PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between CHUCCK Lidell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jani Pekkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jani Pekkanen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Lidell
vs
Pekkanen

188 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

180 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, CHUCCK Lidell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jani Pekkanen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pekkanen throws a lazy right hand but Lidell sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lidell misses with a head kick.
Lidell throws a quick inside leg kick.
Pekkanen tries to work over Lidell's front leg with a kick but Lidell checks it.
A punch combination from Pekkanen misses.
A punch combination from Lidell misses.

Oooh a lovely combination from Pekkanen sends Lidell down but not out. Pekkanen dives into side control looking to finish.

Lidell is rocked!

It looks like CHUCCK Lidell has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pekkanen wants to stand but Lidell has his arm trapped.
Oh Lidell is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Pekkanen decides to stand back up. Pekkanen steps back and let's Lidell get back to his feet.
Lidell doesn't manage to clinch there - Pekkanen circles away.
Lidell seems to have got his legs back now.

Lidell darts in and clinches Pekkanen up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Lidell pulls guard.
Lidell is breathing heavily.
Lidell has a closed guard, preventing Pekkanen from standing up.

Lidell kicks Pekkanen off and gets to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkanen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Pekkanen duly obliges.
Pekkanen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lidell holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pekkanen tries to score a body lock takedown but Lidell shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Lidell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pekkanen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lidell counters with a leg kick.
Lidell throws a sloppy head kick and Pekkanen moves out of range easily.
Pekkanen swats away the attempt to clinch by Lidell.
Pekkanen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pekkanen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pekkanen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A combination from Pekkanen does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekkanen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lidell.
Pekkanen looks to land a combination but Lidell avoids it well.
Pekkanen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lidell.
Good leg kick by Pekkanen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lidell misses with a wild combination.
Pekkanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pekkanen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lidell tries to clinch but Pekkanen moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pekkanen looks to land a combination. Lidell sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Lidell clinches with his opponent.
Pekkanen is trying to break free.
Pekkanen wants to break free but Lidell has control.
Lidell works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Lidell's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pekkanen misses with a wild combination.
Pekkanen misses with a series of wild punches.
Pekkanen is looking to clinch but Lidell is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Lidell misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lidell is looking to clinch but Pekkanen is avoiding it.
CHUCCK Lidell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pekkanen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lidell.
Pekkanen closes the distance but Lidell moves to the side
and Lidell counters with a left and a right that stings Pekkanen.
Lidell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lidell tries to clinch up but Pekkanen circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lidell pushes Pekkanen up against the cage in a clinch.
Lidell has Pekkanen pressed against the cage, preventing Pekkanen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Lidell tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pekkanen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Pekkanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Lidell won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jani Pekkanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on CHUCCK Lidell's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pekkanen throws a combination that misses
and Lidell counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Pekkanen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Pekkanen misses with a combination
and Lidell counters with a thumping low kick.
Lidell tries to clinch but Pekkanen is having none of it.
Lidell tries to clinch but Pekkanen is having none of it.
Pekkanen throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lidell lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Pekkanen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pekkanen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lidell counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A head kick from Lidell lands but Pekkanen takes it in his stride.

Lidell clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkanen working hard to break the clinch.

Lidell ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lidell no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Pekkanen wanted to stand there but Lidell had control of the position.

Lidell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Pekkanen defends well.

Pekkanen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Pekkanen throws a right and a left that Lidell avoids nicely.
Jani Pekkanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lidell lands a two punch combo.
Pekkanen throws a combination that misses
and Lidell counters with a head kick. That will keep Pekkanen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekkanen looks to clinch
and Lidell makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lidell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lidell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pekkanen thows a leg kick but Lidell checks it
and Lidell counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lidell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lidell misses with a two punch combination.
Lidell is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pekkanen has a takedown stuffed.
Pekkanen tries to clinch there but Lidell circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pekkanen misses with a combination

and Lidell counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Lidell.
Lidell has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pekkanen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Lidell lands a body shot in the clinch.
Lidell tries to pull guard but Pekkanen won't allow it.
Lidell has had enough of the clinch but Pekkanen keeps him there for the moment.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Pekkanen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pekkanen can't break the clinch.
Pekkanen has had enough of the clinch but Lidell keeps him there for the moment.
Lidell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CHUCCK Lidell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lidell pulls guard effortlessly.
Pekkanen wants to get up but he can't break Lidell's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Pekkanen stands up from Lidell's guard - Pekkanen perhaps looking for a knockout.
Lidell tries to clinch there but Pekkanen circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lidell moves in looking to clinch but Pekkanen pushes him off.
Lidell fails in his attempt to clinch.
CHUCCK Lidell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lidell darts in and clinches Pekkanen up against the cage.
Pekkanen lands a nice elbow.

Pekkanen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pekkanen misses with a double jab

and Lidell counters by clinching up.
Pekkanen is trying to break free.
Pekkanen is trying to break the clinch but Lidell is controlling him.
Lidell prevents Pekkanen from breaking the clinch.
Pekkanen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lidell fails to pull guard.
Pekkanen wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that CHUCCK Lidell will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on CHUCCK Lidell's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Pekkanen slips a jab and a cross from Lidell.
Pekkanen tries to clinch up
and Lidell counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Lidell tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A leg kick checked by Lidell.
Lidell pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lidell is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pekkanen tries to clinch up
and Lidell counters with a low kick, right behind Pekkanen 's knee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkanen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pekkanen wants to clinch
and Lidell counters with a nice uppercut.

Pekkanen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pekkanen lands with a right to the head.
Lidell prevents Pekkanen from breaking the clinch.
Pekkanen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lidell has him pressed against the cage.
Lidell goes for a takedown attempt but Pekkanen pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
CHUCCK Lidell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pekkanen tries to clinch up.
Pekkanen misses with a double jab
and Lidell counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pekkanen.
Pekkanen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pekkanen, right into the meat.
Pekkanen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lidell's hands.
Lidell takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Lidell throws a head kick that misses.
Pekkanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pekkanen has his takedown stuffed
and Lidell counters with a good low kick that Pekkanen was not able to check.
Pekkanen blocks a leg kick.
Pekkanen misses with a combination
and Lidell counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Pekkanen is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lidell moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lidell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pekkanen swinging wilding here.
Pekkanen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Lidell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lidell throws a sloppy head kick and Pekkanen moves out of range easily.

Pekkanen darts in and clinches Lidell up against the cage.

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.
Pekkanen gets underhooks to prevent Lidell's takedown attempt.
Pekkanen is trying to break free.
Pekkanen tries to circle away but Lidell has him pinned against the cage.
Lidell avoiding damage.
Pekkanen wants to break free but Lidell has control.
Nice body punch from Pekkanen.
Pekkanen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Pekkanen is trying to force a seperation but Lidell has the dominant position.
Pekkanen can't get the takedown.
Pekkanen has had enough of the clinch but Lidell keeps him there for the moment.
Pekkanen is trying to break free.
Lidell tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CHUCCK Lidell. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pekkanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Lidell darts in and clinches Pekkanen up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Lidell lands a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pekkanen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lidell is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
CHUCCK Lidell showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Lidell 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CHUCCK Lidell!