PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sloan Kettering (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erkki Merkki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kettering
vs
Merkki

187 cm
22
190 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

189 cm
22
184 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Nutrition King

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sloan Kettering!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Merkki!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kettering slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Merkki doesn't manage to clinch there - Kettering circles away.
A combination from Kettering does no damage.
Merkki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Merkki tries to land a front kick but Kettering steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kettering uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Merkki.
Merkki attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Merkki takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kettering scores with a three punch combo!
Kettering swats away the attempt to clinch by Merkki.
Merkki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Merkki is looking to clinch but Kettering is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merkki tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kettering circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merkki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kettering throws a hook but Merkki blocks it.
Merkki tries to clinch but Kettering moves out of range.

Kettering has taken the fight to the clinch.
Merkki tries to land knees in the clinch but Kettering avoids the damage to the body.
Merkki can't find room to land a body shot as Kettering controls the action.
Merkki stalling.
Kettering is working Merkki over against the cage.
Kettering stalling in the clinch but Merkki improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kettering can't break the clinch.
Merkki prevents a takedown attempt there.
Merkki keeps control of Kettering as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Merkki has had enough of the clinch but Kettering keeps him there for the moment.
Kettering is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Merkki throws a punch but it's blocked by Kettering.
Kettering pushes Merkki back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Merkki controlling the action here for a moment.
Merkki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkki has had enough of the clinch but Kettering keeps him there for the moment.
Merkki tries to break the clinch but Kettering is controlling the position.
Kettering softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kettering is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Merkki pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kettering misses with a punch to the body.
Kettering misses with the head strike.
Kettering tries a knee to the head but Merkki blocks it.

Merkki manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Merkki.
Kettering swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kettering goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kettering misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four 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.
Kettering moves out of range as Merkki throws a body kick.
Merkki tries to clinch but Kettering moves away
and Kettering counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kettering throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Merkki will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kettering up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kettering.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A knee to the head by Kettering.

Merkki breaks the clinch.
Merkki dodges the punch combination from Kettering.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sloan Kettering dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kettering throws a right hand that Merkki ducks under and follows up with a left that Merkki also avoids with ease.
Decent striking displayed by Kettering there.
Merkki wants to clinch

so Kettering counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kettering in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Merkki keeping moving, preventing Kettering from controlling successfully.
Kettering won't allow Merkki to get back to his feet.
Merkki keeping moving, preventing Kettering from controlling successfully.
Merkki wants to stand and escape but Kettering is having none of it.
Kettering throwing strikes from guard but Merkki blocks nicely.
Kettering has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kettering looking to pass the guard.
Merkki is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kettering is controlling him.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kettering rushes Merkki and presses him up against the cage.
Kettering taking a breather.
Kettering lands an uppercut.
Kettering has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Merkki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Merkki manages to break the clinch.

Kettering decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kettering not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Merkki tries to kick Kettering off but Kettering keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kettering thows a huge punch but Merkki dodges it nicely.
Kettering thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kettering thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kettering passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Merkki!
Merkki blocking the ground and pound.
Kettering throwing strikes here but Merkki is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Merkki is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Kettering looking to ground and pound but Merkki is blocking nicely.
Kettering sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kettering punching from mount but Merkki doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kettering throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Merkki bucks Kettering off and manages to get back to his feet!

Kettering takes the fight into the clinch.
Kettering tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Merkki's elbow.
Merkki tries to throw a body punch but Kettering avoids it by throwing Merkki back against the cage.
Merkki leaning his opponent against the cage.

Merkki manages to break the clinch.
A leg kick checked by Kettering.
Merkki tries to clinch up
enabling Kettering to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Merkki wants to clinch

and Kettering counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Merkki manages to break the clinch.
Kettering is looking to clinch but Merkki is avoiding it.
Kettering will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kettering misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kettering uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Merkki.
Merkki wants to clinch up but Kettering keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sloan Kettering dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kettering circles away from the clinch attempt.
Merkki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Merkki tries to clinch
and Kettering counters with a series of strikes. Merkki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Merkki circles away from the clinch attempt
and Merkki counters with a slapping leg kick.
Merkki misses the jab.

Merkki moves into range and clinches up with Kettering.
Kettering wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kettering tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Merkki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Kettering manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Merkki shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A head kick by Kettering misses
and Merkki counters with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kettering keeps the fight on the outside.
Kettering stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Merkki.
Kettering is looking to clinch.
Merkki feints and then cracks Kettering's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kettering down.
Merkki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kettering paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Left hook, right uppercut from Merkki.

It looks like Sloan Kettering has been cut.
Merkki throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kettering.
Sloan Kettering is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kettering will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Merkki looks to clinch

and Kettering counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kettering.
Merkki wants to stand and escape but Kettering is having none of it.
Kettering trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Merkki uses the cage to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kettering avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kettering misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Merkki avoids a punch combination nicely.
Merkki tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kettering throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Merkki counters by clinching up.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Kettering breaks from the clinch.
Kettering throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kettering throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kettering misses with a hook. Merkki ducked under it nicely.
Kettering lands with a slapping head kick.
Erkki Merkki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Merkki is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Kettering closes the distance and clinches.
Kettering taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kettering tries to throw a body punch but Merkki avoids it by throwing Kettering back against the cage.
Merkki controlling the action here for a moment.
Merkki wants to stall.
Merkki blocks an uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kettering.
Erkki Merkki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kettering prevents a body shot from Merkki.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Erkki Merkki.
I think Kettering 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sloan Kettering!