PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juri Arpa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Byron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byron has chosen Roky Erickson - Click your Fingers Applauding the Play as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Arpa
vs
Byron

208 cm
21
280 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

175 cm
27
282 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Very strong

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

FULL METAL GEAR

Nordic Nutrition (160 Recovery $99)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juri Arpa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tom Byron!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byron slips under a jab.
Arpa throws a head kick but Byron moves out of range.
Byron tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Arpa scores with a sloppy right hand. Byron should have avoided that one.
Byron checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A bone on bone clash there as Byron blocks the leg kick.
Arpa tries to land a front kick but Byron steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Arpa throws a leg kick but Byron sees it coming and moves out of range.
Byron fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arpa misses with a low kick.
Byron is looking to clinch.
Arpa misses with a low kick.
Arpa will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arpa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Byron.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Byron checks a leg kick.
Arpa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Byron checks a low kick from Arpa.
Arpa misses with a hook. Byron ducked under it nicely.
Byron tries to clinch up but Arpa circles away and keeps his distance.
Arpa scores with a spinning back kick!
Byron uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Arpa.
Arpa cracks the inside of Byron's front leg.
Arpa tries a low kick but Byron avoids it.
Arpa fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Byron checks it well.
Arpa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Byron.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byron fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Arpa fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Byron checks it well.
Arpa lands a nice leg kick that just misses Byron's sensitive parts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arpa connects with a high kick.

It looks like Tom Byron has been cut.
Byron looks gassed!
Arpa shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Byron moves into the clinch successfully.
Byron lands an elbow inside.
Still in the clinch, Arpa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Byron throws an elbow that misses.
Byron blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Byron looks to throw an elbow but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arpa.
Arpa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Arpa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Arpa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Byron lands an elbow that stopped Arpa in his tracks for a moment.
Arpa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Byron blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arpa can't break the clinch.
Byron creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Byron misses with an elbow strike.
Arpa throws a punch but it's blocked by Byron.
Arpa misses with some punches.
Byron throws an elbow but it misses.
Arpa has a couple of punches blocked by Byron.

Arpa manages to break the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Arpa.
A bone on bone clash there as Byron blocks the leg kick.
Arpa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Byron takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Arpa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Arpa throws a chopping leg kick but Byron manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Arpa connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
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!
Arpa misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arpa misses with the body kick

and Byron counters by moving into the clinch.
Arpa presses Byron against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Byron blocking some punches.
Arpa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Byron backwards.
Arpa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Arpa has a couple of punches blocked by Byron.
A nice right hand lands inside from Arpa.
Arpa cracks Byron with a nice body shot.
Arpa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Arpa avoids the elbow strike from Byron, against the cage.
Arpa throws a head punch that misses.

Arpa breaks from the clinch.
Juri Arpa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A shot to the liver by Arpa. Beautiful body shot.
Good work by Byron as he checks the leg kick.
Arpa throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An inside leg kick from Arpa misses.
Byron closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juri Arpa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tom Byron's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Arpa tried to score with a low kick but Byron checks it.
Byron drops his hands momentarily and Arpa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Arpa throws a leg kick that is checked

and Byron counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Byron.
Arpa tries to break the clinch but Byron is controlling the position.
Arpa blocks an elbow strike from Byron.
Byron misses with an elbow over the top.
Arpa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Arpa lands a hook to the side of the head.
Arpa blocks the elbow strike.
Arpa avoids the elbow strike from Byron, against the cage.
Byron pushes off an throws an elbow but Arpa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Arpa fails to land.
Byron pushes off an throws an elbow but Arpa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Arpa dodges an elbow strike from Byron.
Arpa takes an elbow to the forehead.
Arpa can't break the clinch.
Arpa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Byron throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Byron throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Arpa lands a left hand that snaps the head of Byron backwards.
Byron blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Byron misses with an elbow over the top.
Byron looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Arpa is trying to push Byron away but Byron has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arpa lands with a short shot to the head.
Byron pushes off an throws an elbow but Arpa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Arpa swings wildly with an uppercut but Byron uses good head movement to avoid it.
Byron misses with an elbow over the top.
Arpa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Arpa lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Arpa fails to land.
Arpa working hard to break the clinch.
Arpa misses with a punch on the inside.
Arpa dodges an elbow strike from Byron.
Arpa avoids the elbow strike from Byron, against the cage.

Arpa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Byron moves in looking to clinch but Arpa pushes him off.
Arpa throws a leg kick
and Byron counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Arpa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Arpa plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Jab by Arpa.
Arpa fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Byron has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Byron is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byron checks a leg kick.
Arpa lands a high kick!
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!
Arpa throws a leg kick

and Byron counters by moving into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Byron just misses with a elbow thrown towards Arpa's brow.
Arpa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arpa dodges an elbow strike from Byron.
Byron creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Arpa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arpa misses with some punches.
Arpa blocks an elbow strike.
Byron throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Arpa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Arpa misses with a punch on the inside.
Arpa lands a right hand.
Arpa working aggressively here.
Arpa has a couple of punches blocked by Byron.
Byron blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arpa works on Byron's body with a couple of short punches.
Arpa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Arpa blocks an elbow strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arpa.
Arpa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Arpa fails to land.
Byron blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Arpa scores with a shot to the side of Byron's head.
Arpa lands a hook that snaps the head of Byron backwards.
Arpa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Arpa.
Arpa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Byron pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Byron blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Byron blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Arpa.
Arpa can't break the clinch.
Arpa working hard to break the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Byron just misses with a elbow thrown towards Arpa's brow.
Arpa lands a nice shot to the body.
Byron's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Byron blocks an uppercut.
Arpa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Arpa lands a body shot in the clinch.
Arpa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arpa.
Arpa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arpa working aggressively here.
Arpa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arpa misses with some punches.
Byron blocking some punches.
Byron creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Arpa's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byron blocking some punches.
Arpa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Arpa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arpa throws a leg kick which misses Byron's front leg but catches the back leg as Byron tries to avoid it.
Arpa misses with the body kick

and Byron counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Arpa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Arpa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arpa misses with some punches.
Byron keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Arpa's efforts to push away.
Arpa takes an elbow to the temple.
Byron has Arpa pressed against the cage, preventing Arpa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Byron takes a shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Arpa.
Arpa lands a body shot.
Byron throws an elbow but it misses.
Byron blocking some punches.
Juri Arpa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arpa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Byron misses with an elbow strike.
Arpa swings wildly with an uppercut but Byron uses good head movement to avoid it.
Arpa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Arpa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juri Arpa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tom Byron's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Arpa tries a low kick but Byron avoids it.
Byron checks the leg kick.
Byron slips under a jab.
Arpa turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Arpa lands a lovely overhand right.
A jab from Arpa does it's job there.
Byron closes the distance but Arpa moves to the side
and Arpa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Arpa tries a low kick but Byron avoids it.
Arpa tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Byron is able to avoid easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arpa throws a one two combo.
Byron takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Byron checks a leg kick.
Arpa misses with a series of wild punches.
Arpa throws a leg kick that misses.
Byron checks a leg kick.
Arpa misses with a leg kick.
Arpa swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Byron rushes Arpa and presses him up against the cage.
Arpa lands a shoulder strike.
Tom Byron has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Byron looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Byron creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Arpa's defenses.

It looks like Juri Arpa has been cut.
Byron pushes off an throws an elbow but Arpa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Byron throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Byron misses with an elbow strike.
Arpa dodges an elbow strike from Byron.
Arpa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Byron pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Byron throws an elbow that misses.
Arpa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arpa wants to break the clinch but can't.
Arpa has a couple of punches blocked by Byron.
Arpa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Byron creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Byron lands an elbow inside.
Byron misses with an elbow over the top.
Arpa throws a head punch that misses.
Arpa working aggressively here.
Arpa has had enough of the clinch but Byron keeps him there for the moment.
Arpa lands with a left to the head.
Byron gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Byron misses with an elbow over the top.
Arpa throws a punch but it's blocked by Byron.
Byron blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Byron misses with an elbow strike.
Arpa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Arpa avoids the elbow strike from Byron, against the cage.
Byron gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arpa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Byron throws an elbow that misses.
Byron throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Arpa blocks the elbow strike.
A head punch on the inside from Arpa fails to land.
Arpa blocks an elbow strike from Byron.
Arpa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Arpa avoids a wild elbow strike from Byron.
Byron blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Arpa dodges an elbow strike from Byron.
Byron misses with an elbow strike.
Byron lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Byron comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Byron throws an elbow but it misses.
Juri Arpa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Arpa is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Byron.
Arpa working aggressively here.
Byron blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Arpa.
Arpa misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Byron.
A short right from Arpa.
Byron creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Arpa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Arpa lands a body punch.
A hook to the body from Arpa.

Arpa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A low kick from Arpa misses

and Byron counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Byron.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Byron misses with an elbow strike.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Byron pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Byron pushes off an throws an elbow but Arpa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Byron creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Byron throws an elbow but misses.
Byron lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Byron blocking some punches.
Arpa avoids a wild elbow strike from Byron.
Nice elbow from Byron.
Byron throws an elbow that misses.

Arpa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arpa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Byron checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Byron wants to clinch but Arpa slips to the side
and Arpa counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arpa throws a combination. Byron tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A chopping leg kick lands by Arpa.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juri Arpa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Arpa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juri Arpa!