PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antti Rannanjarvi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Murikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rannanjarvi comes to the cage accompanied by Stonehenge by Spinal Tap. Murikka has chosen Rock'n'Rolla as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rannanjarvi
vs
Murikka

195 cm
19
154 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
154 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Combat Pro Design

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Rannanjarvi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Murikka!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murikka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Murikka fails to land the takedown.
Rannanjarvi tries to clinch up but Murikka circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Rannanjarvi.
Murikka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Antti Rannanjarvi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jussi Murikka.
Rannanjarvi throws a head kick that Murikka semi-blocks.
Rannanjarvi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Rannanjarvi closes the distance and clinches.
Rannanjarvi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Murikka drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rannanjarvi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rannanjarvi is pressed up against the cage. Murikka has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rannanjarvi down to the mat. Rannanjarvi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rannanjarvi stuffs the takedown.

Rannanjarvi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murikka, pushing him back against the cage.
Rannanjarvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murikka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Murikka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rannanjarvi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Murikka looks gassed!
Rannanjarvi lands a nice knee to the body.
Rannanjarvi with a knee to the head.
Rannanjarvi lands a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Knees to the body from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Murikka takes a knee right on the jaw!
Rannanjarvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murikka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Murikka takes an elbow to the forehead.
Rannanjarvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murikka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rannanjarvi scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi landing knees to the body.
Rannanjarvi scores a nice knee to the body.

Rannanjarvi manages to break the clinch.
Rannanjarvi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Murikka.
A head kick misses from Rannanjarvi.
Murikka closes the distance and clinches up with Rannanjarvi, looking for a takedown. Murikka pushes Rannanjarvi against the cage but Rannanjarvi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rannanjarvi connects with a high kick.

Rannanjarvi gets a clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Rannanjarvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murikka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Murikka is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rannanjarvi lands a knee to the body.
Murikka goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rannanjarvi prevents it.
A body shot lands from Rannanjarvi.

Rannanjarvi breaks from the clinch.

Rannanjarvi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rannanjarvi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Murikka's face.
Murikka drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rannanjarvi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A short body shot lands from Rannanjarvi as the two fighters clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rannanjarvi landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murikka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rannanjarvi pushes Murikka back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rannanjarvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murikka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Knees to the body from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi just leaning against Murikka, taking a breather.
Rannanjarvi digs a right hand into Murikka's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Murikka's gas tank.

Rannanjarvi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Horrible takedown by Murikka or perhaps it was just good defense by Rannanjarvi which made him look bad.
Rannanjarvi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rannanjarvi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rannanjarvi cracks Murikka with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Rannanjarvi lands with a slapping head kick.

Rannanjarvi rushes Murikka and presses him up against the cage.
Rannanjarvi gets underhooks to prevent Murikka's takedown attempt.
Rannanjarvi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rannanjarvi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rannanjarvi lands a knee to the head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rannanjarvi.
Good body shot from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi connects with a knee to the head.
Murikka goes for a takedown attempt but Rannanjarvi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi scores with a nice body kick.
Murikka takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Antti Rannanjarvi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rannanjarvi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rannanjarvi stuffs the takedown.
Rannanjarvi bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Rannanjarvi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Murikka, pushing him back against the cage.
Murikka tries to pull guard but Rannanjarvi holds him up against the cage and eventually Murikka drops back down to his feet.

Rannanjarvi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rannanjarvi is looking to clinch.
Rannanjarvi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Murikka paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Murikka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rannanjarvi circles away.
Murikka swats away the attempt to clinch by Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Murikka.
Murikka tries for a takedown but Rannanjarvi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rannanjarvi lands with a nice body kick.
Murikka sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rannanjarvi with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rannanjarvi prevents a takedown attempt there.
Knees to the body from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi lands with a right to the head.
Rannanjarvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murikka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rannanjarvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murikka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Rannanjarvi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Antti Rannanjarvi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab from Rannanjarvi.

Rannanjarvi moves into the clinch successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rannanjarvi lands a knee to the body.
Rannanjarvi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Murikka is working for takedown but Rannanjarvi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rannanjarvi lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rannanjarvi gets underhooks to prevent Murikka's takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rannanjarvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Murikka lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice elbow from Rannanjarvi.
Knees to the body from Rannanjarvi.
Rannanjarvi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rannanjarvi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Murikka slips a jab and a cross from Rannanjarvi.

Rannanjarvi gets caught flat footed, as Murikka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murikka thows a big elbow that misses.
Murikka throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rannanjarvi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Murikka advances position into side control!
Murikka tries to advance to mount but Rannanjarvi instead regains half guard.
Murikka trying to control from half guard but Rannanjarvi is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rannanjarvi trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Murikka seems to be working for a kimura but Rannanjarvi defends the submission attempt.
Murikka thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rannanjarvi to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Murikka has gone for a leg lock! Rannanjarvi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Murikka's guard.
Rannanjarvi wants to control from the top but Murikka keeps moving.

Murikka looking for subs off his back but Rannanjarvi has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murikka tries to roll over but Rannanjarvi keeps him under control.
Murikka moves into full guard.
Rannanjarvi stopping the sweep attempt from Murikka.

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.
Murikka trying to control the position.
Murikka looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rannanjarvi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rannanjarvi perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Murikka is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Murikka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Rannanjarvi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Murikka drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rannanjarvi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Murikka has Rannanjarvi in his guard.

Murikka has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rannanjarvi is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Murikka.
Rannanjarvi slows the pace down.
Rannanjarvi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Murikka on the ground.
Murikka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murikka is trying to improve his position.
Murikka struggling a bit here.
Murikka tries to bench press Rannanjarvi off him but Rannanjarvi keeps the position.
Rannanjarvi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Murikka misses with a strike from the bottom.
Murikka manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Murikka manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Murikka throws his legs up looking for a submission but Rannanjarvi uses it to pass to side control.
Murikka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rannanjarvi taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murikka manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Murikka missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Murikka is working for a kimura but Rannanjarvi is defending it quite comfortably.
Rannanjarvi trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Murikka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Murikka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Murikka not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murikka throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Murikka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rannanjarvi circles away.
Rannanjarvi lands a head kick!
Rannanjarvi lands with a nice combination. Murikka backs away looking to recover.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Antti Rannanjarvi.
I think Rannanjarvi 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 29:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Rannanjarvi!
Antti Rannanjarvi retains his featherweight title!