PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maximus Meridius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aarne Juutilainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meridius comes to the cage accompanied by Now We Are Free. Juutilainen has chosen as his entrance music. Maximus Meridius has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Meridius
vs
Juutilainen

187 cm
30
207 lbs
24 - 11 - 1

188 cm
29
205 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maximus Meridius!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aarne Juutilainen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick from Meridius lands but Juutilainen takes it in his stride.

It looks like Aarne Juutilainen has been cut.
Juutilainen misses with a body punch
and Meridius counters with an outside leg kick.
Juutilainen closes the distance and clinches up with Meridius, looking for a takedown. Juutilainen pushes Meridius against the cage but Meridius circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Meridius throws a quick inside leg kick.
Meridius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Juutilainen.
A slapping leg kick lands for Meridius.
Meridius tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Meridius moves away from the strike by Juutilainen.
Juutilainen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Meridius.
Meridius lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Juutilainen misses with an uppercut. Meridius saw that one coming.
Juutilainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Meridius.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice inside leg kick there by Meridius. That's going to slow Juutilainen down.
Juutilainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Meridius.
A left and a right from Meridius both land. Nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot by Meridius.
Meridius connects with a solid leg kick.
Meridius misses with a low kick.
Meridius throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Juutilainen.
Good work by Juutilainen as he checks the leg kick.
Juutilainen cracks Meridius with an open hand slap.
Juutilainen avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Juutilainen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A punch combination from Meridius misses.
Juutilainen misses with a takedown attempt - Meridius sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Meridius walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Juutilainen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Juutilainen.
Juutilainen thows a body shot but no joy.
Juutilainen blocks a head kick by Meridius.
Meridius lands the left hand.
Meridius uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Juutilainen.
Maximus Meridius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Juutilainen throws a leg kick but Meridius sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Juutilainen moves out of range of the leg kick from Meridius.
Juutilainen throws out a loose jab but Meridius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Juutilainen lands the left hand.
Nice jab there from Meridius.
Meridius avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Meridius lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Meridius.
Meridius throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Meridius comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Meridius dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Meridius with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Meridius throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A shot to the liver by Juutilainen. Beautiful body shot.
Horrible takedown by Juutilainen or perhaps it was just good defense by Meridius which made him look bad.
Maximus Meridius has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aarne Juutilainen.
Juutilainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Juutilainen looks to land a left hand but Meridius moved out of range nicely.
Meridius lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Juutilainen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Meridius's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juutilainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Meridius manages to avoid it.
Meridius throws a quick inside leg kick.
Juutilainen lands with a straight right. Meridius didn't see that one coming.
Meridius feints a jab promting Juutilainen to slip. Meridius then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Juutilainen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Juutilainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Meridius misses with a body kick.
A decent looking cross lands there for Juutilainen.
Juutilainen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A leg kick checked by Juutilainen.
The fighters circling - Juutilainen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Juutilainen avoids the body shot from Meridius.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maximus Meridius dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aarne Juutilainen'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.

Juutilainen throws a body punch but Meridius moves out of range.
No joy there for Meridius, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Meridius uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Juutilainen.
Meridius throws a head kick but Juutilainen moves out of range.
Meridius throws a hook but Juutilainen blocks it.
Meridius lands a right hook to the body.

Meridius gets caught napping as Juutilainen dives in and scores a takedown. Meridius manages to retain guard.
Meridius tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Juutilainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Meridius is keeping the position for now.
Meridius 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.
Meridius is trying to keep Juutilainen in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juutilainen wants to control from the top but Meridius keeps moving.
Juutilainen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Juutilainen is stalling in the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Juutilainen moves away from the strike by Meridius.
Meridius tries a head kick but it misses.
Meridius keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Meridius is looking to wear down Juutilainen with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Juutilainen misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Juutilainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Meridius moves away.
Meridius throws a series of punches but Juutilainen moves out of range.
Good work by Juutilainen as he checks the leg kick.
Juutilainen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maximus Meridius is winning the standup battle so far.
Jab, jab by Juutilainen - just one landing.
Juutilainen takes one to the chin there.
Meridius staying out of range there.
Meridius does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Juutilainen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Meridius checks it well.
Juutilainen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters circling - Juutilainen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Juutilainen scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Juutilainen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Juutilainen slips under a jab from Meridius.
Juutilainen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Meridius.
Juutilainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Juutilainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Meridius is just out of range.
Meridius moves out of range as Juutilainen strikes.
Juutilainen lands with an uppercut that bounces Meridius off the cage and back into range.
Meridius thumps Juutilainen with a low kick.
Meridius stalks Juutilainen and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Juutilainen's face. Juutilainen staggers backwards, shaken.
Juutilainen avoids the head kick by Meridius.
Meridius uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Juutilainen.
Juutilainen avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juutilainen connects with a solid leg kick.
Juutilainen misses with a hook.
Juutilainen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Meridius's waist but Meridius gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Juutilainen off to one side.
Meridius lands a nice leg kick that just misses Juutilainen's sensitive parts.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Meridius throws a head kick but Juutilainen moves out of range.
Juutilainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Meridius.
Meridius throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Juutilainen lands a nice looking body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Juutilainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Meridius moves away.
Juutilainen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Juutilainen swings for the body but Meridius moves out of range.
Juutilainen scores with a punch to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aarne Juutilainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aarne Juutilainen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Juutilainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Meridius manages to avoid it.
Juutilainen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Meridius throws a jab when Juutilainen was well out of range.
Meridius leaves Juutilainen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Meridius swings for the body but Juutilainen moves out of range.
Juutilainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Meridius.
Meridius falls off balance throwing a combination
and Juutilainen counters with a nice body shot.
Juutilainen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Meridius.
Juutilainen throws the left hand but Meridius avoids the punch easily.
Meridius throws a leg kick but Juutilainen moved away.
Juutilainen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meridius moves away from the strike by Juutilainen.
Meridius misses with a straight left.
Juutilainen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Meridius does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Meridius misses with a hook.
Juutilainen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Meridius walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Juutilainen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Meridius throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A clash of legs there as Juutilainen blocks the low kick.
Jab from Meridius.
Juutilainen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meridius staying out of range there.
Meridius throws a good cross that connects.
Juutilainen throws a big shot that misses.

Juutilainen dives in and scores a takedown into Meridius's guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Meridius seems keen to control Juutilainen's posture.
Juutilainen wants to control from the top but Meridius keeps moving.
Meridius lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Juutilainen!
Juutilainen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meridius throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Meridius controlling the pace for now.
Juutilainen can't escape the position.
Juutilainen tries to lock up and control but Meridius gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meridius looking to control but Juutilainen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Juutilainen wants to control but Meridius is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Juutilainen is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Meridius is staying active.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Meridius looking to control and managing it successfully.

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 Maximus Meridius.
I think Meridius 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Maximus Meridius!
Maximus Meridius seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.