PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Optimus Crime (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harri Sirkkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Optimus Crime had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Crime
vs
Sirkkeli

188 cm
21
186 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

184 cm
24
182 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Optimus Crime!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harri Sirkkeli!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sirkkeli is defended easily by Crime.
Crime moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Nice body kick there by Crime.
Crime throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sirkkeli throws a body punch but Crime moves out of range.
Sirkkeli getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Crime scores with a leg kick.
Crime throws a hook to the side of Sirkkeli's head but Sirkkeli sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Crime misses with a body shot
and Sirkkeli counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Crime ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sirkkeli moves away.
Crime misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkkeli throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sirkkeli misses with a double jab.
Sirkkeli just misses with a punch to the body.
Crime connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Sirkkeli's hands.
Crime throws a leg kick but Sirkkeli checks it.
Crime pushes Sirkkeli away with a front kick.
Sirkkeli steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Crime.
Crime jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sirkkeli just misses with a punch to the body.
Crime scores with a jab to the head.
Crime misses with a low kick as Sirkkeli jumps back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crime pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Sirkkeli throws a lazy right hand but Crime sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sirkkeli takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Crime looks to throw a body kick
and Sirkkeli counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Crime swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Sirkkeli.
Optimus Crime is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crime wants to slow Sirkkeli down by chopping away at his legs.
Sirkkeli walks into a straight right hand from Crime.
Crime throws a jab but it's blocked by Sirkkeli.
Crime throws a leg kick but Sirkkeli sees it coming and moves out of range.
Sirkkeli misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Crime 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Crime uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sirkkeli.
Crime misses with a low kick.
Sirkkeli shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Crime as he jumps to the side.
Sirkkeli misses with an uppercut.
Sirkkeli throws the left hand but Crime avoids the punch easily.
A slow jab from Crime misses its intended target.
Crime misses with a wild combination.
Sirkkeli pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Danga de danga de dang - Crime scores with a four punch combination!
Sirkkeli throws a push kick but Crime slaps the foot to one side.
Sirkkeli moves out of range of the body kick from Crime.
Nice sprawl there from Crime as Sirkkeli shoots in.
Optimus Crime has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harri Sirkkeli.
Crime throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Sirkkeli slips under a jab from Crime.
Sirkkeli takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sirkkeli digs a good hook to Crime's body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sirkkeli looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sirkkeli misses with a looping left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Optimus Crime dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Crime connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A looping hook to the body misses from Sirkkeli. Crime does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sirkkeli misses the shot to the body.
Crime just misses with a punch to the body.
Crime swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sirkkeli counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sirkkeli defending well as Crime loads up on a big left hand.
Sirkkeli throws a jab when Crime was well out of range.
A swing and a miss from Crime.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jab by Crime.
Sirkkeli ducks under a wild hook from Crime.
Crime throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crime throws a series of strikes that have Sirkkeli backpedaling.
Sirkkeli throws a looping overhand right but Crime ducks down to avoid it.
A lazy left from Crime finds it's target.
Crime shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sirkkeli jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sirkkeli misses with a straight right.
Crime scores with a hook.
Sirkkeli tries to bum rush Crime with a series of wild strikes but Crime uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Optimus Crime seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crime thows a left - swing and a miss!

Sirkkeli changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Crime looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sirkkeli prevents Crime from escaping the position.
Crime tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sirkkeli wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Crime dodges the ground and pound from Sirkkeli.
Sirkkeli controlling the position from side mount.
Sirkkeli scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crime is not content to let Sirkkeli control the position.

Sirkkeli goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Crime has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Sirkkeli but great work by Crime.
Sirkkeli is looking for a sweep.

Crime has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Crime cracks a nice hook into Sirkkeli's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crime fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sirkkeli manages to avoid it.
Crime pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sirkkeli scores with a shot to the body.
Sirkkeli takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sirkkeli misses with a straight right.
Sirkkeli waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Crime.
Sirkkeli stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Crime.
Crime stuns Sirkkeli with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Sirkkeli is breathing heavily.
Crime uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Sirkkeli.
Crime misses with a looping right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Optimus Crime dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sirkkeli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Crime.
Sirkkeli connects with the punch.
Sirkkeli lands a slapping body shot.
Crime scores with a shot to the body.
Crime misses with a leg kick

and Sirkkeli counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Crime's guard now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sirkkeli stops Crime from standing up.
Sirkkeli looking to pass the guard.

Sirkkeli drops back, looking for a kneebar! Crime looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Crime looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Crime!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sirkkeli tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Crime wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Crime stands up and beckons Sirkkeli to his feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Crime, right into the meat.
A swing and a miss from Sirkkeli.
Sirkkeli thows a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Crime misses with an attempted mid kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Crime as he connects with a hook.
Sirkkeli misses with a hook. Crime ducked under it nicely.
Sirkkeli throws a shot from downtown. Crime moves away and avoids it.
Crime misses with a shot to the body
and Sirkkeli counters with a one-two to the body.
Sirkkeli missing with a left hand there. Crime was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Crime misses with a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Sirkkeli.
Crime thows a left - swing and a miss!
A looping hook to the body misses from Crime. Sirkkeli does a little dance to reset his feet.
Harri Sirkkeli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sirkkeli.
Crime takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Sirkkeli misses with a jab to the body
and Crime counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Crime with a jab.
Crime slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Crime misses with a low kick.
Crime lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Crime ducks under a wild hook from Sirkkeli.
Sirkkeli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Crime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sirkkeli takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The fighters circling - Crime throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sirkkeli takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Crime throws a looping overhand right but Sirkkeli ducks down to avoid it.
Crime scores with a push kick.
Crime buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Crime defending well as Sirkkeli loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sirkkeli throws a hook but Crime avoids it easily.
Sirkkeli throws a shot from downtown. Crime moves away and avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Optimus Crime showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Crime, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Optimus Crime!