PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anttoni Maerkaenen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jouko Pappa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maerkaenen
vs
Pappa

173 cm
19
154 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

170 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anttoni Maerkaenen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jouko Pappa!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maerkaenen shoots in looking for a takedown but Pappa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Maerkaenen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pappa tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Maerkaenen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pappa!
Pappa is pushing Maerkaenen's head away, looking to escape. Maerkaenen manages to hold on to the position though.
Maerkaenen wants to control but Pappa is keeping him busy.
Pappa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Maerkaenen has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Maerkaenen wants to control but Pappa is keeping him busy.
Maerkaenen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pappa wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Pappa is not content to let Maerkaenen control the position.
Pappa is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Maerkaenen asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maerkaenen working the body and head with strikes.
Pappa wants to get back to his feet but Maerkaenen drags him back down.
Pappa is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Maerkaenen cracks Pappa with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Pappa wants to get back to his feet.
Pappa looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pappa is letting Maerkaenen control him for a moment.

Maerkaenen is trying to get an arm triangle but Pappa is defending well.
Maerkaenen scoring with punches and elbows.
Pappa is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Maerkaenen stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maerkaenen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Pappa!
Maerkaenen looks up at the clock and then as Pappa takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Maerkaenen smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Maerkaenen staying calm.
Maerkaenen landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anttoni Maerkaenen 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.

Pappa tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Maerkaenen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Maerkaenen fails to land.
Maerkaenen trying to land knees to the body.
Pappa throws an elbow that misses.
Pappa trying to stall but Maerkaenen improves his position.
Pappa scores a nice knee to the body.
Pappa lands an elbow inside that Maerkaenen shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maerkaenen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Pappa taking a bit of punishment here - Maerkaenen scoring with strikes.
Pappa is trying to buck Maerkaenen off.
Maerkaenen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pappa keeps working.

Maerkaenen decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Pappa clinches with his opponent.
Maerkaenen just leaning against Pappa, taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pappa scores with a knee to the head.
Maerkaenen blocks an elbow strike from Pappa.

Maerkaenen has hold of one of Pappa's legs. Pappa is fighting the takedown attempt but Maerkaenen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pappa is looking to stand up but Maerkaenen isn't so interested in that idea.
Maerkaenen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Maerkaenen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pappa is keeping the position for now.
Maerkaenen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pappa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maerkaenen connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maerkaenen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Pappa is looking to stand up but Maerkaenen isn't so interested in that idea.
Pappa is breathing heavily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maerkaenen tries to stand but Pappa is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maerkaenen looking to sit in guard and control but Pappa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Maerkaenen controls Pappa momentarily but Pappa frees himself.

Maerkaenen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Maerkaenen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pappa doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pappa manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pappa wants to stand but Maerkaenen is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anttoni Maerkaenen dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pappa wants to clinch
and Maerkaenen counters with a left to the body.
Pappa closes the distance looking to clinch

and Maerkaenen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Maerkaenen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Pappa!
Pappa squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Maerkaenen is landing with some decent strikes but Pappa is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pappa wants to try and get back to his feet.
Pappa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maerkaenen landing strikes from the mount.
Pappa takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Pappa is bucking up trying to escape but Maerkaenen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Maerkaenen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Maerkaenen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Maerkaenen lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maerkaenen breaks from Pappa's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Maerkaenen with the ground and pound from mount.
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!
Pappa is trying to stand.
Maerkaenen controlling the position easily from mount.
Maerkaenen trying to control but Pappa is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Maerkaenen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Pappa taking shots to the head.
Maerkaenen lands a big shot there that rocks Pappa but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maerkaenen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Maerkaenen looking to control but Pappa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Anttoni Maerkaenen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maerkaenen content just to control the position here.
Pappa wants to get back to his feet.
Maerkaenen looking to control and managing it successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Maerkaenen unloading with bombs!

And that's the end of the fight!
Anttoni Maerkaenen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maerkaenen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anttoni Maerkaenen!