PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Merrimack Stronghammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vidar Nord (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vidar Nord will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Stronghammer
vs
Nord

173 cm
20
235 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
241 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Merrimack Stronghammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vidar Nord!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stronghammer tries to clinch
and Nord counters with a right hand to the body.
Stronghammer looks to land a combination but Nord avoids it well.
Stronghammer tries to clinch but Nord moves away
and Nord counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Stronghammer is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stronghammer moves to clinch but Nord breaks away

and Nord counters with a single leg into guard. Stronghammer didn't expect that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stronghammer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Stronghammer can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Nord controls the pace.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nord accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stronghammer wants to sweep but no luck.
Nord throws an elbow that misses. Stronghammer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Nord's guard. Nice move by Stronghammer!
Nord wants to sweep here but Stronghammer controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nord lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Stronghammer!
Nord is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Stronghammer looks very frustrated and is flailing away with strikes from the bottom. His corner are telling him to stay calm.
Nord working Stronghammer over with strikes here.
Stronghammer regains half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stronghammer is pressing down on Nord's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Stronghammer keeping moving, preventing Nord from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nord preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stronghammer is trying to keep Nord in close.
Nord must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Stronghammer is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nord is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stronghammer is on top in guard.
Nord tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nord trying to control the position here.
Nord is wriggling around but Stronghammer manages to pass to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nord is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Nord taking some punishment here, with Stronghammer in his half guard.
Stronghammer scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Stronghammer throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nord is looking to improve his position.
Stronghammer 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.
Nord is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stronghammer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stronghammer's back!
I really don't envy Stronghammer right now.
Can Stronghammer hold on?! Nord is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Stronghammer is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stronghammer trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Nord tries to keep control of the position but Stronghammer is staying busy.
Stronghammer covering up well and avoiding damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stronghammer covering up well and avoiding damage.
Nord has the hooks in. Stronghammer is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Will Nord go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Nord is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Nord gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Nord gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Nord apologises and we restart here on the feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Stronghammer scoring well with a low kick there.
Merrimack Stronghammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stronghammer rushes Nord and presses him up against the cage.
Nord blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vidar Nord dominated that round.
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.

Stronghammer is looking to clinch.
Stronghammer misses with a straight left.
Stronghammer closes the distance and clinches up with Nord, looking for a takedown. Stronghammer pushes Nord against the cage but Nord circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nord takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Stronghammer looks to clinch
letting Nord counter with a right hand.

It looks like Merrimack Stronghammer has been cut.
Nord throws a lazy uppercut

and Stronghammer counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Nord!
Nord parries the strikes from Stronghammer easily there. Stronghammer is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Nord to escape.
Nord really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Stronghammer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nord is not content to let Stronghammer control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nord is looking to reverse the position.
Nord is trying to control Stronghammer's posture but Stronghammer avoids it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nord can do anything to dispel that myth.
Nord tries to buck Stronghammer off but Stronghammer is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Nord's face as Stronghammer controls the position.
Stronghammer working away.
Nord taking a bit of punishment here - Stronghammer scoring with strikes.
Nord is not content to let Stronghammer control the position.
Stronghammer is chipping away with strikes.
Nord holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Stronghammer cracks Nord with a big right hand but Nord just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Stronghammer looking to control but instead Nord has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Nord is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stronghammer not doing much here.
Nord wants to control but Stronghammer is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nord wants to get back to full guard.
Stronghammer lands strikes from half guard.
Nord is looking for a sweep. Stronghammer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stronghammer works his foot free and advances to mount.
Nord is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Nord tries to lock up and control but Stronghammer gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stronghammer looking to control and managing it successfully.
Stronghammer with shots to the head and body - Nord looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nord tries to hold on but Stronghammer postures up.
Nord sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Stronghammer has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Stronghammer can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nord is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nord regains half guard.
Stronghammer moves into full mount! Nord won't be happy about that!
Stronghammer working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stronghammer sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nord is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merrimack Stronghammer dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Merrimack Stronghammer'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. This is the final round!

Stronghammer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Stronghammer is looking to clinch.
A combination from Nord does no damage.
Stronghammer shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Nord eats them both and turns towards Stronghammer to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Stronghammer wants to clinch but Nord slips to the side
and Nord counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Stronghammer closes the distance but Nord moves to the side
and Nord counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Stronghammer tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nord counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nord avoids a kick to the body.
Nord moves out of range of the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stronghammer looks to land a right hand but Nord moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nord waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Stronghammer.

Stronghammer moves into range and clinches up with Nord.
Stronghammer manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Stronghammer drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nord gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Nord breaks the clinch.
Stronghammer tries to clinch but Nord moves out of range.
Stronghammer tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nord counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stronghammer tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Nord counters with a left to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stronghammer tries to clinch up

and Nord counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stronghammer's guard now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stronghammer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nord's guard.
Stronghammer seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Nord looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nord is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nord tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Nord is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vidar Nord wasn't active enough on the ground.
Stronghammer wants to clinch but Nord slips to the side
and Nord counters with a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nord throws a hook but Stronghammer avoids it easily.
Stronghammer lands a nice looking body kick.
Stronghammer is looking to clinch.

Stronghammer gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Stronghammer throws a punch but it's blocked by Nord.
Stronghammer pressing his opponent against the cage.
Nord lands with a short shot to the head.
Nord has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nord lands a body shot in the clinch.
Nord lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Stronghammer missing with knees to the body.
Stronghammer trying to control the position but instead, Nord has worked for underhooks and has pushed Stronghammer into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nord.

Nord gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nord winds up and cracks Stronghammer with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stronghammer has hold of Nord's hands but Nord slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stronghammer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nord is working away from the top position though.
Stronghammer moves into full guard.
Nord working some strikes from top position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nord controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nord working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vidar Nord comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Nord 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vidar Nord!
Vidar Nord really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Reaper Combatwear logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.