PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jose Mera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalevi Holger Routakirves (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Routakirves has chosen Miami Nights 1984 - Elevator of Love as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Mera
vs
Holger Routakirves

168 cm
32
150 lbs
15 - 10 - 0

178 cm
32
169 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Mera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalevi Holger Routakirves!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Routakirves swivels and escapes.
Routakirves moves into range and connects with a jab.

Mera drives through and clinches with Routakirves against the cage.

Routakirves jumps guard.
Mera wants to control from the top but Routakirves keeps moving.

Routakirves escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mera gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Routakirves working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mera.
Mera advances position into side control!
Routakirves tries to buck Mera off but Mera is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Routakirves is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Mera wants to free his trapped foot but Routakirves is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Routakirves works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mera trying to control but Routakirves is working from the bottom.

Routakirves looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Routakirves utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Routakirves is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Routakirves working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mera doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mera manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mera trying to control but Routakirves is working from the bottom.
Mera has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Routakirves wants to sweep here but Mera controlling him for the moment.
Routakirves working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Routakirves looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mera trying to control but Routakirves is working from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mera's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mera is in close to Routakirves's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Mera is pushing down on Routakirves's leg trying to pass to half guard. Routakirves is fighting to maintain full guard but Mera has managed to sneak the leg through.
Routakirves felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Routakirves tries to get to full guard but Mera has control of the leg.
Mera wants to pass the guard but Routakirves is defending well.
Well, if Mera is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are battling for position here. Routakirves manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mera is pushing down on Routakirves's leg trying to pass to half guard. Routakirves is fighting to maintain full guard but Mera has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mera is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Routakirves reverses the position - he's now on top in Mera's guard.
Routakirves won't allow Mera to sweep him here.
Routakirves looking to pass the guard.
Routakirves preventing the sweep.
Routakirves is looking to advance position but Mera has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Routakirves wants to control but Mera is having none of it.
Routakirves is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Routakirves is squirming around, avoiding Mera's attempts to control the action.
Routakirves is looking to get to half guard.
Routakirves bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Routakirves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mera swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Mera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Routakirves looking to pass the guard.
Mera bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Routakirves's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kalevi Holger Routakirves 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.

Mera getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Mera fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Routakirves looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mera!

Routakirves tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mera tries to buck Routakirves off but Routakirves is having none of it.
Routakirves creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Mera tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Routakirves lands a nice forearm strike.

Routakirves tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mera tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Routakirves landing a few strikes.
Routakirves tries to move into full mount but can't pass Mera's legs.
Mera tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Routakirves wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Mera taking punishment in the form of punches.
Mera is trying to improve his position.
Routakirves working the ground and pound from side control.
Routakirves is putting a hurting on Mera here, landing some big shots from side control.
Routakirves wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mera keeps working.
Mera gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mera regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mera wants to sweep here but Routakirves controlling him for the moment.
Kalevi Holger Routakirves has got the better of the ground game so far.
Routakirves throwing strikes from guard but Mera blocks nicely.
Routakirves passes Mera's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Routakirves trying to control from half guard but Mera is working away.

Routakirves is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Mera defends it well.
Routakirves wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mera keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Routakirves is looking to advance position but Mera won't allow it.

Routakirves seems to be working for a kimura but Mera defends the submission attempt.
Routakirves is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Mera!
Mera tries to lock up and control but Routakirves gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Routakirves lands a couple of good shots and Mera has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Mera is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Routakirves scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Routakirves is hanging on to Mera's back as he tries to escape.
Routakirves scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Mera is looking for a way out.
Routakirves keeps control of the position as Mera tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Routakirves lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Routakirves is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Routakirves gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Routakirves gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Routakirves apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Mera tries to score a power double leg takedown but Routakirves sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mera somewhat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mera looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Routakirves is fending him off so far but Mera persists. Nope, Routakirves circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jose Mera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mera has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Routakirves finds it's way round the side to connect with Mera's head.
Mera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Routakirves.
Routakirves connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mera. Mera circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Routakirves as he avoids it easily.
Routakirves throws the left hand but Mera avoids the punch easily.
Routakirves misses with a looping left.
Routakirves on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
No luck for Mera with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalevi Holger Routakirves showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Routakirves ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Mera clinches up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Routakirves fails to land.
Mera throws a punch but it's blocked by Routakirves.

Routakirves pulls guard effortlessly.
Mera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Routakirves is keeping the position for now.
Routakirves has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mera trying to control the position from guard on top but Routakirves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mera postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Routakirves wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Routakirves not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mera pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Routakirves is keeping the position for now.
Mera slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Routakirves tries to roll over but Mera keeps him under control.
Mera uses his free foot to push down on Routakirves's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Routakirves.
Mera thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mera working the ground and pound effectively.
Routakirves is trying desperately to improve position.
Routakirves is squirming around, avoiding Mera's attempts to control the action.
Routakirves is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Jose Mera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Routakirves wants to control but Mera is having none of it.
Routakirves avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mera.
Routakirves is trying desperately to improve position.
Routakirves keeps trying to improve his position.
Mera can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Routakirves is looking to escape.
Routakirves sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Mera sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Routakirves is staying active underneath Mera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mera is nestled in close to Routakirves, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Routakirves tries to get to full guard but Mera has control of the leg.
Mera is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Routakirves!
Mera throws some wild stikes that Routakirves manages to avoid easily.
Routakirves is trying to escape the mount.
Routakirves tries to hold on but Mera postures up.
Routakirves is trying desperately to improve position.
Kalevi Holger Routakirves is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mera looking to control but Routakirves is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Routakirves tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mera throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Mera controlling from mount.
Routakirves is squirming around, avoiding Mera's attempts to control the action.
Mera throws some wild stikes that Routakirves manages to avoid easily.
Routakirves is squirming around, avoiding Mera's attempts to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Routakirves is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Routakirves avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mera.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Mera showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Routakirves has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!