PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mertsi Peltola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mertsi Peltola has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Peltola
vs
Smith

182 cm
25
212 lbs
13 - 8 - 1

190 cm
26
220 lbs
4 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Meet the Future
Merciless Gladiators

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 13 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Mertsi Peltola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chuck Smith!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Peltola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Smith manages to avoid it.
Peltola circles away from the clinch attempt
and Peltola counters with a straight right hand.
Smith tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Peltola manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Smith moves into range and clinches up with Peltola.
Peltola is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Smith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Peltola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Smith lands an elbow that stopped Peltola in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Mertsi Peltola has been cut.
Peltola fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Peltola struggles to land a body shot inside as Smith controls his hands.
Knees to the body from Smith.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Peltola misses with a punch to the body.
Peltola pushes Smith back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Smith utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Smith misses with an elbow over the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Peltola taking a breather.
Peltola has Smith pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Smith manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Smith lands an elbow inside.

Mertsi Peltola's cut is getting worse.
Smith is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mertsi Peltola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Peltola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Peltola fails to land.
Peltola looking to slow down the pace here.
Peltola managing to block the knees to the body from Smith.
Smith leaning against his opponent.
Smith using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Peltola has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Peltola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Smith's elbow.
Peltola lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Smith is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Peltola is defending well for now.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Peltola blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peltola cracks Smith with a nice body shot.
Smith tries to land knees in the clinch but Peltola avoids the damage to the body.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
Smith utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Smith with a knee to the head.

Mertsi Peltola's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith with a knee to the head.
Smith prevents a body shot from Peltola.
Peltola lands a right hand.
Peltola tries to work over Smith's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Peltola is blocking nicely.
Smith misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Peltola.
Peltola blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smith tries to land a knee to the head but Peltola blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith is fighting off a takedown attempt but Peltola is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Smith to the mat. Smith regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Smith keeping full guard, as Peltola tries to pass.
Peltola wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
We've been hearing that Peltola has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Peltola prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
Peltola trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Peltola prevents Smith from getting back to his feet.
Peltola slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Mertsi Peltola has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Smith slips under a jab from Peltola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Peltola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Peltola paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Smith tries to clinch up but Peltola circles away and keeps his distance.
Peltola misses with a few strikes there.
Peltola throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Smith defending well as Peltola loads up on a big left hand.
Smith tries to clinch but Peltola moves out of range.
Peltola shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Smith as he avoids it easily.
Peltola scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smith fails in his attempt to clinch.
Smith defending well as Peltola loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Peltola circles away from the clinch attempt

and Peltola holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith looking to throw knees to the head but Peltola is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chuck Smith dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mertsi Peltola's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Peltola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.
Smith is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Peltola paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Peltola swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.
Peltola jabs at Smith's body.
Smith tries to clinch up but Peltola circles away and keeps his distance.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Smith closes the distance looking to clinch
and Peltola counters with a left to the body.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Peltola.
Smith bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Smith avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Peltola.
Peltola looks to score with a jab to the body but Smith is just out of range.

Smith rushes Peltola and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Peltola tries to stall but Smith uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Smith throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Peltola blocks it with crossed arms.
Peltola taking a breather.
Smith trying to land knees to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Peltola.
Smith misses with an elbow strike.
Peltola scores with a nice hook to the head.
Smith prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Smith with a knee to the head.
Smith gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Peltola is trying to trip Smith. He has hold of a leg but Smith is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Peltola persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Peltola trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith wants to stand but Peltola is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peltola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Peltola postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
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!
Peltola stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Peltola stops Smith from standing up.
Peltola looking to pass the guard.

Peltola drops back, looking for a kneebar! Smith looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Smith looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Smith!
Smith wants to stand but Peltola is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peltola tries to improve position but can't.
Smith working away.
Peltola is looking for a sweep.
Smith wants to stand but Peltola is controlling his arm.
Smith working away.
Smith tries to stand but Peltola is controlling his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith working away.
Smith tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Peltola is looking to reverse the position.
Smith tries to stand but Peltola is controlling his head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith decides to stand back up. Smith steps back and let's Peltola get back to his feet.
Peltola is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Smith's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Donk. Peltola catches Smith right on the button with a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mertsi Peltola will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mertsi Peltola's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Peltola circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith moves in looking to clinch but Peltola pushes him off.
Peltola misses with a body shot.
Peltola is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Smith tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Peltola swats away the attempt to clinch by Smith.

Smith closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Peltola misses with a body punch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Smith creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Smith lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Peltola is trying to trip Smith. He has hold of a leg but Smith is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Peltola persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Smith is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Peltola dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Peltola drags him back down.
Peltola lands a decent elbow from side control.
Smith wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Peltola trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Peltola is controlling him well.
Peltola trying to control the action but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Peltola is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Peltola throws an elbow but Smith slips to the side and avoids it well.
Smith is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Peltola asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Smith is not content to let Peltola control the position.

Peltola is trying to get an arm triangle but Smith is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Peltola trying to control the position but Smith is working away.
Smith seems a little lost for a moment, as Peltola dominates the positioning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Peltola drags him back down.
Peltola tries to move to mount but Smith blocks the move with his legs.
Peltola is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith pushes Peltola away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Peltola gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Peltola is putting a hurting on Smith here, landing some big shots from side control.
Smith is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Peltola wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Peltola throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mertsi Peltola showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Peltola 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mertsi Peltola!
A relieved looking Mertsi Peltola thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.