PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Rehvessori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunnar Gunnarsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gunnar Gunnarsson is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rehvessori
vs
Gunnarsson

179 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Prefers standup

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Rehvessori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gunnar Gunnarsson!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gunnarsson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rehvessori takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gunnarsson misses with a straight left.
Gunnarsson throws a leg kick but Rehvessori moved away.

Rehvessori shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rehvessori showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gunnarsson wants to get back to his feet.
Rehvessori stalling.
Gunnarsson is in trouble now - Rehvessori has advanced to mount!
Rehvessori takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rehvessori in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Gunnarsson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Rehvessori is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gunnarsson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gunnarsson!
Rehvessori wants to sweep here but Gunnarsson controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunnarsson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rehvessori wants to sweep here but Gunnarsson controlling him for the moment.

Rehvessori looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Gunnarsson passes into side control.
Rehvessori is breathing heavily.

Gunnarsson stands up.
Rehvessori avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rehvessori closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gunnarsson circles away.
Gunnarsson moves in looking to clinch but Rehvessori pushes him off.
Rehvessori slips a straight right by Gunnarsson.
Gunnarsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Rehvessori circles away.
Gunnarsson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rehvessori needs to keep his hands up - Gunnarsson had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rehvessori closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gunnarsson looks to land a combination but Rehvessori avoids it well.

Rehvessori gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gunnarsson working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gunnarsson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Rehvessori tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gunnarsson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rehvessori is working for takedown but Gunnarsson is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Rehvessori. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gunnarsson wants to break free but Rehvessori has control.
Gunnarsson is trying to break the clinch but Rehvessori has him pressed against the cage.
Rehvessori prevents Gunnarsson from breaking the clinch.
Rehvessori drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gunnarsson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Some wild striking there from Gunnarsson.

Rehvessori closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rehvessori works his way into full mount!
Rehvessori content just to control the position here.
Rehvessori seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gunnarsson for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rehvessori lands a heavy elbow.
Rehvessori won't let Gunnarsson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Rehvessori controlling the position easily from mount.

Rehvessori stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Gunnarsson closes the distance but Rehvessori moves to the side

and Rehvessori counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Gunnarsson has one foot on Rehvessori's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Rehvessori moves into range and clinches up with Gunnarsson.
Rehvessori keeps control of Gunnarsson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gunnarsson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gunnarsson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rehvessori keeps control of Gunnarsson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rehvessori fails to pull guard.
Rehvessori changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gunnarsson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gunnarsson stuffs the takedown attempt from Rehvessori. Rehvessori gets slowly back to his feet.
Gunnarsson tries to clinch up

and Rehvessori counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rehvessori is stalling in the full guard.
Rehvessori won't allow Gunnarsson to get back to his feet.
Rehvessori controlling from the top position.
Rehvessori won't allow Gunnarsson to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rehvessori sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rehvessori stops Gunnarsson from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rehvessori dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gunnarsson wants to clinch

and Rehvessori counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Gunnarsson is looking to stand up but Rehvessori isn't so interested in that idea.
Rehvessori trying to control but Gunnarsson is working from the bottom.
Gunnarsson is looking to stand up but Rehvessori isn't so interested in that idea.

Gunnarsson has his feet on Rehvessori's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Gunnarsson closes the distance but Rehvessori moves to the side

and Rehvessori counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rehvessori.
Gunnarsson wants to get back to his feet but Rehvessori is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rehvessori wants to control from the top but Gunnarsson keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rehvessori is really struggling to control Gunnarsson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Gunnarsson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rehvessori. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gunnarsson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John Rehvessori overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gunnarsson misses with the combination.
Gunnarsson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Gunnarsson listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gunnarsson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Gunnarsson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rehvessori takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gunnarsson looks to clinch

and Rehvessori decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Gunnarsson's guard.
Rehvessori prevents Gunnarsson from getting back to his feet.
Rehvessori controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Rehvessori thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Rehvessori passes Gunnarsson's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rehvessori seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Rehvessori is looking for a kimura but Gunnarsson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rehvessori to get the leverage.
Rehvessori is taking a breather. Gunnarsson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Rehvessori stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Gunnarsson lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Gunnarsson looks for the body kick but Rehvessori saw that one coming.
Gunnarsson is looking to clinch but Rehvessori is avoiding it.
Gunnarsson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rehvessori checks it well.
Gunnarsson wants to clinch

and Rehvessori counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gunnarsson won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gunnarsson is pushing Rehvessori's head away, looking to escape. Rehvessori manages to hold on to the position though.
Rehvessori is looking to take a break and control but Gunnarsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rehvessori has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rehvessori controls the position from side control.

Rehvessori thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Rehvessori looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Rehvessori working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Gunnarsson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Rehvessori has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson seems a little lost for a moment, as Rehvessori dominates the positioning.
Gunnarsson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Rehvessori thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rehvessori controls the position from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rehvessori has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Gunnarsson!
Gunnarsson is squirming around, avoiding Rehvessori's attempts to control the action.
Rehvessori takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Rehvessori dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Gunnarsson wants to clinch.
Rehvessori fails with a takedown attempt.
Gunnarsson lands a lovely overhand right.
Gunnarsson tries to clinch but Rehvessori moves out of range.
Gunnarsson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
John Rehvessori is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gunnarsson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gunnarsson.
Gunnarsson misses with a series of wild punches.
Gunnarsson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gunnarsson lands a jab to Rehvessori's midsection.
Gunnar Gunnarsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gunnarsson darts in trying to clinch

and Rehvessori counters with a single leg into guard. Gunnarsson didn't expect that.

Rehvessori gets to his feet - Gunnarsson follows without any prompting.
Gunnarsson darts in trying to clinch

and Rehvessori counters with a single leg into guard. Gunnarsson didn't expect that.
Gunnarsson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rehvessori slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rehvessori slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rehvessori working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rehvessori wants to control but Gunnarsson is keeping him busy.
Rehvessori in side control lands a decent elbow.
Rehvessori moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Rehvessori trying to control the action but Gunnarsson is working from the bottom.
Gunnarsson pushes Rehvessori away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Rehvessori gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rehvessori tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Gunnarsson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gunnarsson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Rehvessori's calf.
Gunnarsson tries to clinch up

and Rehvessori counters with a takedown into side control.
Rehvessori lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Gunnarsson down.
Rehvessori in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Rehvessori is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gunnarsson can do to turn this around?
Rehvessori tries to move to mount but Gunnarsson blocks the move with his legs.
Gunnarsson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Rehvessori is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Gunnarsson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Rehvessori has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Gunnarsson is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Rehvessori yanks on the arm and Gunnarsson is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Rehvessori.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). John Rehvessori!