PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aki Hiko (ranked 1235 p4p, 55 weight class) and Toni Eerkilaa (ranked 3195 p4p, 130 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Eerkilaa's choice of entrance music: Welcome People. Toni Eerkilaa will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hiko
vs
Eerkilaa

225 cm
26
294 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

207 cm
41
285 lbs
31 - 21 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aki Hiko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Toni Eerkilaa!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eerkilaa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hiko moves forwards but Eerkilaa connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Aki Hiko has been cut.
Hiko lands with an uppercut that bounces Eerkilaa off the cage and back into range.
Hiko misses with a hook.
Hiko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Hiko fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Eerkilaa to the ground. Hiko is now in Eerkilaa's guard.

Eerkilaa uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hiko misses with a wild combination.
Hiko looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hiko ducks under a wild hook from Eerkilaa.
Eerkilaa has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Eerkilaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hiko.
Eerkilaa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Good leg kick by Eerkilaa there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Aki Hiko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hiko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Eerkilaa's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiko stops Eerkilaa from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hiko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hiko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hiko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hiko trying to control the position from guard on top but Eerkilaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hiko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Eerkilaa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hiko.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Eerkilaa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hiko scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hiko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hiko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hiko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Eerkilaa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hiko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiko looking to sit in guard and control but Eerkilaa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Eerkilaa prevents Hiko from getting back to his feet.

Hiko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Eerkilaa preventing the sweep.
Hiko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hiko doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hiko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hiko pulls Eerkilaa in close to prevent any damage.
Hiko wants to sweep here but Eerkilaa controlling him for the moment.
Hiko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Eerkilaa's guard.

Hiko throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hiko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eerkilaa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hiko.
Hiko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hiko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Eerkilaa's head.
Hiko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hiko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hiko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hiko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hiko landing with the ground and pound.
Eerkilaa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aki Hiko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aki Hiko'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.

Hiko moves away from the strike by Eerkilaa.
Hiko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Eerkilaa drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Hiko ducks under a wild hook from Eerkilaa.
Eerkilaa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Eerkilaa throws a lazy body kick

and Hiko counters with a single leg into guard. Eerkilaa didn't expect that.
Hiko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hiko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hiko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiko trying to control but Eerkilaa is working from the bottom.
Hiko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Eerkilaa can do to turn this around?
Hiko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hiko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Eerkilaa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hiko is looking to work some ground and pound but Eerkilaa has wrist control.
Hiko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hiko throws a big elbow that misses.
Hiko throws a big right hand that misses.
Hiko throws a big elbow that misses.
Eerkilaa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hiko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hiko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Eerkilaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hiko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hiko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eerkilaa keeping moving, preventing Hiko from controlling successfully.
Hiko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hiko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hiko throws an elbow that misses. Eerkilaa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hiko's guard. Nice move by Eerkilaa!

Eerkilaa wants to stand but Hiko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Eerkilaa avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Aki Hiko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Eerkilaa won't allow Hiko to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiko is striking from the bottom but Eerkilaa uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Hiko is trying to stand back up but Eerkilaa is controlling him
Hiko is trying to maintain the position but Eerkilaa is very close to passing his half guard.
Hiko trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Eerkilaa manages to pass to mount!
Hiko is looking to improve his position but Eerkilaa isn't that keen on the idea.
Hiko wants to control but Eerkilaa is having none of it.
Eerkilaa prevents Hiko from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiko's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Eerkilaa wants to control the pace but Hiko is squirming around nicely.
Hiko bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hiko 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.
Hiko postures up and lands a big shot to Eerkilaa's brow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hiko chips away with some ground and pound.
Hiko throwing strikes but missing.
Hiko chips away with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aki Hiko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Aki Hiko's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hiko moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hiko jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Eerkilaa wants to clinch up but Hiko keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hiko is defended easily by Eerkilaa.
Eerkilaa misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eerkilaa fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hiko is out of range.
Hiko shoots in looking for a takedown. Eerkilaa tries to sprawl out of it but Hiko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Eerkilaa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eerkilaa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hiko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Eerkilaa counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hiko's knee momentarily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aki Hiko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hiko misses with a kick to the body
and Eerkilaa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Hiko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Eerkilaa looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hiko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Hiko is looking to take a break and control but Eerkilaa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hiko throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hiko throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Toni Eerkilaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiko laying and praying for a moment but Eerkilaa takes advantage and regains half guard.
Hiko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Eerkilaa defending well though.
Hiko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hiko throwing shots but Eerkilaa is blocking nicely.
Hiko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Eerkilaa defending well though.
Hiko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Eerkilaa's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Eerkilaa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hiko.
Hiko passes the guard and advances to mount!
Hiko raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiko with the ground and pound from mount.
Hiko drops a big elbow. That's hurt Eerkilaa! More shots from Hiko and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aki Hiko!
Aki Hiko tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.