PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mertsi Peltola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marko Torturo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Torturo has chosen Mogwai - Katrien as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Peltola
vs
Torturo

182 cm
30
212 lbs
21 - 14 - 1

189 cm
39
217 lbs
40 - 20 - 4

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Tokyo United Fightwear

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 21 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mertsi Peltola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 20 - 4, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marko Torturo!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Andrew Berry and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Peltola is defended easily by Torturo.
Peltola throws a hook but Torturo avoids it easily.
Torturo blocks a jab.
Peltola moves out of range of the body kick.
Peltola takes a swing at Torturo's ribcage but misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Peltola. Torturo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Peltola misses with a right hand
letting Torturo counter with a right hand.
Peltola throws a body punch but Torturo moves out of range.
It seemed like Torturo was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Torturo throws a nice inside leg kick.
Torturo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peltola uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Torturo.
Torturo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice defenses there by Torturo.
Torturo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A little feinted left hand from Peltola on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Peltola misses with a right hand
enabling Torturo to counter with a crisp jab.
Torturo thumps Peltola with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Torturo.
Peltola misses the shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Peltola throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Torturo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Torturo.
Torturo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Torturo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Peltola's elbow.
Torturo lands a right hand.
Torturo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Torturo tries a body shot but Peltola blocks it.
Torturo throws a punch but it's blocked by Peltola.
Torturo tries to work over Peltola's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Torturo digs a right hand into Peltola's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Peltola's gas tank.
Torturo works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Peltola tries to work over Torturo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Torturo misses with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torturo letting Peltola take a breather here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Torturo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Torturo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Peltola's elbow.

Peltola decides to pull guard.
Peltola wants to control but Torturo passes easily into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Peltola looking for submissions off his back.
Peltola is looking to improve his position.
Peltola is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Peltola is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Torturo pulls his head out easily.
Peltola is looking to improve his position.
Still in half guard, Torturo seems content to control.
Peltola tries to get to full guard but Torturo has control of the leg.
Torturo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Peltola!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Peltola working to try and regain half guard.
Peltola tries to lock up and control but Torturo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Peltola is in all sorts of trouble here.
Peltola tries to hold on but Torturo pushes him away.
Torturo content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Torturo dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A slow jab from Peltola misses its intended target.
Torturo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Peltola was well out of range. Poor timing from Torturo.
Peltola swings for the body but Torturo moves out of range.
Peltola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Torturo was well out of range. Poor timing from Peltola.
Torturo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Torturo defending well as Peltola loads up on a big left hand.
Peltola throws a predictable looking body shot
and Torturo counters with a thumping low kick.
Peltola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Torturo.
Torturo was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Peltola throws a big shot that misses.
Peltola rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Torturo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Torturo slips a jab from Peltola.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Peltola takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Peltola connects with a single shot there.
Torturo throws a quick inside leg kick.
Peltola is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Torturo is looking to clinch but Peltola is avoiding it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Peltola. Torturo does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peltola cracks Torturo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Some bone on bone action there as Peltola checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Torturo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Peltola throws out the jab.
Peltola feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Torturos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Peltola looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Torturo ducks under a wild hook from Peltola.
Torturo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Marko Torturo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Torturo moves out of range as Peltola strikes.
Torturo on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Torturo is looking to land body kicks.
Peltola is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Torturo.
Torturo throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Peltola's head.

It looks like Mertsi Peltola has been cut.
Torturo tries a low kick but Peltola avoids it.
Torturo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Peltola throws a right hand that misses
and Torturo counters with a nice leg kick.
Peltola dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Some bone on bone action there as Peltola checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Peltola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torturo throws a leg kick but Peltola checks it.
Torturo throws a leg kick
and Peltola counters with a nice uppercut.
Torturo looks to throw the jab but Peltola is out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Torturo - that will leave a mark!
Peltola misses with a hook. Torturo ducked under it nicely.
Torturo tried to score with a low kick but Peltola checks it.
Peltola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Peltola shoots in but no luck this time.
Peltola walks forward, straight into a front kick from Torturo.
Peltola scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Torturo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Peltola.
Some wild striking there from Peltola.
Torturo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Peltola sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Peltola walks into a left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torturo throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Torturo looks to throw a body kick
and Peltola counters with a stiff right hand.
Torturo lands with an uppercut that bounces Peltola off the cage and back into range.

Torturo closes the distance and clinches.
Torturo lands a right hand.
Peltola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Peltola leaning against his opponent.
Torturo swings wildly with an uppercut but Peltola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Peltola looking to stall.
Torturo is working Peltola over against the cage.
Torturo throws a punch but it's blocked by Peltola.
A right handed body shot lands from Torturo.
Torturo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peltola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Peltola prevents a body shot from Torturo.
Torturo misses with a punch to the body.
Torturo can't find room to land a body shot as Peltola controls the action.
Torturo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Peltola's elbow.
Peltola blocks an uppercut.
Peltola blocking some punches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Marko Torturo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short uppercut from Torturo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Peltola takes a shot to the head.
Torturo misses with a punch on the inside.
Torturo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Torturo misses with the head strike.
Torturo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Torturo lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Peltola backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Torturo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mertsi Peltola's cut.
That's time! Peltola's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Torturo loads up on a big right hand but Peltola slips the punch.
Peltola swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Peltola moves out of range of the body kick from Torturo.
Torturo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A punch lands to the side of Peltola 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Peltola is rocked!
Torturo closes the distance and lands a brutal uppercut that knocks Peltola out! We're looking at the replay now - he was out before he hit the floor!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Marko Torturo!
After winning the bout, Marko Torturo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.