PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Armin Merkel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pate Mustajarvi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merkel comes to the cage accompanied by Juke Joint Jezebel. Mustajarvi has chosen Gangsta Rap as his entrance music. Pate Mustajarvi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Merkel
vs
Mustajarvi

225 cm
24
300 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

202 cm
20
285 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

[MMABR] SOLID Nutritional - Tokyo's Best!!

Nightmare Clothes
Machina Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Armin Merkel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of New York, Pate Mustajarvi!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Bruno Lombardi and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Merkel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi throws a sloppy head kick and Merkel moves out of range easily.
Mustajarvi wants to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Mustajarvi.
Merkel looks to score with a jab to the body but Mustajarvi is just out of range.
Mustajarvi tries to clinch up.
Mustajarvi tries to clinch there but Merkel circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merkel misses with a wild combination.
A head kick misses from Mustajarvi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merkel looks to land a combination but Mustajarvi avoids it well.

Mustajarvi drives through and clinches with Merkel against the cage.
Merkel manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Mustajarvi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Merkel blocking some punches.
Mustajarvi misses with an elbow strike.
Mustajarvi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mustajarvi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mustajarvi is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The crowd are getting on Mustajarvi's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Mustajarvi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Merkel's brow.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merkel. Mustajarvi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Merkel with a nice cross.
Mustajarvi slips a straight right by Merkel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mustajarvi misses with a looping left.
Armin Merkel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merkel throws a jab but it's blocked by Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mustajarvi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Merkel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch combination from Merkel misses.
Merkel tests Mustajarvi's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Mustajarvi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Merkel misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mustajarvi.
Merkel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mustajarvi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mustajarvi misses with a shot to the body
letting Merkel counter with a right hand.
Mustajarvi misses with a jab to the body
and Mustajarvi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Pate Mustajarvi has been cut.
Mustajarvi is looking to chop away at Merkel's legs.
Merkel fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Mustajarvi misses with an uppercut.

Mustajarvi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Merkel lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mustajarvi backwards.
Merkel dodges an elbow strike from Mustajarvi.
Merkel lands a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mustajarvi looking to stall.
Mustajarvi tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Merkel blocks an elbow strike.
Merkel is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mustajarvi stalling in the clinch but Merkel improves position.
Merkel takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mustajarvi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mustajarvi lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Mustajarvi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Merkel avoids it.
Mustajarvi tries to land knees in the clinch but Merkel avoids the damage to the body.
Merkel tries to break free but Mustajarvi pushes him back against the cage.
Mustajarvi scores with a shoulder strike.
Mustajarvi lands a good knee to the midsection. Merkel won't want to take too many of those.
Mustajarvi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mustajarvi misses with an elbow strike.
Mustajarvi misses with an elbow strike.
Mustajarvi creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Merkel.
Merkel on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mustajarvi misses with an elbow over the top.
Mustajarvi tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Merkel avoids it.
Merkel being controlled against the cage.
Mustajarvi throws an elbow but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armin Merkel dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pate Mustajarvi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Mustajarvi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Pate Mustajarvi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Merkel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mustajarvi.
A jab from Merkel misses.
Mustajarvi is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
A jab from Mustajarvi finds it's way through Merkel's defenses.
Mustajarvi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Merkel.
Merkel keeps the fight on the outside.
Merkel uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mustajarvi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Merkel takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Mustajarvi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mustajarvi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi misses with a body kick.
A head kick misses from Mustajarvi.
A combination from Merkel does no damage.
Merkel is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Mustajarvi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Merkel's head.
Mustajarvi throws a sloppy head kick and Merkel moves out of range easily.
Mustajarvi tries a head kick but it misses.
Merkel scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Mustajarvi throws a body punch but Merkel moves out of range.
Mustajarvi uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Merkel.
Merkel is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mustajarvi looks to clinch
and Mustajarvi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mustajarvi takes a swing at Merkel's ribcage but misses.
Mustajarvi throws a right hand that Merkel ducks under and follows up with a left that Merkel also avoids with ease.
A head kick misses from Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi connects with a high kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mustajarvi throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Merkel throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Mustajarvi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mustajarvi is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mustajarvi.
Merkel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Merkel circles away from the clinch attempt
and Merkel counters with a straight right hand.
Mustajarvi throws a body kick that misses.
Merkel misses with a jab to the body
and Mustajarvi counters with a nice kick to the body.
Mustajarvi misses with a low kick.
Mustajarvi tries to clinch up but Merkel circles away and keeps his distance.
Merkel tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Mustajarvi takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mustajarvi moves forwards but Merkel connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Merkel scores with a jab.
Mustajarvi misses with a looping left.
Merkel thuds his right hand into Mustajarvi's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Merkel throws a hook but Mustajarvi blocks it.
Merkel blocks a head kick by Mustajarvi.
Merkel scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merkel misses with a hook. Mustajarvi ducked under it nicely.
Good leg kick by Mustajarvi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armin Merkel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pate Mustajarvi's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A head kick misses from Mustajarvi.
Merkel looks to throw the jab but Mustajarvi is out of range.
Merkel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mustajarvi can pounce on him.
Mustajarvi with a nice cross.
Armin Merkel is winning the standup battle so far.

Mustajarvi moves into the clinch.
Merkel blocking some punches.
Merkel avoids a wild elbow strike from Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Merkel takes an elbow to the forehead.
Mustajarvi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Armin Merkel has been cut.
Mustajarvi prevents a body shot from Merkel.
Nice elbow from Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Merkel swings wildly with an uppercut but Mustajarvi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merkel misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mustajarvi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Mustajarvi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Merkel blocks an elbow strike from Mustajarvi.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi misses with an elbow over the top.
Mustajarvi missing with knees to the body.
Mustajarvi misses with an elbow over the top.
Mustajarvi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Merkel can't find room to land a body shot as Mustajarvi controls the action.
Merkel misses with a body punch.
Merkel avoids a wild elbow strike from Mustajarvi.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Merkel. Mustajarvi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mustajarvi looks for a takedown but Merkel sprawls well.
Mustajarvi wants to clinch.

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.
Mustajarvi takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mustajarvi tries to close the distance and clinch but Merkel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Merkel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Merkel connects with a looping right hand.
Nice body punch from Merkel.
Mustajarvi tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkel waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mustajarvi.
Merkel swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Merkel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mustajarvi defending well as Merkel loads up on a big left hand.
Merkel connects with a single shot there.
Mustajarvi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Mustajarvi looks to clinch
and Merkel counters with a two punch combo.

That has opened up Pate Mustajarvi's cut even more.
Mustajarvi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Merkel.
Merkel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Merkel lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Merkel takes a kick to the side of the head.
Merkel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mustajarvi manages to avoid it.
Mustajarvi throws a head kick that Merkel semi-blocks.
Mustajarvi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Mustajarvi lands with a nice combination. Merkel backs away looking to recover.
Mustajarvi slips under a jab from Merkel.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Merkel with a nice cross.
Merkel moves out of range as Mustajarvi strikes.
Merkel falls off balance throwing a combination

and Mustajarvi counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armin Merkel clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mustajarvi takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mustajarvi throws a combination that misses
and Merkel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Mustajarvi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Mustajarvi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mustajarvi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Merkel.
Mustajarvi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Mustajarvi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Merkel misses with a hook. Mustajarvi ducked under it nicely.
Merkel keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Mustajarvi walks into a stiff left hand from Merkel.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mustajarvi misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Merkel misses.
Mustajarvi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Merkel takes one on the button.
Merkel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mustajarvi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Merkel swings for the body but Mustajarvi moves out of range.
Merkel misses with a body shot.
Mustajarvi throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Merkel counters with a left and a right that stings Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Merkel. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merkel misses with a body shot
and Mustajarvi counters with a nice uppercut.
Mustajarvi tries to clinch but Merkel moves out of range.
Merkel misses with a few strikes there.
Mustajarvi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Merkel.
Merkel misses with a wild body shot.
Mustajarvi tries a head kick but it misses.
Merkel connects with a good right hand that stumbles Mustajarvi. Mustajarvi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mustajarvi throws a predictable looking body shot
and Merkel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

The cut above Pate Mustajarvi's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Merkel on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mustajarvi shoots for a double leg takedown but Merkel sprawls well. He's pushed Mustajarvi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mustajarvi walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Merkel looks to throw the jab but Mustajarvi is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi misses with a head kick.
Mustajarvi throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Mustajarvi jabs Merkel right on the nose. Merkel blinks but takes it well.
Mustajarvi tries to close the distance and clinch but Merkel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mustajarvi misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Merkel misses its intended target.
Mustajarvi lands a with a good body shot.
Mustajarvi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Merkel moves out of range of the strikes.
Mustajarvi is looking to clinch.
Mustajarvi thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Merkel checks a leg kick.
Mustajarvi wants to clinch up but Merkel keeps it at a distance.
Mustajarvi throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armin Merkel had his way with Pate Mustajarvi in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mustajarvi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Merkel.
Mustajarvi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Mustajarvi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Merkel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Merkel throws out a loose jab but Mustajarvi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Merkel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mustajarvi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mustajarvi moves in looking to clinch but Merkel pushes him off.
Merkel ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mustajarvi moves away.
Mustajarvi misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merkel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Merkel swings for the body but Mustajarvi moves out of range.
Merkel lands with a cross.
Mustajarvi misses with a combination
and Merkel counters with a three punch combo that has Mustajarvi backing up. Mustajarvi nods at Merkel to acknowledge the strikes.
Merkel fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
A big left from Mustajarvi misses.
Nice cross by Merkel.
Mustajarvi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Merkel swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mustajarvi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Merkel misses with a few strikes there.
Mustajarvi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mustajarvi on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Pate Mustajarvi's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Merkel takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Mustajarvi moves into the clinch successfully.
Merkel misses with a punch on the inside.
Mustajarvi pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Mustajarvi lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Mustajarvi misses with an elbow strike.
Merkel is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Mustajarvi throws an elbow but it misses.
Merkel misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mustajarvi throws an elbow that misses.
Merkel takes an elbow to the temple.
Merkel blocks the elbow strike.

Merkel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi tries a head kick but it misses.
Mustajarvi throws a sloppy head kick and Merkel moves out of range easily.
Merkel throws a lazy right hand but Mustajarvi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Merkel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Merkel takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Mustajarvi looks to throw the jab but Merkel is out of range.
Pate Mustajarvi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Merkel comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Merkel moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Merkel swats away the attempt to clinch by Mustajarvi.
Mustajarvi throws a head kick that Merkel semi-blocks.
Mustajarvi tries to clinch but Merkel is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mustajarvi throws a leg kick but Merkel sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mustajarvi moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Merkel slips a straight right by Mustajarvi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armin Merkel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Merkel, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 50:45
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 50:45
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armin Merkel!
Armin Merkel retains his super heavyweight title!