PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tiki Toke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaako Meritähti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Toke's entrance music is Bonecracker- Shocore. A fine choice. 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.

Toke
vs
Meritähti

183 cm
30
220 lbs
16 - 11 - 1

185 cm
24
220 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 16 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tiki Toke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaako Meritähti!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Paul Tew and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Toke clinches with his opponent.
With the fighters up against the cage, Toke throws an elbow but misses.
Meritähti has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Meritähti cracks Toke with a nice body shot.
Toke lands a body shot.
Meritähti lands a hook that snaps the head of Toke backwards.
Toke is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Meritähti gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Meritähti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Meritähti tries to work over Toke's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Meritähti wants to break the clinch but can't.
Meritähti wants to break free but Toke has control.
A head punch on the inside from Toke fails to land.
Meritähti throws a head punch that misses.
Meritähti stalling in the clinch but Toke improves position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Toke is trying to trip Meritähti. He has hold of a leg but Meritähti is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Toke persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Meritähti tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Toke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Our spies down at at Suklaa Meritähti inform us that Meritähti has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Toke with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Toke throwing strikes from guard but Meritähti blocks nicely.
Toke trying to control the position from guard on top but Meritähti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meritähti looking for a sweep. Not yet Meritähti, not yet.
Meritähti bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Toke's guard.

Meritähti got a little sloppy there for a moment and Toke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Meritähti has managed to get both his arms back between Toke's legs - danger averted.
Meritähti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Toke swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Toke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Toke seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Meritähti trying to control the position from guard on top but Toke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Toke is trying to control the position but Meritähti postures up.

Toke had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Meritähti defends it easily.
Toke has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Toke is trying to keep Meritähti in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Toke has his foot on Meritähti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Meritähti works his way back into a safe position though.

Toke is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Meritähti trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Toke escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Meritähti gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Toke is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Meritähti cracks Toke with a solid left hand.
Meritähti with a nice head shot there.
Meritähti lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Meritähti lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meritähti with a nice head shot there.
Meritähti lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Toke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Toke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Meritähti defends well.
Meritähti lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Meritähti trying to control but Toke is working from the bottom.

Toke looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Meritähti chips away with some ground and pound.
Meritähti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Toke is keeping the position for now.
Toke is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Toke stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Toke takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Toke avoids the body shot from Meritähti.
Meritähti connects with an inside leg kick.
Toke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Meritähti.
Meritähti attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Toke throws a leg kick but Meritähti moved away.
As Toke backs off Meritähti throws a huge counter combo but Toke manages to avoid it all.
Toke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Toke shoots in for a takedown but Meritähti shows good takedown defense.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Toke ducks under a wild hook from Meritähti.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jaako Meritähti will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Toke wants to clinch.
Toke catches Meritähti with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Tiki Toke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Toke doesn't manage to clinch there - Meritähti circles away.
Toke tries a head kick but it misses.
Meritähti listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meritähti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Meritähti rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Toke moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Meritähti tries a low kick but Toke avoids it.
Meritähti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Meritähti throws out a loose jab but Toke uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toke throws a hook to the side of Meritähti's head but Meritähti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Meritähti connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Toke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Meritähti pinned against the cage. Meritähti gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Meritähti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Toke feinted with a counter takedown.
Sloppy strikes from Toke. Those never looked like landing.
Meritähti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Toke.
Toke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A head kick misses from Meritähti.
Toke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Meritähti.
Meritähti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Toke throws out the jab.
Toke loads up on a big right hand but Meritähti slips the punch.
Tiki Toke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A looping hook to the body misses from Toke. Meritähti does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meritähti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Toke cracks a nice hook into Meritähti's ribs.
Toke looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Toke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Meritähti.
Toke throws a lazy right hand but Meritähti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Toke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Toke throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Meritähti bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Jaako Meritähti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Meritähti has a takedown stuffed.
Toke misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Meritähti looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Toke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Toke fails in his attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Meritähti on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Toke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Meritähti dodges the punch combination from Toke.
A head kick misses from Meritähti.
Toke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A shot to the liver by Toke. Beautiful body shot.
Toke shoots in but Meritähti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Meritähti looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiki Toke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toke throws a poor cross that misses
and Meritähti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toke throws a leg kick but Meritähti checks it.
Some wild striking there from Toke.
Meritähti cracks Toke with a right hand to the side of the head.
Toke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Toke misses with a hook

and Meritähti counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Toke working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Meritähti doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Meritähti manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meritähti connects with a couple of short punches.

Toke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Meritähti missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaako Meritähti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Meritähti lands a jab to the nose.
Meritähti moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Meritähti throws an off balance right hand
and Toke counters with a three punch combo that has Meritähti backing up. Meritähti nods at Toke to acknowledge the strikes.
Meritähti lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Toke's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Meritähti connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Toke scrambles back to his feet.
Toke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Meritähti wants to slow Toke down by chopping away at his legs.
Meritähti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Toke.
Meritähti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Toke shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Meritähti but Meritähti pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toke wants to land a leg kick but Meritähti is out of range.
Meritähti lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Toke at a distance.
Toke lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Meritähti backs up against the cage.
Toke throws an off balance right hand
and Meritähti counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Toke takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Toke shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Toke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Meritähti tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Toke tries to score with a low kick but Meritähti moves his leg out of the way.
Meritähti ducks under a wild hook from Toke.
Meritähti now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A head kick by Toke misses
and Meritähti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Meritähti throws a leg kick which misses Toke's front leg but catches the back leg as Toke tries to avoid it.
Meritähti throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Meritähti throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meritähti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Meritähti fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Meritähti throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Meritähti lands a really nice looking cross but Toke seems unphased.
Meritähti throws a shot from downtown. Toke moves away and avoids it.
Toke throws a series of punches but Meritähti moves out of range.
Toke lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Toke.
Toke takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Meritähti lands a body shot.
Toke looks to land a body kick but Meritähti moved away.
Toke tries to clinch but Meritähti moves away
and Meritähti counters with a straight right hand.
A nice inside leg kick there by Meritähti. That's going to slow Toke down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meritähti misses with a body shot.
Meritähti walks into a jab.
Meritähti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Meritähti throws a big shot that misses.
Toke lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Jaako Meritähti is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Toke misses with an attempted mid kick.
Meritähti looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Toke throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Meritähti counters with a right hand to the body.
Meritähti lands with a thumping leg kick.
Toke fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
As Toke backs off Meritähti throws a huge counter combo but Toke manages to avoid it all.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Toke checks a leg kick.
Meritähti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toke shoots in for a takedown but Meritähti shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tiki Toke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Meritähti. Toke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice shot by Meritähti.
Meritähti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Toke.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Meritähti digs a good body shot into Toke's ribs.
Meritähti feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Toke's calf.
Tiki Toke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Toke scores with a decent looking hook.
Meritähti lands with a kick to the ribs.
Meritähti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Meritähti lands with a slapping head kick.
Meritähti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Toke throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaako Meritähti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Meritähti has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaako Meritähti!
Jaako Meritähti thanked the fans post fight for their support.