PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erkki Merkki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Thurston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Merkki
vs
Thurston

189 cm
22
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Nutrition King
Hell's Balls Fightwear

Pure Fight Science

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Merkki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brian Thurston!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thurston stuffs the takedown attempt from Merkki. Merkki gets slowly back to his feet.

Thurston rushes Merkki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thurston gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Merkki.
Merkki tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erkki Merkki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thurston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Merkki blocks it with crossed arms.
Merkki dodges an elbow strike from Thurston.
Thurston connects with a nasty looking knee right to Merkki's face.
Thurston gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Thurston throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Merkki blocks it with crossed arms.
Merkki on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Thurston tries to land a knee to the head but Merkki blocks with his arms.
Merkki wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Thurston has him pressed against the cage.
Thurston connects with a nasty looking knee right to Merkki's face.
Thurston tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Merkki pulls guard.
Merkki controls Thurston momentarily but Thurston frees himself.
Thurston wants to stand but Merkki is controlling his posture from full guard.
Thurston in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merkki lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Thurston!
Thurston looks gassed!
Merkki has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Thurston's face.
Merkki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Merkki is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Thurston is surviving well by controlling Merkki's body position as best he can.
Thurston really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Merkki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Merkki controlling his opponent.

Merkki wants to finish this one by submission but Thurston is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Merkki.

Merkki is working for a guillotine from mount but Thurston frees his head quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merkki controlling the pace for now.

Merkki quickly switches position and commits to an armbar! It's a big risk for Merkki but it's paid off an Thurston is forced to tap! Nice work by Merkki.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Erkki Merkki!