PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Horner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Veli Rokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Horner comes to the cage accompanied by Roky Erickson - Stand For The Fire Demon. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Horner
vs
Rokka

180 cm
24
196 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

186 cm
20
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Horner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Veli Rokka!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rokka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Horner lands a jab-cross combination.
Horner throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rokka wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rokka throws out a leg kick but Horner moves out of range and Rokka only half commits.
Rokka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A left lands for Horner.
Mike Horner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rokka drops his hands momentarily and Horner takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Rokka tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Horner is able to avoid easily.
Horner lands with a kick to the ribs.
Horner throws a right and a left that both miss.
Horner lunges at Rokka with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rokka's hand.
Horner bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rokka's head backwards.
Horner misses with a head kick.
Rokka blocks a head kick by Horner.
Horner looks to land a combination but Rokka avoids it well.
Horner misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rokka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horner misses the jab.

Rokka forces Horner back against the cage and clinches.
Rokka lands an elbow that stopped Horner in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Mike Horner has been cut.
Rokka has Horner pressed against the cage, preventing Horner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horner wants to break free but Rokka has control.
Rokka throws an elbow that misses.
Rokka looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Rokka displaying some good clinch control by pressing Horner up against the cage.

Horner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horner avoids the head kick by Rokka.
A telegraphed right hand from Horner misses the target.
Rokka avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Horner stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rokka.
Rokka on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Horner misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Horner connects with a high kick.
Rokka feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Horner's calf.
Horner throws a head kick but Rokka moves out of range.
Horner fails to land with a series of punches.
Horner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horner looks to land a left hand but Rokka moved out of range nicely.
Horner scores with a nice right hand.
Rokka throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Rokka scores with a head kick.
Horner throws a head kick that misses.
Horner moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rokka connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rokka scores with a spinning back kick!
Horner lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Rokka throws a hook but Horner blocks it.
Horner throws a head kick that misses

and Rokka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Horner wants to get back to striking at distance but Rokka won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Horner's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Horner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horner scores with a head kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Horner shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rokka thumps Horner with a low kick.
Rokka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Horner throws a head kick but Rokka moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokka tries to clinch there but Horner circles away.
A combination from Horner does no damage.
Horner blocks a head kick by Rokka.
Horner throws a head kick but Rokka moves out of range.
Rokka blocks a head kick by Horner.
Rokka has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Rokka there as he acknowledges the shot.
Horner cracks Rokka with an open hand slap.
Horner cracks Rokka with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Horner throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Rokka counters by clinching up.
Rokka lands an elbow inside that Horner shrugs off.
Horner wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Horner tries to break the clinch but Rokka is controlling the position.
Rokka looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Come on Rokka - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Horner wants to break free but Rokka has control.
Rokka keeps control of Horner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rokka is pushing Horner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rokka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Horner takes a shot to the head.
Rokka slows down the pace here.
Rokka lands an elbow just above Horner 's eye.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horner takes an elbow to the temple.
Rokka looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Veli Rokka will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike Horner's cut.
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.

Horner throws a wild body kick that Rokka sees coming a mile off.
Horner misses with a head kick.
Rokka tries a head kick but it misses.
Horner scores with a punch to the head.
Horner throws a head kick but Rokka moves out of range.
Rokka scores with a nice body kick.
Rokka listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Horner throws a good cross that connects.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Rokka in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Rokka throws a leg kick that misses.
Horner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horner throws a wild body kick that Rokka sees coming a mile off.
Horner throws a head kick that misses.
Rokka lands a front kick.
Rokka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horner throws a sloppy head kick and Rokka moves out of range easily.
Horner throws a lazy head kick
and Rokka counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Rokka slips under a jab from Horner.
Horner fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Rokka moves into the clinch successfully.
Rokka leaning against his opponent.
Rokka doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokka stalling the fight.
Horner dodges an elbow strike from Rokka.
Horner avoids a wild elbow strike from Rokka.

Horner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rokka wants to clinch.
Horner throws a sloppy head kick
and Rokka makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Horner really felt that one!

Rokka clinches up with Horner and pushes him back against the cage.

Horner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rokka throws a head kick that misses.
Horner misses with a kick to the body.

Rokka closes the distance and pushes Horner back into the cage.
Rokka keeps control of Horner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Horner is trying to break the clinch but Rokka is controlling him.
Rokka creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rokka just misses with a elbow thrown towards Horner's brow.
Horner tries to break the clinch but Rokka is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Horner's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rokka lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rokka stalling the fight.
Rokka lands an elbow just above Horner 's eye.

Horner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horner misses with a body kick.
A head kick by Horner misses
and Rokka counters with a thumping low kick.
Horner throws a head kick that misses.
Rokka takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Rokka walks into a straight right hand from Horner.
Horner throws a sloppy head kick and Rokka moves out of range easily.
Horner throws a push kick but Rokka slaps the foot to one side.
Rokka feints and then cracks Horner's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Horner down.
Veli Rokka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Horner misses with a two punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horner throws a head kick that misses
letting Rokka counter with a right hand.
Rokka gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Horner.
Rokka is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Horner plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Horner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rokka throws a quick inside leg kick.
Horner throws a leg kick which misses Rokka's front leg but catches the back leg as Rokka tries to avoid it.
Horner chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Rokka can pounce on him.
Horner lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rokka backs up against the cage.
A head kick by Horner misses

and Rokka counters by moving into the clinch.
Rokka controlling the action here for a moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Horner blocks the elbow strike.
Rokka stalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rokka throws an elbow but misses.
Horner letting Rokka take a breather here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rokka throws an elbow but misses.
Rokka will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Horner up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rokka throws an elbow but misses.
Horner is trying to break the clinch but Rokka is controlling him.
Rokka lands a nice elbow.
Horner wants to get back to striking at distance but Rokka won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veli Rokka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Mike Horner's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Horner throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Rokka counters with an outside leg kick.
Horner throws a sloppy head kick
and Rokka counters with a nice leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Rokka.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Horner.
Rokka throws a nice inside leg kick.
Horner throws a push kick but Rokka slaps the foot to one side.
Rokka moves out of range of the body kick.

Rokka moves into the clinch.
Rokka slows down the pace here.
Horner wants to get back to striking at distance but Rokka won't allow it.
Rokka lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Mike Horner's cut is getting worse.
Horner avoids a wild elbow strike from Rokka.
Rokka has Horner pressed against the cage, preventing Horner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rokka throws an elbow that misses.
Rokka lands an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rokka lands a damaging elbow.
Rokka lands an elbow inside that Horner shrugs off.

Mike Horner's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rokka takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Horner wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rokka leaning against his opponent.
Rokka stalling in the clinch but Horner improves position.
Rokka content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Horner wants to break free but Rokka has control.
Rokka misses with an elbow over the top.
Rokka misses with an elbow over the top.
Rokka manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Mike Horner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Veli Rokka.
A head kick by Horner misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Rokka.

Rokka gets a clinch.
Rokka is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Horner is keeping busy.
Rokka misses with an elbow over the top.

Horner escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Horner throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Horner throws a sloppy head kick
and Rokka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Horner misses with a combination
and Rokka counters with a good, hard body kick but Horner shrugs it off.
Rokka misses the jab.
Horner connects with a right hand. Rokka shakes it off.
Rokka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Horner's sensitive parts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rokka uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Horner.
The crowd cheers as Horner lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rokka doesn't seem phased though.
Rokka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Horner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Rokka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Horner plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rokka takes one on the button.
Rokka avoids the head kick by Horner.
Horner walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Horner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Horner misses with an uppercut. Rokka saw that one coming.
Horner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rokka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Horner.
Horner will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Rokka feints and then cracks Horner's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Horner down.
Horner throws a right and a left that Rokka avoids nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Horner misses the target.
Horner clobbers Rokka with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Horner throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rokka has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Rokka checks a low kick from Horner.
Horner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rokka.
Veli Rokka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Horner.
Rokka tries to clinch but Horner moves out of range.
Horner throws a sloppy head kick
and Rokka finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Horner takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Rokka moves out of range of the body kick from Horner.
Horner avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rokka, right into the meat.
Horner misses with an uppercut.
A nice inside leg kick there by Rokka. That's going to slow Horner down.
Horner fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Rokka is out of range.
A slow jab from Rokka misses its intended target.
Rokka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Rokka slips a jab and a cross from Horner.
Horner avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rokka lands a nice looking kick to the body. Horner takes a step back to recover.
Horner is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rokka goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Rokka takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Horner throws a sloppy head kick
and Rokka counters with a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Veli Rokka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rokka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Veli Rokka!