PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ispa Perkele (ranked 241 p4p, 247 weight class) and Javier Arroyo (ranked 36 p4p, 39 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Perkele
vs
Arroyo

178 cm
28
165
22 - 7 - 0

176 cm
29
155
14 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 22 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Ispa Perkele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Javier Arroyo!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perkele connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Arroyo throws an overhand right that lands on Perkele's shoulder, as Perkele tries to avoid the shot.
Arroyo throws a leg kick but Perkele checks it.
Arroyo moves out of range of the strikes.
Arroyo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Perkele misses with an uppercut.
Arroyo looks to score with a jab to the body but Perkele is just out of range.
Perkele throwing a counter right hand but Arroyo manages to avoid it.
Perkele scoring well with a low kick there.
Arroyo with a nice calf kick.
Arroyo takes a swing at Perkele's ribcage but misses.
A lazy left from Perkele finds it's target.
Perkele slips under a jab from Arroyo.
Arroyo has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Perkele moves away from the strike by Arroyo.
Arroyo takes a shot right to the bread basket.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Perkele steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Arroyo. That one must have hurt.
Arroyo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Perkele throws a body shot but no joy.
Arroyo ducks under a wild hook from Perkele.
Arroyo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Perkele.
Javier Arroyo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Perkele slips under a jab.
It looked like Perkele wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arroyo looks to land a left hand but Perkele moved out of range nicely.
Arroyo lunges at Perkele with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Perkele's hand.
Nice uppercut there from Arroyo.
Arroyo drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Perkele swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arroyo scores with a jab. Perkele acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Arroyo throws a low kick but it's checked well by Perkele.
Perkele missing with a left hand there. Arroyo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Arroyo let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Arroyo throws a combination that misses
and Perkele counters with a left to the body.
A low kick lands for Perkele.
Perkele lands a nice looking kick to the body. Arroyo takes a step back to recover.
Perkele tried to score with a low kick but Arroyo checks it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arroyo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Perkele was well out of range. Poor timing from Arroyo.
A jab from Perkele misses.

Perkele rushes Arroyo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Arroyo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Arroyo.
Perkele is stalling here.
Perkele lands a body shot in the clinch.
I was talking to Perkele's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele is trying to maintain a safe position but Arroyo gets an underhook and turns Perkele into the cage.
Perkele misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Perkele fails to land.
Arroyo is trying to force a seperation but Perkele has the dominant position.
Arroyo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Perkele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Arroyo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Perkele is looking to control Arroyo's arms but Arroyo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Perkele has his back to the cage.
Arroyo swings wildly with an uppercut but Perkele uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short right from Arroyo on the inside.
Arroyo can't find room to land a body shot as Perkele controls the action.
Perkele prevents a body shot from Arroyo.

Arroyo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Perkele wants to slow Arroyo down by chopping away at his legs.
Arroyo lands with a good body shot.
Perkele loads up on a big right hand but Arroyo slips the punch.
Arroyo looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Arroyo throws a right hand that misses
and Arroyo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele blocks a jab.
Arroyo throws out a loose jab but Perkele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Perkele feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Perkele lands a head shot.
Arroyo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Arroyo swings widly with a right hand
and Perkele counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Arroyo throws a right hand that Perkele ducks under and follows up with a left that Perkele also avoids with ease.
Perkele tries to clinch up.
Perkele misses with a body shot
and Arroyo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Perkele tries to land a front kick but Arroyo steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Perkele moves out of range as Arroyo throws a body kick.
Perkele catches Arroyo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Perkele feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Arroyos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Perkele with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Perkele closes the distance and pushes Arroyo back into the cage.
Arroyo has a couple of punches blocked by Perkele.
Arroyo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Perkele tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Perkele digs a right hand underneath Arroyo's ribcage. Arroyo let out a lung full of air as it connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arroyo is trying to break the clinch but Perkele is controlling him.
Perkele misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Perkele misses with a hook to the ribs.
Arroyo looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Arroyo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Arroyo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
An inside leg kick from Arroyo misses.
Perkele lands a slapping body shot.
Arroyo misses with the body kick
letting Perkele counter with a right hand.
Arroyo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Arroyo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Perkele counters with a slapping leg kick.
Perkele uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Arroyo.
Arroyo with a hook.
A swing and a miss from Perkele.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arroyo misses with a looping right.
Perkele dodges the punch combination from Arroyo.
Arroyo avoids the head kick by Perkele.
Arroyo thows a left - swing and a miss!
A quick step to the side and Perkele tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ispa Perkele will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Perkele works Arroyo's body with a nice hook.
Arroyo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Perkele scores with a nice right hand.
Perkele lands a body shot.
Arroyo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Arroyo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Perkele lands with a cross.
Perkele stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Arroyo walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Perkele checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Perkele throws a hook but Arroyo blocks it.
A big left from Arroyo misses.
Arroyo thuds a left hand into Perkele's body.
Perkele scores with a leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Arroyo lands with a good body shot.
Perkele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Arroyo.
A little jabbing left from Arroyo on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Arroyo misses with a hook. Perkele ducked under it nicely.
Perkele is looking to counter punch.
Nice defenses there by Arroyo.
Arroyo looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Arroyo. Perkele does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Arroyo.
Arroyo scores with a spinning back kick!
Arroyo ducks under a wild hook from Perkele.
Arroyo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Perkele counters with a right hand to the body.
Perkele has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Perkele looks to score with a jab to the body but Arroyo is just out of range.

Perkele moves into the clinch.
Arroyo misses with the head strike.
A hook to the body from Perkele.
Arroyo has a couple of punches blocked by Perkele.

Arroyo breaks from the clinch.
Perkele avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nice defenses there by Arroyo.
Perkele slips a straight right by Arroyo.
Perkele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arroyo scores with a decent looking hook.
A jab from Perkele misses.
Perkele wants to clinch up but Arroyo keeps it at a distance.
Arroyo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Arroyo throws a low kick but Perkele moves out of range easily.
Arroyo moves away from the strike by Perkele.
Arroyo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Perkele. Arroyo does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Perkele.
Perkele on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A slow jab from Perkele misses its intended target.
Arroyo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Arroyo scores with a crisp jab that stopped Perkele in his tracks.
Arroyo thumps Perkele with a low kick.
Arroyo slips under a jab from Perkele.
Ispa Perkele is winning the standup battle so far.
Arroyo misses with a body kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Perkele!
Arroyo throws a jab but it's blocked by Perkele.
Arroyo throws a hook to the side of Perkele's head but Perkele sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Arroyo lands with a thumping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arroyo misses with a body punch
and Perkele counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Perkele rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Arroyo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Perkele throws a quick inside leg kick.
Arroyo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Arroyo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Perkele defending well as Arroyo loads up on a big left hand.
Arroyo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Perkele.
Arroyo connects with a crisp jab.
Arroyo throws a low kick, looking for Perkele's leg but Perkele calmly moves out of range.
Perkele digs a good body shot into Arroyo's ribs.
Arroyo scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Perkele bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Arroyo finds it's way through Perkele's defenses.
Arroyo on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Arroyo with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Perkele to score with a decent uppercut.
Perkele misses with a looping right.
Arroyo catches Perkele with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele slips a straight right by Arroyo.
Perkele lunges at Arroyo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Arroyo's hand.
Arroyo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Perkele was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Perkele just misses with a punch to the body.
Arroyo raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Arroyo looks to throw the jab but Perkele is out of range.
Perkele on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Arroyo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Perkele has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Arroyo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Arroyo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Arroyo misses.
Perkele avoids the head kick by Arroyo.
An inside leg kick lands from Perkele.
Perkele scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perkele takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Arroyo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Perkele checks it well.
Arroyo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Perkele's head backwards.

Perkele pushes Arroyo up against the cage in a clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Arroyo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A jab from Arroyo misses.
Arroyo tried to score with a low kick but Perkele checks it.
Perkele with a jab.
Arroyo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Perkele scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Perkele slips under a jab from Arroyo.
Arroyo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Perkele.
Arroyo throws a low kick but Perkele moves out of range easily.
Arroyo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Arroyo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Perkele feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Arroyo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Perkele.
Arroyo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Arroyo.
Arroyo scores with the left hand. Perkele knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice jab there from Perkele.
Perkele cracks Arroyo with a right hand to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arroyo slips under a jab from Perkele.
Arroyo scores with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arroyo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Perkele looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Perkele blocks a low kick nicely.
A slow jab from Arroyo misses its intended target.
Perkele checks the leg kick nicely there.
Perkele checks the leg kick.
Perkele misses with a wild body shot.
That kick from Arroyo tenderised Perkele's leg. Perkele is trying to keep his angry face on.
Arroyo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Arroyo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Arroyo throws the kick towards the body but Perkele avoids it.
Perkele misses with a hook.
Perkele looks to land a left hand but Arroyo moved out of range nicely.
Despite the aggression on Arroyo's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Arroyo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Perkele tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Arroyo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Arroyo misses with a hook
and Perkele counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Arroyo thinking.
Arroyo throws a leg kick that misses.
Arroyo is looking to land body kicks.
Perkele went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arroyo lands a leg kick that knocks Perkele off balance momentarily.
Perkele ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Arroyo moves away.
Perkele avoids the head kick by Arroyo.
Perkele fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Arroyo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Arroyo looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Arroyo tries to land a body kick
and Perkele counters with a straight right hand.
Perkele connects with a single shot there.
Perkele avoids a kick to the body.
Arroyo misses with a hook.
Arroyo keeps the fight on the outside.
Arroyo takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Arroyo with a nice calf kick.
Perkele cracks Arroyo with an open hand slap.
Arroyo misses with a hook
and Perkele counters with a two punch combo.
Perkele lands with a straight right. Arroyo didn't see that one coming.
Arroyo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Perkele feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Arroyos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arroyo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Arroyo has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Perkele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A low kick lands for Perkele.
Perkele moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Perkele connects with a body shot.
Arroyo misses with a low kick.
Perkele jabs Arroyo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
An inside leg kick lands from Perkele.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Arroyo.
Perkele throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Arroyo tries to land a leg kick but Perkele saw it coming and moves away.
Arroyo looks to land a right hand but Perkele moved out of range.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Arroyo.

Perkele rushes Arroyo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Arroyo tries to break the clinch but Perkele is controlling the position.
A body shot lands from Perkele.
Ispa Perkele has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Arroyo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Perkele has him pressed against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Arroyo as Perkele tries to tie him up.
Perkele lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Arroyo backwards.
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!
A short right from Perkele.
Perkele throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Arroyos head.
Perkele tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Arroyo is trying to force a seperation but Perkele has the dominant position.
Arroyo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Arroyo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Arroyo can't break the clinch.
Perkele lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Arroyo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Perkele fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Perkele takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Arroyo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Perkele.
Perkele dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ispa Perkele showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Perkele 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ispa Perkele!
Ispa Perkele took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Arcticus University: London for their support in the buildup to the fight.