PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sihara Mecks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Purificacion (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.

Mecks
vs
Purificacion

163 cm
18
139 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sihara Mecks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juan Purificacion!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Purificacion clinches up against the cage.
Purificacion lands with a left to the head.
Purificacion fails to pull guard.
A short left from Purificacion.

Mecks manages to pull guard.
Purificacion trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mecks keeping moving, preventing Purificacion from controlling successfully.
Mecks is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Purificacion manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Mecks feints and as Purificacion raises his hands in defense, Mecks changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mecks trying to control the position from guard on top but Purificacion is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Purificacion wriggles free and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Purificacion fails with an attempt to clinch.
Purificacion misses with a wild body shot.

Purificacion shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Mecks's guard.
Mecks lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Purificacion!

Mecks gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Purificacion wants to clinch up but Mecks keeps it at a distance.

Mecks drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Purificacion is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Purificacion trying to control but Mecks flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Purificacion rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Mecks thows a huge punch but Purificacion dodges it nicely.
Mecks prevents Purificacion from standing back up.
Mecks lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mecks wants to free his trapped foot but Purificacion is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Mecks is working for a submission of some sort.
Purificacion trying to control but Mecks postures up.

Mecks is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Mecks is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Purificacion regains full guard. Nicely done.
Purificacion looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mecks is one step ahead there.
Mecks won't allow Purificacion to get back to his feet.
Purificacion controls Mecks momentarily but Mecks frees himself.
Mecks trying to control but Purificacion is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Purificacion fails in his attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Purificacion.
Purificacion checks a low kick from Mecks.
Purificacion goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Mecks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mecks with a lazy takedown attempt

and Purificacion counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mecks is looking to stand up but Purificacion isn't so interested in that idea.
Purificacion must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Purificacion trying to control the position from guard on top but Mecks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mecks keeping full guard, as Purificacion tries to pass.
Mecks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Purificacion is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Purificacion accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Purificacion wants to pass the guard but Mecks is keeping the position.

Purificacion stands up from Mecks's guard - Purificacion perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mecks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Purificacion counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sihara Mecks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Purificacion tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mecks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mecks misses with a takedown
and Purificacion counters with a nice kick to the body.
Purificacion with a poor takedown

and Mecks counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Purificacion!
Purificacion wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mecks looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Purificacion gets back to half guard.
Purificacion is positioning himself well to prevent Mecks advancing to mount.
Purificacion trying to control but Mecks postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mecks is looking to stall here but Purificacion recovers full guard.
Purificacion manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Mecks manages to get himself to full guard.
Mecks manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Purificacion tries to control the position but Mecks now has his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Purificacion showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Mecks scores with a takedown into Purificacion's guard.
Purificacion is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Purificacion is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Mecks stands up and waves to Purificacion to follow him.
Mecks swats away the attempt to clinch by Purificacion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Purificacion stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Purificacion takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Purificacion looks for a takedown but Mecks sprawls well.
Mecks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Purificacion as he avoids it easily.
Mecks circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mecks connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Mecks doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Purificacion counters with a nice low kick that buckles Mecks's knee momentarily.
Purificacion tries to clinch there but Mecks circles away.

That's two 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.
Purificacion throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Purificacion is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mecks shoots and misses

and Purificacion counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Purificacion.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sihara Mecks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mecks takes an elbow to the forehead.
Purificacion comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Mecks fails to pull guard.

Purificacion turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Purificacion manages to end up in side control.
Purificacion tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Purificacion stands up.

Mecks feints and as Purificacion raises his hands in defense, Mecks changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mecks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mecks stopping the sweep attempt from Purificacion.
Mecks wants to pass the guard but Purificacion is keeping the position.
Mecks is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Purificacion had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mecks defends it easily.
Mecks sitting in guard, not really doing much.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sihara Mecks.
I think Mecks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Sihara Mecks!