PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antero Mertaranta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roberto Piras (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mertaranta
vs
Piras

188 cm
19
228 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
30
245 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antero Mertaranta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roberto Piras!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mertaranta throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Piras. Mertaranta does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mertaranta throwing a counter right hand but Piras manages to avoid it.
Mertaranta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Piras moves away.
Piras lands with a nice body punch.

Piras darts in and clinches Mertaranta up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Mertaranta taking a breather.
Mertaranta misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Piras drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mertaranta got a little sloppy there for a moment and Piras has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mertaranta has managed to get both his arms back between Piras's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Piras is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mertaranta is aware though and is defending well.

Mertaranta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Piras is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mertaranta is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Piras has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mertaranta can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Piras is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Piras looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mertaranta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Piras keeping moving, preventing Mertaranta from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mertaranta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Piras throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mertaranta has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Piras wants to sweep here but Mertaranta controlling him for the moment.

Mertaranta avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Piras is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Piras is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mertaranta wants to improve his position but Piras is controlling well.

Piras seems to be working for a kimura but Mertaranta defends the submission attempt.

Piras wants to work for an arm triangle but Mertaranta is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Piras is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Piras is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mertaranta sees it coming and defends easily.

Piras is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Piras is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mertaranta is just riding it out for now. Piras eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Piras dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mertaranta takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A punch combination from Piras misses.
Piras ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mertaranta moves away.
Piras swinging wildly here.
As Piras tries to get set, Mertaranta tries to push him back and clinch up but Piras manages to avoid the attempt.
Piras throws a series of punches but Mertaranta moves out of range.
Piras 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.
Piras throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Piras swinging wildly here.
Piras has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mertaranta throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Piras stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Piras misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Mertaranta does no damage.
Mertaranta tries to clinch but Piras moves out of range.
Piras swats away the attempt to clinch by Mertaranta.
Roberto Piras is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A big left from Mertaranta misses.
Mertaranta connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Piras momentarily.
Mertaranta doesn't manage to clinch there - Piras circles away.
Mertaranta lands a nice shot to the body.
Mertaranta lands a right hook to the body.
Piras throws a nice looking combination but Mertaranta bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A left and a right from Piras both land. Nice combination.
Mertaranta misses the body punch
letting Piras counter with a right hand.
Mertaranta swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mertaranta is looking to wear down Piras with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Mertaranta throws a right hand that misses
and Piras connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Roberto Piras seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Piras misses with a series of wild punches.
Piras scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Piras gets tackled into the cage by Mertaranta. Mertaranta maintains the clinch.
A short uppercut from Mertaranta.

Piras gets control of Mertaranta's arms and successfully pulls guard. Piras will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Mertaranta trying to control the position from guard on top but Piras is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Piras throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mertaranta is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Piras has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Mertaranta is looking to defend but Piras has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Mertaranta! Piras pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Mertaranta taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Roberto Piras!
Roberto Piras seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.