PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marko Loimula (ranked 2397 p4p, 3529 weight class) and Theador Cruse (ranked 313 p4p, 441 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Loimula
vs
Cruse

180 cm
25
185
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
175
2 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Highland Clothing
Fighters Connection

Fighters Connection

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marko Loimula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Theador Cruse!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Michael Johnstone and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruse misses with a double jab

and Loimula counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Loimula has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Cruse looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Loimula has picked Cruse up and slammed him! Cruse can't keep hold of the triangle and Loimula manages to pass to side control!

Loimula swings around for an armbar but Cruse sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Loimula's guard.

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

Cruse drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Loimula dives on top into guard.

Cruse not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Loimula wants to control from the top but Cruse keeps moving.
Our spies down at at Cozad The Island inform us that Cruse has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Loimula controlling from the top position.
Cruse bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Loimula's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loimula had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Cruse defends it easily.

Loimula has his foot on Cruse's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Cruse works his way back into a safe position though.
Loimula looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Loimula looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cruse tries to free his leg and advance position but Loimula is retaining full guard.
Cruse works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Cruse is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Loimula doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cruse.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Loimula is looking to control Cruse's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Loimula avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loimula moves into full guard.

Cruse thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Loimula trying to control the position.
Loimula keeping full guard, as Cruse tries to pass.
Loimula lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Loimula throwing strikes from guard but Cruse blocks nicely.
Loimula trying to control the position from guard on top but Cruse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cruse throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Loimula escapes and throws Cruse's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Loimula thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cruse tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Loimula wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Loimula trying to control the position but Cruse is working away.
Cruse is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Loimula tries for a kimura but Cruse is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Loimula wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cruse, who protects the arm well.
Cruse tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Loimula swings around for an armbar but Cruse sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Loimula's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Loimula lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Loimula won't allow Cruse to sweep him here.
Loimula wants to control from the top but Cruse keeps moving.
Loimula postures up.
Loimula advances to half guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Loimula stalling away here and it's allowed Cruse to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marko Loimula dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cruse looks to land a body kick but Loimula moved away.
Loimula takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Cruse fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Loimula checks it well.
Loimula half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Loimula shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Loimula showed some decent athleticism there.
Loimula is pressing down on Cruse's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cruse is holding on for now.
Loimula throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Cruse to regain full guard.
Loimula throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cruse can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruse wants to sweep but no luck.

Cruse escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Loimula gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Loimula wants to control from the top but Cruse keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruse throws his legs up looking for a submission but Loimula uses it to pass to side control.
Loimula working the ground and pound but Cruse is defending the strikes.
Cruse is looking for a sweep.

Loimula tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Loimula looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Loimula tries to advance to mount but Cruse denies him.
Cruse tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loimula trying to control the position but Cruse is working away.

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

Loimula goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Cruse has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Loimula but great work by Cruse.
Loimula stuck in half guard on the bottom here.

Cruse is trying to get an arm triangle but Loimula is defending well.
Loimula gets back to half guard.
Cruse is looking to advance position but Loimula won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruse thows a huge punch but Loimula dodges it nicely.
Loimula wants to control but Cruse is keeping busy.
Loimula makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Loimula.
Cruse looking to pass the guard.
Loimula tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Loimula is working hard here to advance position.
Marko Loimula overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Loimula bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cruse's guard.

Loimula wants to pass the guard but Cruse is keeping the position.
Loimula looking to sit in guard and control but Cruse gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cruse avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Loimula keeping full guard, as Cruse tries to pass.
Loimula is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruse can do to turn this around?
Loimula is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cruse passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Loimula is looking for a sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marko Loimula will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruse attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Loimula drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cruse sprawls and moves away.
Cruse lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Cruse throws a lazy right hand but Loimula sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Loimula drops down looking for a counter takedown but Cruse sprawls and moves away.
Cruse throws a right and a left that Loimula avoids nicely.
Loimula tries to counter with a takedown but Cruse is quick to defend against it.

Cruse tries to sprawl but Loimula drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cruse is looking to improve his position.
Loimula wants to pass to mount but Cruse is defending the position.
Cruse moves into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruse keeping full guard, as Loimula tries to pass.
Cruse trying to control the position.
Cruse pulls Loimula in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loimula thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Loimula wants to control from the top but Cruse keeps moving.
Cruse looking to hit a scissor sweep but Loimula is one step ahead there.
Loimula wants to pass the guard but Cruse is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cruse is on top in guard.

Loimula pulls Cruse in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cruse throwing strikes from guard but Loimula blocks nicely.
Cruse must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Loimula throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Loimula has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Cruse should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Loimula has tightened it up now! Cruse should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Marko Loimula!