PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilkka Mursu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lennart Stahlhandske (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mursu comes to the cage accompanied by Someday I'll be the Champ. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Mursu
vs
Stahlhandske

193 cm
29
272 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

188 cm
23
228 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ilkka Mursu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lennart Stahlhandske!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stahlhandske misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mursu moves out of range of the leg kick from Stahlhandske.
Mursu slips a jab and a cross from Stahlhandske.
Stahlhandske throws a leg kick but Mursu checks it.
Stahlhandske misses with an uppercut.
Stahlhandske throws a leg kick which misses Mursu's front leg but catches the back leg as Mursu tries to avoid it.
Stahlhandske misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stahlhandske waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mursu.
Stahlhandske connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mursu's hands.
Mursu has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A punch combination from Stahlhandske misses.
Stahlhandske tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mursu was well out of range. Poor timing from Stahlhandske.
Stahlhandske misses with a low kick.
Mursu uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stahlhandske.
Mursu shoots for a takedown but Stahlhandske saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Stahlhandske jabs Mursu right on the nose. Mursu blinks but takes it well.
Stahlhandske cracks Mursu with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mursu takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Stahlhandske misses with a few strikes there.
Lennart Stahlhandske seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stahlhandske misses with a low kick.
Stahlhandske scores with a body shot.
Stahlhandske throws a leg kick

and Mursu counters with a shoot takedown. Stahlhandske fights it but they end up in guard.
Mursu passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mursu swings around for an armbar but Stahlhandske sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Mursu's guard.
Mursu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stahlhandske manages to get himself to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stahlhandske controls Mursu momentarily but Mursu frees himself.
Stahlhandske wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mursu wants to pass the guard but Stahlhandske is keeping the position.

Stahlhandske working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mursu doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mursu manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mursu throws an elbow that misses. Stahlhandske uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mursu's guard. Nice move by Stahlhandske!
Stahlhandske slips nicely into half guard.
Stahlhandske seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Stahlhandske is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Stahlhandske is pressing down on Mursu's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mursu is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stahlhandske is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stahlhandske tries to pass to full mount but Mursu defends it.
Stahlhandske is keen to just control but Mursu is a slippery customer.
Stahlhandske wants to pass to mount but Mursu is defending the position.
Mursu slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Stahlhandske pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mursu is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stahlhandske is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Mursu has his foot on Stahlhandske's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stahlhandske works his way back into a safe position though.
Stahlhandske pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mursu is keeping the position for now.
Stahlhandske wants to stand and escape but instead Mursu has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Mursu throws a strike but Stahlhandske rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Mursu wants to stand and escape but Stahlhandske is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stahlhandske passes Mursu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Stahlhandske escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mursu shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stahlhandske as he jumps to the side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lennart Stahlhandske dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mursu staying out of range there.
Stahlhandske throws a series of punches but Mursu moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Stahlhandske darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Mursu misses with a takedown attempt - Stahlhandske sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mursu moves out of range of the strikes.
Mursu takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Stahlhandske tests Mursu's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Stahlhandske misses with a right hand

and Mursu counters with a shoot takedown. Stahlhandske fights it but they end up in guard.
Stahlhandske trying to keep a closed guard but Mursu is proving a slippery customer.
Stahlhandske preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mursu preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mursu postures up in Stahlhandske's guard and throws a big left but Stahlhandske blocks it.
Mursu throws an elbow that misses. Stahlhandske uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Mursu's guard. Nice move by Stahlhandske!
Stahlhandske pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Mursu is keeping the position for now.

Mursu had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Stahlhandske defends it easily.
Stahlhandske wants to control from the top but Mursu keeps moving.

Stahlhandske lying in Mursu's guard like a wet fish here, stalling away. Mursu decides he's had enough of all that nonsense - he escapes his hips and locks up an armbar! Wow, that was slick! Stahlhandske taps! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ilkka Mursu!
Ilkka Mursu decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.