PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Tolstij (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rasputin Mekk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rasputin Mekk is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Tolstij
vs
Mekk

173 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
225 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilya Tolstij!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rasputin Mekk!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tolstij swats away the attempt to clinch by Mekk.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tolstij is defended easily by Mekk.
Mekk tries a head kick but it misses.
Mekk leaves Tolstij with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mekk tries to clinch up but Tolstij circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice sprawl there from Tolstij as Mekk shoots in.
Tolstij tries to clinch but Mekk moves away

so Mekk counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Tolstij looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mekk forces his way into half guard.
Tolstij pushes Mekk off looking to stand but Mekk dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolstij is refusing to be controlled, as Mekk sits in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tolstij makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tolstij.
Mekk slips nicely into half guard.
Tolstij is concentrating on defense, preventing Mekk from advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tolstij manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Tolstij shoots in for a takedown but Mekk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Tolstij. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tolstij darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Mekk tries to bum rush Tolstij with a series of wild strikes but Tolstij uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Mekk closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tolstij did well to prevent Mekk getting side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tolstij actively working from the bottom here.
Tolstij is breathing heavily.
Tolstij is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mekk's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mekk's back!

Tolstij is looking for the choke from the back position but Mekk is controlling his hands well.
Tolstij struggling to land strikes to the head as Mekk covers up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolstij keeps control of the position as Mekk tries to break free.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tolstij throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Mekk tries to escape the position.
Mekk wants to control his opponent's hands but Tolstij gets his hands free.
Mekk is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Tolstij is staying active.
You can see the frustration on Mekk's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolstij missing with strikes from the back.

Tolstij working for a choke but Mekk is defending well.
Mekk wants to escape the position.
Mekk rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Mekk is refusing to be controlled, as Tolstij sits in half guard.
Tolstij really is a fat lump.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mekk tries to get to full guard but Tolstij has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mekk drives through and clinches with Tolstij against the cage.
Mekk is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tolstij pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tolstij tries to break free but Mekk pushes him back against the cage.

Mekk successfully pulls guard.
Tolstij trying to control the position from guard on top but Mekk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tolstij missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mekk has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ilya Tolstij wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Tolstij fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tolstij fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mekk blocks a head kick by Tolstij.
Tolstij throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mekk's waist but Mekk gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tolstij off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Tolstij. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mekk shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tolstij shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mekk but Mekk pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mekk throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ilya Tolstij is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolstij fails to land the takedown.

Mekk moves into range and clinches up with Tolstij.

Mekk breaks from the clinch.
Tolstij tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mekk swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mekk is looking to clinch.
Mekk is looking to clinch.
Tolstij looks for a takedown but Mekk sprawls well.
Mekk shoots in and drives through. Tolstij sprawls well.
Tolstij swats away the attempt to clinch by Mekk.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mekk wants to clinch up but Tolstij keeps it at a distance.
Tolstij tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mekk paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tolstij looks to clinch

and Mekk counters by moving into the clinch.

Mekk pulls Tolstij into guard.

Mekk pushes Tolstij off and gets back to his feet.
Tolstij shoots and misses

and Mekk moves into the clinch.
Tolstij is trying to force a seperation but Mekk has the dominant position.

Mekk turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Tolstij might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tolstij is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Mekk trying to control the action but Tolstij is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolstij is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Tolstij wants to control but Mekk postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tolstij is not content to let Mekk control the position.
Tolstij is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mekk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Tolstij.
Mekk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tolstij looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mekk is fending him off so far but Tolstij persists. Nope, Mekk circles away and we're back to standing.
Tolstij shoots in and drives through. Mekk sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Tolstij. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mekk scores with a takedown into Tolstij's guard.
Mekk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mekk sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mekk prevents Tolstij from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolstij 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.
Rasputin Mekk has got the better of the ground game so far.

Mekk gets to his feet - Tolstij follows without any prompting.
Tolstij keeps the fight on the outside.

Tolstij has closed the distance and engaged Mekk in a clinch.
Tolstij tries to pull guard but Mekk won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mekk.
Tolstij is looking to break free of the clinch but Mekk has double underhooks.

Mekk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolstij on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Mekk. Mekk obviously looking to wear him down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mekk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Mekk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tolstij!
Mekk working the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The strikes coming from Mekk are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Mekk is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Tolstij's shoulder. That is not cool.
Tolstij takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Tolstij's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Tolstij is being controlled here.

Mekk is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Tolstij has escaped the position, nice work there.

Mekk wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Tolstij, who protects the arm well.
Tolstij is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mekk tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Mekk is looking to take a break and control but Tolstij is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tolstij manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tolstij trying to control from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rasputin Mekk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mekk 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rasputin Mekk!