PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Miranda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leka Leuhka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Miranda has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Miranda
vs
Leuhka

193 cm
27
224 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

180 cm
20
244 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rafael Miranda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leka Leuhka!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leuhka doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Miranda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Leuhka's guard.
Miranda is looking to work some ground and pound but Leuhka has wrist control.
Leuhka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Miranda postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Leuhka 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.
Leuhka can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Miranda controls the pace.
Leuhka working a defensive guard here.
Miranda postures up in Leuhka's guard and throws a big left but Leuhka blocks it.
Leuhka really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Miranda. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Leuhka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Miranda has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Miranda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leuhka can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Miranda controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leuhka keeping moving, preventing Miranda from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Miranda keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Leuhka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Miranda scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Miranda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Leuhka, who protects the arm well.
Miranda controlling the position.
The ground and pound from Miranda seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Miranda in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Leuhka tries to buck Miranda off but Miranda is having none of it.

Miranda tries for a kimura but Leuhka is defending well.
Leuhka is trying to control Miranda's posture but Miranda avoids it.

Miranda tries for a kimura but Leuhka is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leuhka is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on Leuhka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Miranda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Leuhka, who protects the arm well.
Leuhka tries to improve position but can't.

Miranda looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Miranda tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Miranda has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Miranda working away.
Leuhka is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Leuhka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leuhka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Miranda tries for a kimura but Leuhka is defending well.

Miranda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Leuhka is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Leuhka managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Miranda.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Miranda stands up and beckons Leuhka to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Leuhka shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Miranda is trying to defend but Leuhka finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Leuhka shoots in and bounces Miranda off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Leuhka is looking to stand up but Miranda won't let him.
Rafael Miranda overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Leuhka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Miranda is keeping the position for now.

Miranda is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Leuhka defends well.
Miranda wants to sweep here but Leuhka controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leuhka postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Miranda is on top in guard.
Miranda throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Leuhka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Miranda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Miranda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Miranda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leuhka is keeping the position for now.
Miranda advances to half guard.

Miranda looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Leuhka is trying to stand up here but Miranda is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Miranda is trying to work for a kimura but Leuhka is defending well.

Leuhka is defending against the submission attempts here by Miranda.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Leuhka trying to control here.
Miranda will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Leuhka makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leuhka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Miranda fails with the takedown.
Leuhka throws a sloppy head kick and Miranda moves out of range easily.
Miranda has a takedown stuffed.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Leuhka.
Miranda tries for a takedown but Leuhka circles away easily

and Leuhka counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Miranda. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leuhka trying to control the action but Miranda is working from the bottom.
Miranda tries to buck Leuhka off but Leuhka is having none of it.
Leuhka trying to control the action but Miranda is working from the bottom.
Miranda tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leuhka is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Miranda can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leka Leuhka will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Leuhka. No joy for Miranda on that attempt.
Leuhka tries for a takedown but Miranda circles away easily

and Miranda decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Leuhka's guard.
Miranda loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Leuhka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Leuhka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Leuhka keeping moving, preventing Miranda from controlling successfully.
Miranda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Leuhka keeping moving, preventing Miranda from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Miranda throwing strikes but missing.
Miranda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leuhka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Miranda trying to control the position from guard on top but Leuhka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Miranda throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leuhka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leuhka wants to sweep here but Miranda controlling him for the moment.

Leuhka throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Miranda looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leuhka is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Miranda presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Leuhka breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Leuhka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Miranda paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Miranda closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Miranda wants to control but Leuhka is keeping him busy.
Leuhka parries the strikes from Miranda easily there. Miranda is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Leuhka to escape.
Miranda trying to control the position but Leuhka is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Leuhka sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leuhka moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Miranda stops Leuhka from standing up.
Miranda wants to pass the guard but Leuhka is keeping the position.
Leuhka keeping moving, preventing Miranda from controlling successfully.
Miranda passes into half guard.
Miranda is just content to waste time from the top position. Leuhka takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leuhka keeping moving, preventing Miranda from controlling successfully.
Miranda landing some decent shots from guard.
Leuhka wants to stand but Miranda is controlling the position.
Miranda wants to control from the top but Leuhka keeps moving.
Miranda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Miranda is fighting to break Leuhka's control of his arms but Leuhka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Leuhka looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Miranda showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Miranda 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Miranda!