PBP Commentary

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

Aromaa
vs
Gurlukovich

187 cm
22
221 lbs
4 - 7 - 1

187 cm
19
208 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Granite chin

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 4 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Aki Aromaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Gurlukovich!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aromaa throws a series of punches but Gurlukovich moves out of range.
Gurlukovich takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Aromaa misses with a wild combination.
Gurlukovich tries for a takedown but Aromaa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Gurlukovich is defended easily by Aromaa.
Gurlukovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Aromaa circles away.

Aromaa scores a takedown into full mount!
Gurlukovich wants to control but Aromaa is having none of it.
Aromaa trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aromaa controlling from the full mount.
Gurlukovich taking shots to the head.
Gurlukovich is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gurlukovich holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Aromaa tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The referee warns Gurlukovich that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aromaa lands a nice shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aromaa dominating with strikes here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aromaa tries to control but Gurlukovich wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aromaa pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Aromaa lands a big shot there that rocks Gurlukovich but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Gurlukovich wants to hold on but Aromaa pushes him away.
Aromaa controlling his opponent.
Gurlukovich is looking to get to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gurlukovich can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aromaa won't let Gurlukovich get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Aromaa in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gurlukovich is looking to get to half guard.

Aromaa looking for a guillotine from mount but Gurlukovich is having none of it.
Gurlukovich is looking to improve his position but Aromaa isn't that keen on the idea.
Aromaa tries to control but Gurlukovich wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aromaa scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Aromaa is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Gurlukovich can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Gurlukovich is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Aromaa goes for an armbar but Gurlukovich turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Gurlukovich.
Gurlukovich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gurlukovich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gurlukovich throws and elbow that misses. Aromaa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gurlukovich's guard. Nice move by Aromaa!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aki Aromaa dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gurlukovich is looking to clinch but Aromaa is avoiding it.

Aromaa looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Aromaa is pushing down on Gurlukovich's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gurlukovich is fighting to maintain full guard but Aromaa has managed to sneak the leg through.

Aromaa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gurlukovich is just riding it out for now. Aromaa eventually gives up the hold.
Gurlukovich is trying to control but can't.
Gurlukovich slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurlukovich keeping moving, preventing Aromaa from controlling successfully.
Gurlukovich striking off his back but it's not causing Aromaa any problems.
Gurlukovich working a defensive guard here.
Aromaa loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gurlukovich is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Aromaa circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gurlukovich wants to clinch up but Aromaa keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gurlukovich fails with an attempt to clinch.

Gurlukovich shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gurlukovich was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gurlukovich misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Aromaa 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.
Aromaa is desperately trying to improve his position but Gurlukovich has a good base and remains in mount.
Aromaa slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Aromaa is trying to control but can't.
Aromaa controlling the position well.
Aromaa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Aromaa.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aromaa has his hands on Gurlukovich's head, controlling the position.
Gurlukovich is working Aromaa over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Gurlukovich postures up in Aromaa's guard and throws a big left but Aromaa blocks it.
Gurlukovich looking to sit in guard and control but Aromaa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Aromaa working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aromaa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aromaa works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Gurlukovich tries to get to full guard but Aromaa has control of the leg.
Gurlukovich looks like he's trying to stand up.
Aromaa is keen to just control but Gurlukovich is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aki Aromaa dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gurlukovich tries to clinch there but Aromaa circles away.
Aromaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Gurlukovich.
Gurlukovich shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Aromaa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gurlukovich tries to clinch
and Aromaa counters with a solid body kick.
Aromaa misses with an uppercut.
A jab from Aromaa misses.
Aromaa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Aromaa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gurlukovich avoids the body shot from Aromaa.
Gurlukovich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gurlukovich showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Aromaa.
Aromaa looks to land a combination but Gurlukovich avoids it well.
Aki Aromaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurlukovich slips a straight right by Aromaa.
Gurlukovich tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Aromaa counters with a one-two to the body.

Gurlukovich fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Aromaa sprawls well initially but Gurlukovich persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Aromaa is looking to control Gurlukovich's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aromaa avoid being mounted?
Gurlukovich throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aromaa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gurlukovich.
Gurlukovich sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aromaa defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gurlukovich throwing shots but Aromaa is blocking nicely.
Aromaa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gurlukovich is working away from the top position though.
Aromaa is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gurlukovich is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gurlukovich has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Aromaa works to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Gurlukovich clinches with his opponent.
Gurlukovich trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gurlukovich stops a takedown attempt from Aromaa.
Aromaa managing to block the knees to the body from Gurlukovich.
Gurlukovich goes for a takedown in the clinch but Aromaa prevents it.
Gurlukovich tries a knee to the head but Aromaa blocks it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Aromaa is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Gurlukovich misses with a knee to the head.
Gurlukovich tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Aromaa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gurlukovich is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Gurlukovich with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gurlukovich with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Aromaa wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aki Aromaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aromaa gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aromaa seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gurlukovich does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Aromaa wants to work for an arm triangle but Gurlukovich is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Aromaa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gurlukovich defending well though.
Aromaa working over Gurlukovich with some ground and pound. Gurlukovich looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gurlukovich wants to get back to full guard.
Aromaa stalling.
Aromaa throwing shots but Gurlukovich is blocking nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aki Aromaa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aromaa, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:26
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aki Aromaa!