PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Monte Lara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarmo Bjorn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lara
vs
Bjorn

170 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Monte Lara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarmo Bjorn!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lara blocks a head kick by Bjorn.

Bjorn closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lara quickly recovers to half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bjorn thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lara's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lara is trying to maintain the position but Bjorn is very close to passing his half guard.
Lara tries to get to full guard but Bjorn has control of the leg.

Lara makes his way to full guard, as Bjorn worked for a kimura.
Bjorn stays in close to Lara's body and controls the position.
Lara looking to control.
Bjorn wants to stand but Lara is controlling his posture from full guard.
Lara might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bjorn gets to his feet - Lara follows without any prompting.
Lara could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Lara fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bjorn, pushing him back against the cage.

Bjorn ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bjorn no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Bjorn pulls Lara in to control the position.
Lara trying to control the position from guard on top but Bjorn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lara throws an elbow that misses. Bjorn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lara's guard. Nice move by Bjorn!
Lara is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lara is really struggling to control Bjorn but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lara is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bjorn is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

We're going to have a standup here because Monte Lara wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Lara gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bjorn counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Bjorn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bjorn clinches up with Lara and pushes him back against the cage.

Bjorn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bjorn takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Bjorn drops Lara with a beautiful combination! Lara stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Bjorn is looking for the KO!

Lara is rocked!

It looks like Monte Lara has been cut.

Lara gets tackled into the cage by Bjorn. Bjorn maintains the clinch.
Oh Lara is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lara wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Bjorn looking to score a takedown. He gets a body lock and scores a very heavy trip takedown. That's knocked the wind out of Lara! Bjorn lands strikes from the mount and the ref steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Slam). Jarmo Bjorn!