing with the ground and pound.
Merkuao landing some decent shots from guard.
Merkuao in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Torkylainen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Merkuao controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Torkylainen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torkylainen wants to stand but Merkuao is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merkuao trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Merkuao looking to pass the guard.
Torkylainen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Merkuao on the ground.

Merkuao drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Merkuao jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Merkuao passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Merkuao working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torkylainen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Check out the look on Merkuao's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Merkuao is looking to take a break and control but Torkylainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Merkuao in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Merkuao landing a few strikes.
Torkylainen regains half guard.

Merkuao is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merkuao looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Merkuao throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Merkuao maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Torkylainen could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Merkuao has cracked it and Torkylainen is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Merkuao!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Larson Merkuao!