PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roman Empire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lauri Meskanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Empire
vs
Meskanen

188 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
18
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roman Empire!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lauri Meskanen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Empire swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Meskanen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Empire closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Empire lands in his opponent's guard.
Empire scoring with some ground and pound.
Meskanen wants to sweep but no luck.
Empire prevents Meskanen from getting back to his feet.
Meskanen 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Meskanen keeping full guard, as Empire tries to pass.
Empire throwing strikes but missing.
Meskanen wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Empire is now in half guard.
Meskanen looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Meskanen throws a combination that misses

and Empire counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Empire stays in close to Meskanen's body and controls the position.
Empire scoring with some ground and pound.
Empire wants to control from the top but Meskanen keeps moving.
Empire has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Meskanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Meskanen looks gassed!
Meskanen keeping full guard, as Empire tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Meskanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Empire counter with a right hand.

Empire looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Meskanen!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A nice elbow there by Empire.
Empire sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Empire seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Meskanen for as long as he can get away with.
Empire landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Empire with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Meskanen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Empire lands with some strikes.
The referee warns Meskanen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Empire.
Meskanen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Empire scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Meskanen wants to get back to his feet.
Meskanen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meskanen is pressing down on Empire's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Meskanen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Empire's guard.

Empire is working an open guard so Meskanen takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Empire shoots in and bounces Meskanen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Empire scoring with punches to the head and body.

Empire drops back looking for a leg! Meskanen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Meskanen manages to kick Empire off! Empire jumps back into Meskanen's guard.

Empire stands up from Meskanen's guard - Empire perhaps looking for a knockout.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Meskanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Empire dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Empire swinging wilding here.
Meskanen fails with the takedown

and Empire counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Meskanen trying to control from the bottom.
Ground and pound from Empire.
Empire prevents Meskanen from standing back up.
Meskanen is looking to improve his position.
Empire looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Meskanen tries to kick Empire off but Empire keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Meskanen is breathing heavily.
Empire scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Empire working over Meskanen with some ground and pound. Meskanen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Meskanen is refusing to be controlled, as Empire sits in half guard.
Meskanen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Empire keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Meskanen's head.
Meskanen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Empire's guard.
Empire seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Meskanen throwing strikes but missing.

Meskanen gets to his feet - Empire follows without any prompting.
Empire misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meskanen tries to clinch up

and Empire counters with a shoot takedown. Meskanen fights it but they end up in guard.
Empire prevents Meskanen from getting back to his feet.
Meskanen looking to control.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Meskanen is on top in guard.
Meskanen cracks Empire with a solid left hand.
Meskanen works over Empire with some ground and pound from guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Meskanen wants to control from the top but Empire keeps moving.
Meskanen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Empire kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meskanen chips away with some ground and pound.
Meskanen chips away with some ground and pound.
Empire on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Empire tries to get out of the position.
Meskanen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Empire's guard.
Meskanen trying to control but Empire is working from the bottom.

Meskanen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Meskanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Empire counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Meskanen's guard now.

Meskanen pushes Empire off and gets back to his feet.
Meskanen fails with the takedown
and Empire counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Roman Empire has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lauri Meskanen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Empire scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Empire is trying to control the action in half guard but Meskanen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Empire takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Empire wants to pass to mount but Meskanen is defending the position.
Empire is thwarting Meskanen's attempts to control the position.
Empire wants to lay and pray for a moment but Meskanen keeps working.

Empire stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Meskanen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Empire connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A head kick misses from Meskanen.
Meskanen tries to clinch but Empire moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Empire 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!

Empire misses with a two punch combination.
Empire tries for a takedown but Meskanen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Meskanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Empire stalling in the clinch but Meskanen improves position.
Empire is trying to break free.

Meskanen breaks the clinch.
Meskanen shoots and misses
and Empire counters with a three punch combo that has Meskanen backing up. Meskanen nods at Empire to acknowledge the strikes.
Empire looks to land a combination but Meskanen avoids it well.
Meskanen avoids the head kick by Empire.
Meskanen tries to clinch but Empire is having none of it.
Empire lands a two punch combo.
Meskanen throws a nice looking combination but Empire bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Meskanen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Empire keeps the fight on the outside.
Meskanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Empire lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

Meskanen is rocked!

Empire scores a takedown into full mount!
Meskanen is still in real trouble! Can Empire finish him?
Empire trying to control but Meskanen is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Empire lands a big elbow.
Empire scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Meskanen?
Empire raining down shots from the mount!
Empire unloading with bombs!
Empire controlling the pace for now.
Meskanen tries to hold on but Empire postures up.
Meskanen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Meskanen seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Empire connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Meskanen is in all sorts of trouble here.
Empire landing punches.
Meskanen gets back to half guard.
Empire thows a huge punch but Meskanen dodges it nicely.
Meskanen is pressing down on Empire's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Empire makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Empire postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Meskanen 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.

Meskanen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Empire can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Meskanen is trying to keep Empire in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Empire postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Meskanen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Empire doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Empire manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Meskanen has his foot on Empire's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Empire works his way back into a safe position though.
Meskanen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Empire!
Empire swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Meskanen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Meskanen wants to control the pace but Empire is squirming around nicely.
Empire is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lauri Meskanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Empire taking shots to the head.
Meskanen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Meskanen misses with a head shot.
Meskanen raining down shots from the mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Empire showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Empire, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Empire!