PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yo Gotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pawel Nastula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gotti's entrance music is Roll Call. A fine choice. Nastula has chosen Armia - Niezwyciężony as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Gotti
vs
Nastula

178 cm
21
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
233 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yo Gotti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pawel Nastula!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gotti fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Nastula darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Nastula is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gotti is pressing down on Nastula's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Nastula thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nastula won't allow Gotti to get back to his feet.
Gotti keeping moving, preventing Nastula from controlling successfully.
Gotti trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nastula thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gotti trying to keep a closed guard but Nastula is proving a slippery customer.
Gotti knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nastula on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gotti tries to clinch up.
Nastula tries for a takedown but Gotti circles away easily
and Gotti counters with a left to the body.
Nastula looks gassed!
Nastula is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gotti sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Nastula closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nastula lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gotti working for a triangle but Nastula defends it easily.

Nastula is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gotti trying to keep a closed guard but Nastula is proving a slippery customer.
Nastula trying to control but Gotti is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gotti trying to keep a closed guard but Nastula is proving a slippery customer.
Nastula wants to control from the top but Gotti keeps moving.

Gotti had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nastula defends it easily.
Gotti wants to stand but Nastula is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nastula shoots and misses

and Gotti counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gotti.
Yo Gotti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pawel Nastula.
Gotti is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

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.
Gotti tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Nastula smiles and moves away.

Nastula gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Gotti to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Gotti wants to control from the top but Nastula keeps moving.

Nastula looking for a guillotine here but Gotti defends easily.

Gotti drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nastula looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nastula looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nastula!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pawel Nastula will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nastula shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nastula showed some decent athleticism there.

Nastula is looking for a kimura here.
Gotti wants to get back to his feet.

Nastula is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gotti sees it coming and defends easily.
Nastula is breathing heavily.
Nastula is trying to control the action in half guard but Gotti is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nastula is trying to work for a kimura but Gotti is defending well.
Nastula wants to control but Gotti is keeping him busy.
Gotti wants to get back to his feet.
Gotti wants to control but Nastula is keeping busy.

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

Nastula fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gotti sprawls well initially but Nastula persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nastula looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Nastula is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nastula is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gotti is just riding it out for now. Nastula eventually gives up the hold.
Gotti is looking to control Nastula's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gotti avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti is trying to control but Nastula manages to pass to mount!

Nastula is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gotti has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gotti!

Nastula looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gotti wants to control from the top but Nastula keeps moving.
Gotti could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Nastula is looking for a triangle but Gotti pushes his legs off easily.

Nastula has his foot on Gotti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gotti works his way back into a safe position though.
Gotti trying to control but Nastula is working from the bottom.

Nastula is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gotti defends well.
Gotti wants to control from the top but Nastula keeps moving.
Gotti has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pawel Nastula 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! This is the final round!

Gotti misses with a takedown

and Nastula counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Nastula wants to pass the guard but Gotti is defending well.
Gotti moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Gotti is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Nastula wants to control from the top but Gotti keeps moving.
Nastula tries to free his leg and advance position but Gotti is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nastula wants to control from the top but Gotti keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nastula controls from within his opponent's guard.
Nastula trying to control but Gotti is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nastula shoots in for a takedown but Gotti shows good takedown defense.
Gotti gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Nastula counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nastula trying to control the position from guard on top but Gotti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nastula wants to pass the guard but Gotti is keeping the position.
Nastula trying to control the position from guard on top but Gotti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nastula is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gotti seems keen to control Nastula's posture.
Gotti trying to control the position.

Nastula drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nastula jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Nastula shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nastula is keen to just control but Gotti is a slippery customer.
Gotti wants to control but Nastula is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Nastula looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Yo Gotti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nastula wants to pass to mount but Gotti is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pawel Nastula comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nastula winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pawel Nastula!