PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Merrimack Stronghammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kakashi Hatake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Stronghammer
vs
Hatake

173 cm
23
235 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

200 cm
29
280 lbs
14 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Merrimack Stronghammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kakashi Hatake!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stronghammer closes the distance and clinches.
Hatake doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Stronghammer has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hatake is trying to keep an underhook but Stronghammer manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Stronghammer is nestled in close to Hatake, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hatake wants to get back to his feet.
Stronghammer is keen to just control but Hatake is a slippery customer.

Hatake makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Hatake forces Stronghammer back against the cage and clinches.
A short left from Stronghammer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stronghammer gets through Hatake's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hatake blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hatake is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Stronghammer lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hatake backwards.
Stronghammer blocks the elbow strike.
A knee to the head by Hatake.

It looks like Merrimack Stronghammer has been cut.
Stronghammer working aggressively here.
Hatake wants to take the fight to the mat but Stronghammer manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hatake prevents a body shot from Stronghammer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stronghammer stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hatake lands a right hand.
Hatake lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Stronghammer misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Stronghammer.
Stronghammer blocking some punches.
Stronghammer keeps control of Hatake as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A left hand lands to the body for Stronghammer.
Stronghammer is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hatake lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stronghammer lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hatake tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stronghammer avoids it.
Stronghammer working aggressively here.
Hatake misses with some punches.
Hatake wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Stronghammer lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hatake backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hatake changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Stronghammer fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hatake misses with a body kick.
A combination from Hatake does no damage.
Stronghammer throws a leg kick which misses Hatake's front leg but catches the back leg as Hatake tries to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hatake fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Stronghammer on the side of the head.

Hatake has managed to clinch.
Hatake wants a takedown.
Merrimack Stronghammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kakashi Hatake.
Stronghammer stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A body shot lands from Stronghammer.
Stronghammer working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hatake throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hatake's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Stronghammer taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stronghammer tries to throw a body punch but Hatake avoids it by throwing Stronghammer back against the cage.
Hatake tries to throw a body punch but Stronghammer avoids it by throwing Hatake back against the cage.
Hatake is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hatake takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Hatake misses with the head strike.
Hatake drops down looking for an ankle pick but Stronghammer pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hatake throws a right hand that Stronghammer ducks under and follows up with a left that Stronghammer also avoids with ease.

Hatake gets a clinch.
Stronghammer lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hatake blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hatake misses with some punches.

Hatake breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Stronghammer has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stronghammer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hatake throws a right and a left that Stronghammer avoids nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
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!
Hatake pushes off an throws an elbow but Stronghammer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Hatake pulls guard successfully.
Stronghammer stops Hatake from standing up.

Hatake has his foot on Stronghammer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stronghammer works his way back into a safe position though.
Stronghammer scoring with some ground and pound.
Stronghammer throws a big elbow that misses.
Hatake wants to stand up but Stronghammer is controlling him.
Stronghammer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stronghammer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Stronghammer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kakashi Hatake will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Merrimack Stronghammer'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.

Hatake misses with the combination.
Hatake misses with a two punch combination.
Stronghammer misses with a low kick.
Hatake tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hatake scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hatake throws a body punch but Stronghammer moves out of range.
Hatake uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stronghammer.

Hatake closes the distance and pushes Stronghammer back into the cage.

Hatake breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Stronghammer tries to keep at a distance but Hatake has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hatake blocks an uppercut.
Hatake tries to pull guard but Stronghammer forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Stronghammer will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hatake up against the cage.
Hatake has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Stronghammer avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hatake is fighting off a takedown attempt but Stronghammer is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Hatake to the mat. Hatake regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Stronghammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Hatake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stronghammer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Stronghammer lands a couple of digs.
Stronghammer has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Hatake has his foot on Stronghammer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stronghammer works his way back into a safe position though.
Stronghammer trying to control the position from guard on top but Hatake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stronghammer scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stronghammer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stronghammer wants to control from the top but Hatake keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stronghammer scoring with punches to the head and body.
Stronghammer is looking to work some ground and pound but Hatake has wrist control.
Stronghammer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hatake swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stronghammer prevents Hatake from getting back to his feet.
Stronghammer working some strikes from top position.
Merrimack Stronghammer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stronghammer is working Hatake over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hatake wants to stand and escape but Stronghammer is having none of it.

Hatake has his foot on Stronghammer's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Stronghammer works his way back into a safe position though.
Hatake avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Stronghammer slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kakashi Hatake seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hatake moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hatake can't break the clinch.
A short right from Stronghammer on the inside.
Stronghammer misses with some punches.
Stronghammer lands a body shot.
Stronghammer takes an elbow to the temple.

Merrimack Stronghammer's cut is getting worse.

Hatake breaks from the clinch.
Hatake tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Stronghammer is able to avoid easily.
Kakashi Hatake seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Stronghammer has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hatake pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Stronghammer goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Hatake fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stronghammer, pushing him back against the cage.
Stronghammer misses with a hook from the clinch.
Stronghammer tries to throw a body punch but Hatake avoids it by throwing Stronghammer back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stronghammer lands a hook that snaps the head of Hatake backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hatake tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Stronghammer just stands there and leans against the cage.
Merrimack Stronghammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kakashi Hatake.
Stronghammer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Stronghammer lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hatake backwards.
Hatake tries for a takedown but Stronghammer manages to get underhooks.
Merrimack Stronghammer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hatake tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Stronghammer avoids it.
Hatake avoids the elbow strike from Stronghammer, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Stronghammer.
Stronghammer keeps control of Hatake as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A shot in the inside from Stronghammer.

Hatake is rocked!
A nice right hand lands inside from Stronghammer.
Hatake is still on wobbly legs! Can Stronghammer finish him?
Stronghammer throws a big uppercut that drops Hatake! More strikes from Stronghammer and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Hatake lies dazed against the cage as Stronghammer celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Merrimack Stronghammer!
Merrimack Stronghammer bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.