PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Veijo Meri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olli Kuhta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Meri comes to the cage accompanied by Imperial March. Kuhta has chosen Break Out as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Meri
vs
Kuhta

175 cm
18
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Veijo Meri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olli Kuhta!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuhta tries to clinch but Meri is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Kuhta. No joy for Meri on that attempt.
Meri is looking to clinch.
Meri throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Meri throws a jab when Kuhta was well out of range.
Kuhta tries to land a leg kick but Meri saw it coming and moves away.
Meri looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Meri keeps the fight on the outside.
Meri shoots for a takedown but Kuhta saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Meri fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuhta fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kuhta moves into the clinch successfully.
Kuhta wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kuhta is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Meri wants to break free but Kuhta has control.
Meri tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kuhta just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Veijo Meri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuhta is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Meri decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuhta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Meri is keeping the position for now.
Meri wants to sweep here but Kuhta controlling him for the moment.

Kuhta drops back, looking for a kneebar! Meri looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Meri looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Meri!
Kuhta sneaks back into half guard.

Meri is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kuhta is just riding it out for now. Meri eventually gives up the hold.
Kuhta controlling the position well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kuhta is trying to get back to full guard.
Kuhta is trying to maintain the position but Meri is very close to passing his half guard.
Kuhta is looking to improve his position.
Kuhta looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meri moves nicely into side control.
Meri trying to control the position but Kuhta is working away.
Kuhta tries to bench press Meri off him but Meri keeps the position.

Meri swings around for an armbar but Kuhta sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Meri's guard.
Meri is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Meri wants to sweep here but Kuhta controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Meri throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kuhta uses it to pass to side control.
Meri manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kuhta's best efforts.
Kuhta keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kuhta trying to pass the guard but Meri defending well.
Meri wants to control but Kuhta is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veijo Meri dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Meri clinches but Kuhta breaks the clinch
enabling Kuhta to counter with a crisp jab.
Kuhta tries to clinch up.
Veijo Meri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Meri shoots in for a takedown but Kuhta shows good takedown defense.
No luck for Meri with that takedown attempt.
Meri throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Kuhta moves into the clinch.
Kuhta lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kuhta looking to throw knees to the head but Meri is blocking nicely.
Kuhta throws a punch but it's blocked by Meri.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kuhta wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Meri has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuhta missing with knees to the body.
Kuhta tries to pull guard but Meri won't allow it.

Meri gets control of Kuhta's arms and successfully pulls guard. Meri will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kuhta trying to control the position from guard on top but Meri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Meri has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kuhta can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kuhta's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kuhta postures up.
Meri wants to sweep here but Kuhta controlling him for the moment.

Meri looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kuhta passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuhta is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Meri will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Meri is looking for a sweep.
Kuhta cracks Meri with a big elbow.

Kuhta tries for a kimura but Meri is defending well.
Meri wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meri regains half guard.
Meri wants to get back to full guard.
Kuhta stalling.
The fighters are battling for position here. Meri manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Meri is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kuhta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Meri is keeping the position for now.
Kuhta passes Meri's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kuhta controlling the action here.
Meri is trying to control but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kuhta lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Olli Kuhta will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Meri has his takedown stuffed

and Kuhta counters by clinching up.
Kuhta misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Meri.
Meri jumps guard but Kuhta stands there with Meri around his waist. Meri gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kuhta blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Meri wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Meri fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Veijo Meri. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Meri tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kuhta just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kuhta keeps control of Meri as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Meri has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kuhta avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kuhta taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Meri is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kuhta has Meri pushed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuhta lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Meri backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meri tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kuhta smiles and moves away.
Kuhta doesn't manage to clinch there - Meri circles away.
Kuhta wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Meri throws a series of punches but Kuhta avoids them all with ease.

Kuhta feints and as Meri raises his hands in defense, Kuhta changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kuhta controlling from the top position.
Kuhta must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kuhta tries to free his leg and advance position but Meri is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meri tries to strike from the bottom.
Kuhta trying to control but Meri is working from the bottom.
Meri wants to improve his position but instead Kuhta has moved into half guard.
Meri tries to roll over but Kuhta keeps him under control.
Meri tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kuhta has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Meri sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meri is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kuhta slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Meri makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Meri.
Kuhta works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Meri is trying to stand.
Meri is staying active underneath Kuhta, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuhta missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kuhta is tying to control. Meri wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Meri is looking to control Kuhta's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Meri avoid being mounted?

And that's the end of the fight!
Olli Kuhta comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuhta has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olli Kuhta!