PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Kaljone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seppo Hovi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Seppo Hovi has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Kaljone
vs
Hovi

178 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

183 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pekka Kaljone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Seppo Hovi!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaljone shoots in and drives through. Hovi sprawls well.
Pekka Kaljone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaljone tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hovi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kaljone but Kaljone pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hovi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kaljone tries to clinch but Hovi is having none of it.
Hovi keeps the fight on the outside.
Hovi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kaljone tries to clinch but Hovi is having none of it.
Hovi misses with a takedown attempt - Kaljone sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pekka Kaljone has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seppo Hovi.
Hovi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kaljone wants to clinch.
Hovi circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaljone is looking to clinch.
Hovi fails with the takedown.
Kaljone is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Kaljone.
Kaljone tries to close the distance and clinch but Hovi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovi connects with a solid leg kick.

Hovi moves into the clinch.

Hovi turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Hovi tries to advance to mount but can't.
Hovi working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kaljone parries the strikes from Hovi easily there. Hovi is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kaljone to escape.
Kaljone manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hovi's best efforts.
Hovi prevents Kaljone from improving his position.
Kaljone tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kaljone gets full guard.
Hovi scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kaljone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hovi is one step ahead there.
Kaljone is breathing heavily.
Kaljone is working hard here to advance position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hovi accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kaljone darts in trying to clinch

and Hovi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kaljone's guard now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hovi forces his way into half guard.
Hovi trying to mount his opponent but Kaljone defends it.

Hovi escapes and gets back to his feet.

Hovi bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kaljone manages to get back to half guard.
Kaljone regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hovi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kaljone is on top in guard.
Kaljone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hovi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaljone works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Hovi has one foot on Kaljone's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Hovi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kaljone's waist but Kaljone gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hovi off to one side.
Kaljone tries to clinch up

and Hovi counters with a single leg into guard. Kaljone didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaljone keeping full guard, as Hovi tries to pass.
Kaljone looking for a sweep. Not yet Kaljone, not yet.

Kaljone has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hovi 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 Kaljone.
Kaljone taking a bit of punishment here - Hovi scoring with strikes.

Hovi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hovi grinds an elbow into Kaljone's temple.
Kaljone is not content to let Hovi control the position.
Kaljone gets back to half guard.
Hovi wants to stand but Kaljone has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hovi thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hovi works his way into full mount!
Kaljone is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hovi trying to control but Kaljone is having none of it.
Hovi lands a big elbow.
Kaljone is trying desperately to improve position.
Hovi dominating with strikes here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kaljone is looking to improve his position but Hovi isn't that keen on the idea.
Kaljone slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kaljone is staying active underneath Hovi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kaljone missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo Hovi dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kaljone tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Hovi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kaljone has had enough of the clinch but Hovi keeps him there for the moment.

Hovi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kaljone clinches but Hovi breaks the clinch

and Hovi counters with a shoot takedown. Kaljone fights it but they end up in guard.
Kaljone scores with a short punch from the bottom.
Kaljone throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hovi passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Hovi working the head and body with strikes.
Kaljone avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hovi.
Kaljone punching from the bottom.
Kaljone is looking for a sweep. Hovi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kaljone won't allow Hovi to pass to mount.
Hovi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kaljone's head.
Hovi is breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kaljone wants to clinch but Hovi slips to the side

and Hovi counters with a single leg into guard. Kaljone didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kaljone thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Kaljone working for a triangle but Hovi defends it easily.
Kaljone looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hovi lands a couple of digs.

Kaljone is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kaljone bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hovi's guard.
Kaljone working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hovi's head.
Kaljone postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kaljone with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kaljone scoring with some ground and pound.

Hovi is rocked!
Kaljone postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hovi is still in real trouble! Can Kaljone finish him?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kaljone is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Hovi is controlling Kaljone's posture.
Kaljone has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hovi striking from the bottom.
Seppo Hovi has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hovi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hovi seems to have recovered his senses.
Hovi is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kaljone thows a big elbow that misses.
Hovi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kaljone darts in trying to clinch

and Hovi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kaljone's guard now.
Hovi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Kaljone keeping busy on the bottom but Hovi has passed one foot through into half guard.
Hovi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kaljone wants to improve his position but Hovi is controlling well.
Hovi lands strikes from half guard.
Kaljone wants to improve his position but Hovi is controlling well.
Kaljone is pressing down on Hovi's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Kaljone has his foot on Hovi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hovi works his way back into a safe position though.
Kaljone is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kaljone lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaljone works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hovi throwing hammer fists to the chest of Kaljone. What's that going to do exactly?
Hovi can't escape the position.
Kaljone dominating with strikes here.
Hovi tries to hold on but Kaljone postures up.
Hovi takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kaljone in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kaljone lands a big shot there that rocks Hovi but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kaljone breaks from Hovi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hovi regains half guard.
Hovi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hovi moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hovi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kaljone is one step ahead there.
Kaljone throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hovi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kaljone drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kaljone jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hovi looking for a sweep. Not yet Hovi, not yet.
Kaljone throwing strikes but missing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hovi circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hovi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hovi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Hovi passes Kaljone's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kaljone gets back to full guard.

Hovi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kaljone is looking for a triangle but Hovi pushes his legs off easily.
Kaljone keeping moving, preventing Hovi from controlling successfully.
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 Pekka Kaljone will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hovi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hovi counters with a nice uppercut.
Kaljone wants to clinch

and Hovi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kaljone wants to get back to striking at distance but Hovi won't allow it.

Kaljone escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hovi lands with a hook. Kaljone tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hovi tries for a takedown but Kaljone sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Hovi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hovi working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hovi trying to control from half guard but Kaljone is working away.
Kaljone taking some punishment here, with Hovi in his half guard.
Hovi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hovi is tying to control. Kaljone wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kaljone is looking to improve his position.
Kaljone flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hovi trying to control from half guard but Kaljone is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kaljone has his takedown stuffed

and Hovi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hovi trying to control but Kaljone is working from the bottom.
Kaljone striking off his back but it's not causing Hovi any problems.

Kaljone throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kaljone trying to strike off his back.
Hovi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kaljone swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hovi pushing down on Kaljone's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kaljone is looking to improve his position.
Kaljone moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kaljone trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kaljone manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kaljone scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hovi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee warns Hovi that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaljone putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hovi is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kaljone pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kaljone looking to finish with strikes here!
Kaljone is landing with some decent strikes but Hovi is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hovi wants to control but Kaljone is having none of it.
Hovi gets back to half guard.
Hovi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kaljone.
Hovi trying to control from the bottom.
Hovi is looking for a sweep. Kaljone is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kaljone missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kaljone misses with a head shot. Hovi uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hovi trying to keep a closed guard but Kaljone is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaljone postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kaljone throws a big right hand that misses.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kaljone darts in trying to clinch
and Hovi counters with a left to the body.
Kaljone closes the distance but Hovi moves to the side
and Hovi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A head kick misses from Kaljone.
Kaljone looks to clinch
letting Hovi counter with a right hand.
Kaljone darts in trying to clinch
and Hovi counters with a stiff right hand.
Hovi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kaljone tries to clinch up

and Hovi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Hovi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hovi lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hovi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hovi is in close to Kaljone's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hovi landing with the ground and pound.
Kaljone wants to sweep but no luck.
Kaljone throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kaljone manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kaljone with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hovi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kaljone is landing with some decent strikes but Hovi is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hovi throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

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 Pekka Kaljone.
I think Kaljone 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!