PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruno Otto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhamatti Pesso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Otto
vs
Pesso

183 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

195 cm
21
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bruno Otto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Juhamatti Pesso!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pesso lands with a nice combination. Otto backs away looking to recover.

Otto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pesso sprawls well initially but Otto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Otto thows a huge punch but Pesso dodges it nicely.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Otto lands a nice short elbow.

Pesso pushes Otto off and gets back to his feet.

Otto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pesso is trying to control the position but Otto postures up.
Pesso manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Otto is working to get back to half guard.
Otto landing with some feeble shots from his back... He should probably try escaping the position instead.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Otto regains half guard.
Otto tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Otto strikes from the bottom but Pesso uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Pesso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Otto keeps working.
Check out the look on Pesso's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otto gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Otto on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Otto tries to get out of the position.
Otto strikes from the bottom but Pesso passes into mount!
Otto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Otto flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Otto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Otto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pesso on the ground.
Pesso is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Otto can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Pesso has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Otto's face.
Pesso trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Otto swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Pesso in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Pesso trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Otto can't escape the position.

That's two 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.
Otto is working hard here to advance position.
Otto is breathing heavily.
Pesso punching from mount but Otto doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pesso throws some wild stikes that Otto manages to avoid easily.
Otto throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Pesso throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Otto because Pesso loaded up on that one.
Otto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pesso lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Otto avoids a series of strikes thrown by Pesso.
Otto holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Pesso tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Pesso throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Otto is trying desperately to improve position.
Pesso blocks Otto's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Otto holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Pesso tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Pesso has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pesso wants to control the pace but Otto is squirming around nicely.
Pesso fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Pesso trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Otto is looking to get to half guard.
Pesso throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Pesso putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pesso throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Pesso working Otto over with strikes here.
Otto is working to get back to half guard.
Otto flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Otto flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pesso lands a heavy elbow.
Pesso prevents Otto from getting the reversal.
Otto is squirming around, avoiding Pesso's attempts to control the action.
Pesso looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Otto is trying to escape the mount.
The referee warns Otto that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Pesso blocks Otto's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Otto keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Otto swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Otto is desperately trying to improve his position but Pesso has a good base and remains in mount.
Pesso landing strikes from the mount.
Pesso lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bruno Otto will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Pesso keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pesso lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Otto backs up against the ropes.
Pesso shoots in for a takedown but Otto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pesso shoots in for a takedown but Otto shows good takedown defense.
Juhamatti Pesso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Otto shoots in but no luck this time.
Otto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruno Otto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pesso lands with a straight right. Otto didn't see that one coming.
Bruno Otto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Otto dives in and grabs Pesso's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pesso pushes down on Otto's head and hops out.
Otto keeps the fight on the outside.
Pesso throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Otto's head.
Pesso shoots in but Otto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Otto with a poor takedown

and Pesso counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pesso.
Otto keeps control of Pesso as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Otto keeps control of Pesso as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Pesso has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Otto uses from the top position.
Otto working some strikes from top position.
Otto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Otto lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pesso wants to get back to his feet but Otto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pesso is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Pesso has momentary wrist control but Otto slips an elbow through the middle.
Pesso utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pesso wants to get back to his feet but Otto is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pesso throws a head kick that Otto semi-blocks.
Pesso tries to clinch but Otto is having none of it.

Otto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Otto lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Pesso sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Pesso tries to get to full guard but Otto has control of the leg.
Otto is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pesso is trying to stand up here but Otto is controlling him well.
Pesso is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Otto scores with a couple of nice shots.
Otto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Pesso trying to control from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Otto or perhaps it was just good defense by Pesso which made him look bad.
Pesso tries to close the distance and clinch but Otto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Otto fails with a takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pesso looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Otto shoots in for a takedown but Pesso shows good takedown defense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Otto misses with a takedown attempt - Pesso sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pesso scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Pesso shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Otto as he avoids it easily.

Otto closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pesso did well to prevent Otto getting side control.
Otto scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Otto seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Otto looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Pesso manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Otto looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Otto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pesso's head.
Pesso is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pesso looking for a sweep. Not yet Pesso, not yet.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Otto works over Pesso with some ground and pound from guard.

Pesso escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Otto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Otto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pesso is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Otto is working Pesso over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Good leg kick by Pesso there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Otto shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
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!
Otto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pesso manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Pesso looking to secure an arm triangle but Otto defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Otto dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Pesso tries to clinch up.
Pesso lands with a kick to the temple. Otto shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Otto fails with the takedown
and Pesso counters with a good, hard body kick but Otto shrugs it off.

Pesso moves into the clinch.
Otto looking for a takedown.

Pesso breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pesso tries to close the distance and clinch but Otto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pesso tries to clinch up.
Pesso lands a head kick. Otto smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Otto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pesso sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Otto somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bruno Otto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pesso clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pesso connects with a nasty looking knee right to Otto's face.
Pesso goes for a takedown attempt but Otto pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Otto misses with a takedown attempt
and Pesso counters with a nice low kick that buckles Otto's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Otto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Otto feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Pesso looking to control.
Otto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Otto stops Pesso from standing up.
Otto is working Pesso over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Otto with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Otto with a nice head shot there.
Pesso is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Otto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pesso's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Pesso. No joy for Otto on that attempt.
Otto shoots in but Pesso avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Otto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pesso sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Otto somewhat.
Pesso lands a head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Otto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pesso tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pesso wants to clinch up but Otto keeps it at a distance.
Otto has his takedown stuffed

and Pesso counters by clinching up.
Pesso lands an elbow inside.
Otto goes for a takedown attempt but Pesso pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Otto is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pesso sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pesso shoots in and drives through. Otto sprawls well.

Otto bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pesso wants to control but Otto postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pesso tries to bench press Otto off him but Otto keeps the position.
Pesso wants to get back to his feet but Otto drags him back down.
Otto working the body and head with strikes.
Pesso manages to work his way to half guard, despite Otto's best efforts.
Otto throwing shots but Pesso is blocking nicely.
Otto is thwarting Pesso's attempts to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Otto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pesso but Pesso pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pesso scores with a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Pesso. No joy for Otto on that attempt.
Pesso throws a nice head kick!
Otto fails with the takedown.
Pesso tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Otto paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Otto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pesso to the mat! Pesso manages to get full guard.
Pesso wants to stand and escape but Otto is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Otto is looking to work some ground and pound but Pesso has wrist control.
Pesso is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Otto missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Otto prevents Pesso from getting back to his feet.
Otto wants to pass the guard but Pesso is keeping the position.
Otto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Otto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pesso is keeping the position for now.
Bruno Otto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Otto closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pesso to the mat! Pesso manages to get full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Otto preventing the sweep.
Pesso wants to stand and escape but Otto is having none of it.
Pesso is trying to keep Otto in close.
Juhamatti Pesso has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruno Otto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Otto seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruno Otto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Otto, 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Otto!