PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Mendiola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matto Luuttu (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.

Mendiola
vs
Luuttu

180 cm
19
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
175 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miguel Mendiola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matto Luuttu!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendiola takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Luuttu shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mendiola on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

It looks like Miguel Mendiola has been cut.
Mendiola is trying to control but can't.
Luuttu misses with a head shot. Mendiola uses the momentum to regain guard.
Luuttu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Luuttu trying to control the position from guard on top but Mendiola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mendiola wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luuttu throws and elbow that misses. Mendiola uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Luuttu's guard. Nice move by Mendiola!

Luuttu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mendiola defends well.
Luuttu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mendiola is one step ahead there.
Mendiola is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mendiola with a nice head shot there.

Luuttu has his foot on Mendiola's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mendiola works his way back into a safe position though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mendiola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mendiola stopping the sweep attempt from Luuttu.
Mendiola lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendiola drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mendiola jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Luuttu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mendiola postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Mendiola is pushing down on Luuttu's leg trying to pass to half guard. Luuttu is fighting to maintain full guard but Mendiola has managed to sneak the leg through.

Luuttu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendiola pulls his head out easily.

Luuttu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendiola pulls his head out easily.
Luuttu wants to improve his position but Mendiola is controlling well.
Mendiola takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Luuttu is looking for a sweep. Mendiola is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mendiola tries to pass to full mount but Luuttu defends it.

Luuttu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mendiola pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Luuttu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Luuttu looks gassed!
Luuttu gets full guard.
Luuttu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mendiola's guard.
Mendiola avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Luuttu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mendiola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Mendiola preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Luuttu stopping the sweep attempt from Mendiola.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Luuttu accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Luuttu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Luuttu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Luuttu wants to stand but Mendiola is controlling his posture from full guard.

Luuttu gets to his feet - Mendiola follows without any prompting.
Luuttu with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mendiola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Mendiola scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mendiola prevents Luuttu from improving his position.
Mendiola winds up and cracks Luuttu with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matto Luuttu will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Miguel Mendiola's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mendiola shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Luuttu is trying to defend but Mendiola finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Luuttu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Luuttu manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Mendiola works over Luuttu with some ground and pound from guard.

Luuttu is looking for a triangle but Mendiola pushes his legs off easily.
Luuttu manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Luuttu throws some wild stikes that Mendiola manages to avoid easily.
Luuttu lands a nice shot to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Luuttu scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendiola can't escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Luuttu.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendiola blocking the ground and pound.
Luuttu looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Luuttu looking to finish with strikes here!
A nice elbow there by Luuttu.
Luuttu punching from mount but Mendiola doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Luuttu is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Mendiola is surviving well by controlling Luuttu's body position as best he can.
Luuttu misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luuttu throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Mendiola because Luuttu loaded up on that one.
Poor strikes thrown by Luuttu there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Mendiola avoids a series of strikes thrown by Luuttu.
Luuttu throwing strikes here but Mendiola is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Luuttu scoring with strikes but Mendiola is staying in there.

Miguel Mendiola's cut is getting worse.
Luuttu working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Luuttu thowing shots but they're missing.
Luuttu landing punches.

Miguel Mendiola's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Luuttu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luuttu misses with a head shot.
Mendiola avoids a series of strikes thrown by Luuttu.
Luuttu throwing strikes here but Mendiola is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Mendiola takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Luuttu thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Luuttu throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Luuttu with a couple of short strikes.
Luuttu thowing shots but they're missing.
Luuttu thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendiola blocking the ground and pound.
A nice elbow there by Luuttu.
Luuttu misses with a head shot.
Luuttu prevents Mendiola from getting the reversal.
Luuttu lands a big shot there that rocks Mendiola but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Luuttu sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Luuttu lands a big shot there that rocks Mendiola but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendiola takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Luuttu with the ground and pound from mount.
Luuttu unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matto Luuttu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Miguel Mendiola's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A combination from Luuttu does no damage.

Mendiola decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Mendiola takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Luuttu makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Luuttu.
Mendiola won't allow Luuttu to sweep him here.

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

Mendiola is posturing up here but Luuttu has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Mendiola tries to roll out but it's too tight and Mendiola has to tap! Slick submission there by Luuttu!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matto Luuttu!