PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Armstrong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bjon Lothbrok (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Armstrong
vs
Lothbrok

189 cm
24
256 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
225 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Blake Armstrong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bjon Lothbrok!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong fails with an attempt to clinch.
Lothbrok throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Armstrong on the side of the head.
Lothbrok with a poor takedown

and Armstrong counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Lothbrok!
Armstrong controls the position.
Lothbrok is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Armstrong working the ground and pound.
Lothbrok takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lothbrok seems a little lost for a moment, as Armstrong dominates the positioning.
Lothbrok 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.
Lothbrok looks winded!
Armstrong tries to advance to mount but Lothbrok denies him.
The strikes coming from Armstrong are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lothbrok is letting Armstrong control him for a moment.

Armstrong is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lothbrok knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Armstrong tries to move to mount but Lothbrok blocks the move with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Armstrong wants to stand but Lothbrok is controlling his arm.
A lull in the action here as Armstrong stalls from top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Armstrong is trying to get an arm triangle but Lothbrok is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A head kick by Armstrong misses
and Lothbrok counters with a series of strikes. Armstrong will be more careful next time no doubt.
Armstrong misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Armstrong with a poor takedown
and Lothbrok counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lothbrok lands a lovely overhand right.

Armstrong shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Armstrong not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong wants to work for an arm triangle but Lothbrok is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Armstrong perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Armstrong slips a nice elbow through Lothbrok's hands, connecting with Lothbrok's forehead.

Armstrong is looking for a kimura but Lothbrok is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Armstrong to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Blake Armstrong will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Armstrong tries to clinch but Lothbrok moves out of range.
Lothbrok goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lothbrok keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Armstrong shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lothbrok is trying to defend but Armstrong finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Lothbrok kicks off Armstrong and gets to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lothbrok is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lothbrok circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lothbrok cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong shoots in for a takedown but Lothbrok shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lothbrok tries for a takedown but Armstrong sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Armstrong darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Armstrong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Armstrong is taking a breather. Lothbrok says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Lothbrok on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong is trying to work for a kimura but Lothbrok is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armstrong sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lothbrok defending well though.

Armstrong looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Armstrong not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Armstrong looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Armstrong seems to be working for a kimura but Lothbrok defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Armstrong throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Armstrong looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Armstrong tries to close the distance and clinch but Lothbrok swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lothbrok misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bjon Lothbrok will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Armstrong defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lothbrok.

Lothbrok gets tackled into the cage by Armstrong. Armstrong maintains the clinch.

Armstrong jumps into guard, dragging Lothbrok to the mat.
Armstrong has his hands on Lothbrok's head, controlling the position.
Lothbrok wants to stand and escape but instead Armstrong has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Armstrong passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Armstrong looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Lothbrok takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake Armstrong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Armstrong connects with a nice short shot to Lothbrok's temple.
Armstrong with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Armstrong seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Armstrong is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Armstrong with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Armstrong missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Armstrong is working for a submission of some sort.
Armstrong is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Armstrong moves into full mount! Lothbrok won't be happy about that!
Lothbrok is bucking up trying to escape but Armstrong cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Armstrong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lothbrok can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Armstrong working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Armstrong lands a heavy elbow.
Armstrong is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Armstrong controlling the position easily from mount.

Armstrong is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lothbrok is surviving well by controlling Armstrong's body position as best he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Armstrong showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Armstrong has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Armstrong!