PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Grigory Merkulov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaleva Mansikkamaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Merkulov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Моя Игра. 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?

Merkulov
vs
Mansikkamaa

192 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

181 cm
25
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Grigory Merkulov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kaleva Mansikkamaa!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Dirk Anderson and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mansikkamaa ducks under a wild hook from Merkulov.
Mansikkamaa cracks the inside of Merkulov's front leg.

Mansikkamaa darts in and clinches Merkulov up against the cage.
Mansikkamaa lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Merkulov.
Mansikkamaa just leaning against Merkulov, taking a breather.
Mansikkamaa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mansikkamaa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mansikkamaa lands with a left to the head.
Mansikkamaa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Mansikkamaa scores with a shot to the side of Merkulov's head.
Mansikkamaa prevents Merkulov from breaking the clinch.
Merkulov wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short right from Mansikkamaa on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mansikkamaa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Merkulov backwards.
A short right from Mansikkamaa on the inside.
Mansikkamaa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mansikkamaa lands a body shot.
A shot in the inside from Mansikkamaa.
Mansikkamaa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Mansikkamaa stalls.
A frustrated look appears on Merkulov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mansikkamaa slows down the pace here.
Mansikkamaa keeps control of Merkulov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mansikkamaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Merkulov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice shot by Mansikkamaa.
Mansikkamaa slips a straight right by Merkulov.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Mansikkamaa.
Mansikkamaa cracks the inside of Merkulov's front leg.
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!
Mansikkamaa connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Merkulov misses with an uppercut.
A lazy left from Mansikkamaa finds it's target.

Merkulov is rocked!
A swing and a miss from Merkulov.
Merkulov throws a poor cross that misses

and Mansikkamaa counters by moving into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Mansikkamaa.
Mansikkamaa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Oh Merkulov is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mansikkamaa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Merkulov's elbow.
Merkulov seems to have got his legs back now.
A body shot lands from Mansikkamaa.
Mansikkamaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Merkulov.
Merkulov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mansikkamaa displaying some good clinch control by pressing Merkulov up against the cage.
Mansikkamaa lands a left hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Mansikkamaa.
Merkulov prevents a body shot from Mansikkamaa.
Still in the clinch, Mansikkamaa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Mansikkamaa lands a body shot in the clinch.
Mansikkamaa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Mansikkamaa lands a right hand.
Mansikkamaa lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mansikkamaa lands a nice uppercut.
Mansikkamaa's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Mansikkamaa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Merkulov backwards.
Mansikkamaa can't find room to land a body shot as Merkulov controls the action.
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!
Mansikkamaa controlling the action here for a moment.
Mansikkamaa lands with a short shot to the head.
Mansikkamaa can't find room to land a body shot as Merkulov controls the action.
Come on Mansikkamaa - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mansikkamaa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Merkulov looks to land a right hand but Mansikkamaa moved out of range.
Mansikkamaa lands with a nice body punch.
Merkulov throws a lazy right hand but Mansikkamaa sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mansikkamaa swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Merkulov throws a jab when Mansikkamaa was well out of range.
Mansikkamaa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Merkulov.
Kaleva Mansikkamaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Merkulov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Mansikkamaa throws a quick inside leg kick.
Merkulov misses with a straight left.
Mansikkamaa only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Merkulov throws a body punch but Mansikkamaa moves out of range.
Mansikkamaa flicks out a counter leg kick but Merkulov steps away.
Merkulov misses with an uppercut. Mansikkamaa saw that one coming.

Mansikkamaa sends Merkulov crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Mansikkamaa is motioning to the referee to let Merkulov up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mansikkamaa slips a straight right by Merkulov.
Mansikkamaa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Merkulov.
A slow jab from Merkulov misses its intended target.
Merkulov misses with a looping left.
Mansikkamaa ducks under a wild hook from Merkulov.
Merkulov throws a looping overhand right but Mansikkamaa ducks down to avoid it.

Mansikkamaa has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mansikkamaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mansikkamaa.

Mansikkamaa pushes Merkulov up against the cage in a clinch.
Mansikkamaa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Merkulov is trying to break the clinch but Mansikkamaa has him pressed against the cage.
Merkulov is trying to break the clinch but Mansikkamaa is controlling him.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mansikkamaa.
A bit of stalling here from Mansikkamaa.
Kaleva Mansikkamaa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mansikkamaa lands a hook that snaps the head of Merkulov backwards.
Mansikkamaa has a couple of punches blocked by Merkulov.
A short body shot lands from Mansikkamaa as the two fighters clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mansikkamaa leaning against his opponent.
Mansikkamaa lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mansikkamaa lands with a short shot to the head.
A short uppercut from Mansikkamaa.
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!
Mansikkamaa is stalling here.
Mansikkamaa effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd are getting on Mansikkamaa's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Mansikkamaa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Merkulov backwards.
Mansikkamaa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Mansikkamaa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mansikkamaa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Mansikkamaa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Mansikkamaa stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Merkulov tries to circle away but Mansikkamaa has him pinned against the cage.
Mansikkamaa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Merkulov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mansikkamaa scores with a hook to the body.
Mansikkamaa lands an uppercut.
Mansikkamaa cracks Merkulov with a nice body shot.
Mansikkamaa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Mansikkamaa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A right hook to the body lands for Mansikkamaa.
Mansikkamaa lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mansikkamaa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Merkulov backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Mansikkamaa.
Merkulov has had enough of the clinch but Mansikkamaa keeps him there for the moment.
Mansikkamaa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Merkulov backwards.
Mansikkamaa avoiding damage.
Mansikkamaa lands a shot to the body.
Mansikkamaa avoiding damage.
Mansikkamaa controlling the action here for a moment.
A short body shot lands from Mansikkamaa as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaleva Mansikkamaa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Mansikkamaa lands a leg kick that knocks Merkulov off balance momentarily.
Merkulov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Merkulov looks to land a right hand but Mansikkamaa moved out of range.

Mansikkamaa closes the distance and clinches.
A bit of stalling here from Mansikkamaa.
Merkulov wants to break free but Mansikkamaa has control.
Mansikkamaa misses with some punches.
Mansikkamaa stalling in the clinch.
A short right from Mansikkamaa on the inside.

Mansikkamaa drops Merkulov onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Merkulov is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mansikkamaa creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Merkulov's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Merkulov drops to his knees and Mansikkamaa pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kaleva Mansikkamaa!