PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pertti Kalmakoura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dirk Nowitzki (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.

Kalmakoura
vs
Nowitzki

220 cm
18
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

210 cm
18
235 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Lava

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pertti Kalmakoura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dirk Nowitzki!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nowitzki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nowitzki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kalmakoura paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kalmakoura is looking to clinch.
Nowitzki tries to clinch up but Kalmakoura circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown by Nowitzki or perhaps it was just good defense by Kalmakoura which made him look bad.
A big left from Kalmakoura misses.
Kalmakoura tries for a takedown but Nowitzki circles away easily
and Nowitzki counters with a right hand to the body.
Kalmakoura really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nowitzki blocks a low kick nicely.

Nowitzki changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kalmakoura looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kalmakoura is not content to let Nowitzki control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kalmakoura is trying to escape the position but Nowitzki is controlling the position.
Nowitzki's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalmakoura is not content to let Nowitzki control the position.

Nowitzki decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kalmakoura to his feet.
Kalmakoura is breathing heavily.

Nowitzki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Kalmakoura is looking for a triangle but Nowitzki pushes his legs off easily.
Nowitzki controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nowitzki slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalmakoura wants to get back to full guard.
Nowitzki is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Kalmakoura is defending against the submission attempts here by Nowitzki.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nowitzki in particular looking to stall.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kalmakoura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kalmakoura tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kalmakoura manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Kalmakoura get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalmakoura throws a right hand that misses

and Nowitzki counters with a single leg into guard. Kalmakoura didn't expect that.
Kalmakoura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kalmakoura pushes Nowitzki off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Kalmakoura drives through with a takedown into guard.

Kalmakoura stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nowitzki misses with a takedown attempt

and Kalmakoura counters with a shoot takedown. Nowitzki fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nowitzki 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.
Kalmakoura passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nowitzki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kalmakoura wants to improve his position but Nowitzki is controlling well.
Nowitzki wants to pass the guard but Kalmakoura is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalmakoura manages to get to full guard.

Nowitzki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Nowitzki works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Kalmakoura is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nowitzki pulls his head out easily.
Nowitzki passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kalmakoura!
Kalmakoura really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nowitzki looking to control but Kalmakoura is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dirk Nowitzki will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kalmakoura just misses with a punch to the body.
Nowitzki lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kalmakoura will feel that in the morning.
Nowitzki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kalmakoura but Kalmakoura pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Nowitzki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Nowitzki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kalmakoura pushes Nowitzki off looking to stand but Nowitzki dives back in and keeps control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kalmakoura has one foot on Nowitzki's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Kalmakoura has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Nowitzki finds it's way round the side to connect with Kalmakoura's head.
Kalmakoura swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Nowitzki counters with a shoot takedown. Kalmakoura fights it but they end up in guard.
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!

Kalmakoura working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nowitzki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nowitzki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kalmakoura working for a triangle but Nowitzki defends it easily.
Nowitzki wants to control from the top but Kalmakoura keeps moving.

Kalmakoura looking for a guillotine here but Nowitzki defends easily.

Nowitzki stands up and waves to Kalmakoura to follow him.
Dirk Nowitzki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kalmakoura decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dirk Nowitzki has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kalmakoura 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.
Kalmakoura stalling away here and it's allowed Nowitzki to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nowitzki is on top in guard.
Nowitzki trying to control but Kalmakoura is working from the bottom.
Nowitzki preventing the sweep.
Nowitzki wants to control from the top but Kalmakoura keeps moving.
Nowitzki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalmakoura has momentary wrist control but Nowitzki slips an elbow through the middle.
Nowitzki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kalmakoura keeping moving, preventing Nowitzki from controlling successfully.

Nowitzki gets to his feet - Kalmakoura follows without any prompting.
Kalmakoura throws a hook but Nowitzki blocks it.
Kalmakoura avoids the head kick by Nowitzki.

Kalmakoura instigates a clinch.
Nowitzki wants to stall.
Nowitzki working aggressively here.
Nowitzki fails to pull guard.
Pertti Kalmakoura has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dirk Nowitzki.
Kalmakoura managing to block the knees to the body from Nowitzki.
Kalmakoura wants to break free but Nowitzki has control.
Nowitzki using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kalmakoura wants to break free but Nowitzki has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nowitzki goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kalmakoura prevents it.
Kalmakoura is trying to break free.
Kalmakoura is trying to break free.
Nowitzki is trying to break free.
Nowitzki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kalmakoura just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kalmakoura tries to score a body lock takedown but Nowitzki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Kalmakoura breaks the clinch.
Nowitzki slips under a jab.
Nowitzki tries to clinch up
and Kalmakoura cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nowitzki shoots in but Kalmakoura avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kalmakoura scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Nowitzki moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Nowitzki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nowitzki looks to clinch

and Kalmakoura counters with a shoot takedown. Nowitzki fights it but they end up in guard.
Kalmakoura trying to control the position from guard on top but Nowitzki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nowitzki seems keen to control Kalmakoura's posture.
Kalmakoura tries to free his leg and advance position but Nowitzki is retaining full guard.
Kalmakoura passes Nowitzki's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kalmakoura seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Nowitzki is looking to escape.

Kalmakoura postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Nowitzki to stand up.
Kalmakoura tries for a takedown but Nowitzki circles away easily

and Nowitzki counters by moving into the clinch.

Kalmakoura breaks the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalmakoura circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kalmakoura counters with a nice leg kick.
Kalmakoura with a poor takedown
and Nowitzki counters with a leg kick.
Nowitzki falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kalmakoura counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kalmakoura throwing strikes from guard but Nowitzki blocks nicely.
Nowitzki pulls Kalmakoura in close to prevent any damage.

Kalmakoura has gone for a leg lock! Nowitzki slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kalmakoura's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nowitzki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nowitzki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalmakoura keeping moving, preventing Nowitzki from controlling successfully.
Kalmakoura throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Nowitzki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nowitzki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalmakoura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nowitzki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kalmakoura kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Kalmakoura has an active guard here but Nowitzki has managed to pass into half guard.
Kalmakoura wants to get back to full guard.
Nowitzki is thwarting Kalmakoura's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes 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.
Nowitzki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kalmakoura paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Kalmakoura looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nowitzki!
Kalmakoura pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Nowitzki manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Nowitzki tries to kick Kalmakoura off but Kalmakoura keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kalmakoura working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Nowitzki's thigh. Nowitzki counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Nowitzki looking for a sweep. Not yet Nowitzki, not yet.
Nowitzki working a defensive guard here.
Nowitzki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kalmakoura manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalmakoura wants to sweep but no luck.
Nowitzki wants to control from the top but Kalmakoura keeps moving.
Kalmakoura striking off his back but it's not causing Nowitzki any problems.
Kalmakoura trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kalmakoura wants to sweep but no luck.
Nowitzki wants to stand but Kalmakoura has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Kalmakoura has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nowitzki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kalmakoura keeping moving, preventing Nowitzki from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nowitzki stalks Kalmakoura and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kalmakoura's face. Kalmakoura staggers backwards, shaken.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pertti Kalmakoura showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nowitzki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Nowitzki!