PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antero Merta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Riku Myllyla (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Merta
vs
Myllyla

177 cm
22
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antero Merta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riku Myllyla!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Myllyla. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Myllyla.
Myllyla circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merta fails with an attempt to clinch.
Merta looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Myllyla is fending him off so far but Merta persists. Nope, Myllyla circles away and we're back to standing.

Myllyla closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Merta did well to prevent Myllyla getting side control.
Merta on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Merta tries to get out of the position.
Myllyla trying to mount his opponent but Merta defends it.
Merta is refusing to be controlled, as Myllyla sits in half guard.
Myllyla seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Myllyla prevents Merta from standing back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Myllyla is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Merta is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Myllyla jumps into side control!
The strikes coming from Myllyla are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
You can see the frustration on Merta's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Myllyla pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merta fails with the takedown

and Myllyla counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Myllyla wants to control from the top but Merta keeps moving.
Merta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Merta is trying to control. Myllyla wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Merta wants to pass the guard but Myllyla is defending well.
Myllyla is staying active underneath Merta, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Myllyla looks gassed!

Merta is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Merta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Myllyla keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merta is looking to advance position but Myllyla won't allow it.

Myllyla looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Merta clinches but Myllyla breaks the clinch

and Myllyla counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Merta trying to keep a closed guard but Myllyla is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merta looking for a sweep. Not yet Merta, not yet.
Merta is trying to keep Myllyla in close.
Myllyla won't allow Merta to sweep him here.

Myllyla avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Merta with a lazy takedown attempt
and Myllyla counters with a series of strikes. Merta will be more careful next time no doubt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antero Merta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some bone on bone action there as Myllyla checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Merta tries to close the distance and clinch but Myllyla swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merta misses with a wild body shot.
Merta is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Merta pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Merta is looking to clinch.
Merta shoots for a double leg takedown but Myllyla sprawls well. He's pushed Merta's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Merta shoots for a double leg takedown but Myllyla sprawls well. He's pushed Merta's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Merta.

Merta scores with a takedown into Myllyla's guard.
Myllyla tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Merta wants to stand but Myllyla has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Merta trying to control the position from guard on top but Myllyla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Myllyla dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Myllyla checks the leg kick nicely there.
Myllyla shoots in for a takedown but Merta shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Merta is looking to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Merta.
Merta shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Myllyla sprawls well. Myllyla wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Merta gets slowly back to his feet.
Myllyla throws a right and a left that both miss.
Merta throws a solid leg kick but Myllyla takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Merta.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merta slips a jab from Myllyla.
Myllyla is breathing heavily.
Merta shoots for a double leg takedown but Myllyla sprawls well. He's pushed Merta's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antero Merta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Merta tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Myllyla paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Riku Myllyla seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Merta misses.
Merta will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Myllyla throws a leg kick but Merta moved away.
Merta fails with a takedown attempt.
Merta tries a head kick but it misses.
Merta tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Merta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Merta lands a nice leg kick that just misses Myllyla's sensitive parts.
Myllyla keeps the fight on the outside.
Horrible takedown by Merta or perhaps it was just good defense by Myllyla which made him look bad.
Horrible takedown by Merta or perhaps it was just good defense by Myllyla which made him look bad.
Merta fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merta shoots in looking for a takedown. Myllyla tries to sprawl out of it but Merta keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Myllyla manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Merta.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Myllyla is defended easily by Merta.
Merta shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Myllyla as he jumps to the side.
Myllyla keeps the fight on the outside.
A head kick misses from Merta.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merta is defended easily by Myllyla.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Myllyla blocks a head kick by Merta.
Myllyla closes the distance but Merta moves to the side
and Merta counters with a low kick, right behind Myllyla 's knee.
Merta is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merta tries to clinch but Myllyla is having none of it.
Merta tries for a takedown but Myllyla sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Merta fails with an attempt to clinch.
Merta shoots for a double leg takedown but Myllyla sprawls well. He's pushed Merta's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Horrible takedown by Merta or perhaps it was just good defense by Myllyla which made him look bad.
Myllyla tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Merta counters with a nice leg kick.
Merta misses with a jab, cross combination.
Myllyla tries to close the distance and clinch up but Merta swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Merta drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Merta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Myllyla keeps working.
The ground and pound from Merta seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Merta tries to move into full mount but can't pass Myllyla's legs.

Merta stands up.
Merta tries to close the distance and clinch but Myllyla swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merta tries to score a power double leg takedown but Myllyla sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Merta somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Merta dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Merta shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Myllyla as he jumps to the side.
Some wild striking there from Myllyla.
Merta takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Merta looks for a takedown but Myllyla sprawls well.
Myllyla wants to clinch up but Merta keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Merta is defended easily by Myllyla.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antero Merta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merta throws a body punch but Myllyla moves out of range.
Myllyla takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Merta has a takedown stuffed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Myllyla.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merta misses with a takedown attempt - Myllyla sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Myllyla slaps away a takedown attempt from Merta, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Myllyla shoots in for a double leg but Merta sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Merta fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Merta throws a right and a left that both miss.
Merta tries to score a power double leg takedown but Myllyla sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Merta somewhat.

Myllyla gets caught flat footed, as Merta shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Myllyla looking to hit a scissor sweep but Merta is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merta trying to control the position from guard on top but Myllyla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Myllyla is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Merta wants to get up but he can't break Myllyla's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Merta knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Myllyla on the ground.
Merta trying to control the position from guard on top but Myllyla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merta working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Merta shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Myllyla as he avoids it easily.
Myllyla blocks the body kick.
Merta doesn't manage to clinch there - Myllyla circles away.
Merta fails with a takedown attempt.
Myllyla avoids the head kick by Merta.

Merta clinches up against the cage.
Merta is trying to break free.
Merta tries to score a body lock takedown but Myllyla shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Merta fails to pull guard.

Myllyla decides to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merta wanted to stand there but Myllyla had control of the position.
Merta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Myllyla works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Myllyla preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Merta tries to free his leg and advance position but Myllyla is retaining full guard.
Myllyla keeping moving, preventing Merta from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Merta wanted to stand there but Myllyla had control of the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Myllyla is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Riku Myllyla.
I think Myllyla 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riku Myllyla!