PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jorma Kovanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sampsa Pikari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sampsa Pikari struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kovanen
vs
Pikari

182 cm
28
180 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

162 cm
25
183 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jorma Kovanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sampsa Pikari!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pikari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kovanen tries to clinch but Pikari moves away

and Pikari counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pikari throws a big right hand that misses.

Kovanen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kovanen throws his legs up looking for a submission but Pikari uses it to pass to side control.
Pikari tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kovanen's legs.
Kovanen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pikari wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pikari tries to advance to mount but Kovanen denies him.
Kovanen is trying to control Pikari's posture but Pikari avoids it.
Kovanen tries to bench press Pikari off him but Pikari keeps the position.
Kovanen prevents Pikari from improving position.
Kovanen is trying to improve his position.
Kovanen is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Pikari is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovanen is trying desperately to improve position.

Pikari has control of Kovanen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kovanen regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kovanen swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kovanen can't escape the position.
Kovanen sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Kovanen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pikari is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kovanen looking for a kimura from the bottom but Pikari passes into side control!
Kovanen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Pikari is looking to take a break and control but Kovanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kovanen is trying to get back to half guard.
Pikari working away.
Kovanen regains half guard.
Kovanen moves into full guard.
Kovanen is trying to control the position but Pikari postures up.
Pikari stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kovanen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Kovanen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kovanen trying to control the position.
Pikari preventing the sweep.

Kovanen looking for a guillotine here but Pikari defends easily.

Kovanen has his foot on Pikari's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pikari works his way back into a safe position though.
Kovanen is breathing heavily.
Pikari pushes down on Kovanen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kovanen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen keeping moving, preventing Pikari from controlling successfully.

Kovanen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kovanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kovanen working a defensive guard here.
Pikari passes into half guard.
Kovanen is trying to maintain the position but Pikari is very close to passing his half guard.
Pikari trying to mount his opponent but Kovanen defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kovanen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pikari decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kovanen's guard.

Kovanen working for a triangle but Pikari defends it easily.

Kovanen has an active guard here but Pikari has managed to pass into half guard.
Pikari is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Kovanen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kovanen tries to hold on but Pikari pushes him away.
Pikari looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kovanen wants to control but Pikari is having none of it.
Kovanen is desperately trying to improve his position but Pikari has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovanen is working hard here to advance position.
Pikari looking to control but Kovanen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pikari scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pikari lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kovanen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pikari trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pikari is breathing heavily.
Kovanen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen wants to control but Pikari is keeping busy.
Pikari with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Pikari wants to pass to mount but Kovanen is defending the position.
Kovanen gets back to full guard.

Kovanen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pikari is aware though and is defending well.
Kovanen looking to control.
Kovanen keeping moving, preventing Pikari from controlling successfully.

Kovanen working for submissions but it's allowed Pikari to get to half guard.
Pikari is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Kovanen!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen is looking to get to half guard.
Pikari takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pikari looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kovanen wants to control but Pikari is having none of it.
Pikari prevents Kovanen from getting the reversal.
Kovanen in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pikari is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kovanen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kovanen!
Pikari keeping moving, preventing Kovanen from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pikari is on top in guard.
Pikari trying to control the position from guard on top but Kovanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kovanen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pikari doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pikari manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pikari avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kovanen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pikari defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sampsa Pikari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kovanen tries to clinch
and Pikari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pikari just misses with a punch to the body.
Pikari circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pikari counters with a right hand to the body.
Pikari keeps the fight on the outside.
Kovanen tries to clinch but Pikari is having none of it.
Pikari keeps the fight on the outside.
Pikari throws out a loose jab but Kovanen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jorma Kovanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kovanen tries to clinch but Pikari moves away
and Pikari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Kovanen closes the distance and clinches.
Kovanen fails to pull guard.

Kovanen decides to pull guard.
Pikari controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kovanen wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Pikari is now in half guard.
Pikari takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kovanen wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kovanen actively working from the bottom here.
Kovanen wants to control but Pikari is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Sampsa Pikari has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pikari works his way into full mount!
Kovanen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kovanen tries to hold on but Pikari pushes him away.

Pikari looking for a guillotine from mount but Kovanen is having none of it.
Kovanen tries to reverse the position but Pikari maintains control.

That's two 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.
Pikari avoids the attempt from Kovanen to control.
Kovanen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kovanen wants to get back to full guard.

Kovanen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kovanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kovanen is in trouble now - Pikari has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen wants to hold on but Pikari pushes him away.
Pikari landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kovanen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kovanen tries to hold on but Pikari postures up.
The referee warns Kovanen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kovanen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sampsa Pikari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kovanen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kovanen trying to control but Pikari is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikari controls Kovanen momentarily but Kovanen frees himself.
Kovanen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kovanen throwing strikes but missing.
Jorma Kovanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pikari keeping moving, preventing Kovanen from controlling successfully.
Kovanen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Pikari keeping moving, preventing Kovanen from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sampsa Pikari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pikari 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sampsa Pikari!