PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eero Pelkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mariusz Pudzianowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Pudzianowski's choice of entrance music: Respekt. Mariusz Pudzianowski will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Pelkonen
vs
Pudzianowski

196 cm
26
262 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
270 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Pelkonen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mariusz Pudzianowski!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pelkonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Pelkonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pudzianowski.
Pudzianowski checks a low kick from Pelkonen.
A telegraphed right hand from Pudzianowski misses the target.
Pelkonen dodges the punch combination from Pudzianowski.
Pelkonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pelkonen tries to clinch but Pudzianowski moves out of range.
Pelkonen slips a jab and a cross from Pudzianowski.
Eero Pelkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pelkonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pudzianowski misses with a hook.
Pelkonen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pudzianowski avoids it really well and circles away.
Pelkonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
That kick from Pelkonen tenderised Pudzianowski's leg. Pudzianowski is trying to keep his angry face on.
Pudzianowski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pelkonen manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pudzianowski throws a right and a left that both miss.
An inside leg kick lands from Pelkonen.
Pelkonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pelkonen. That's going to slow Pudzianowski down.
Pudzianowski lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pudzianowski.

It looks like Eero Pelkonen has been cut.

Pelkonen has managed to clinch.
Pudzianowski is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pelkonen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pudzianowski looks gassed!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pelkonen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pelkonen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pelkonen unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pudzianowski lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Pelkonen lands a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pelkonen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pelkonen is working Pudzianowski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pelkonen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pudzianowski has momentary wrist control but Pelkonen slips an elbow through the middle.
Pelkonen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pelkonen connects with a couple of short punches.
Pudzianowski keeping moving, preventing Pelkonen from controlling successfully.
Pelkonen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pelkonen landing some decent shots from guard.
Pelkonen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pelkonen cracks Pudzianowski with a solid left hand.
Pelkonen is working Pudzianowski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pudzianowski keeping moving, preventing Pelkonen from controlling successfully.
Pelkonen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pelkonen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pelkonen is in close to Pudzianowski's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pudzianowski keeping moving, preventing Pelkonen from controlling successfully.
Pelkonen connects with a couple of short punches.
Pelkonen is working Pudzianowski over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pelkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pudzianowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Pelkonen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Pudzianowski keeping moving, preventing Pelkonen from controlling successfully.
Pelkonen lands a couple of digs.
Pelkonen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pudzianowski's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pelkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pudzianowski is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pelkonen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pudzianowski's head.
Pelkonen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pudzianowski's head.
Pudzianowski keeping moving, preventing Pelkonen from controlling successfully.
Pudzianowski can't keep his opponent in guard - Pelkonen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pudzianowski is refusing to be controlled, as Pelkonen sits in half guard.
Pelkonen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pudzianowski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pelkonen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pelkonen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pelkonen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

It looks like Mariusz Pudzianowski has been cut.
Pelkonen drops an elbow to the side of Pudzianowski's head.
Pelkonen working Pudzianowski over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eero Pelkonen dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pelkonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pudzianowski digs a good body shot into Pelkonen's ribs.

Pudzianowski tries to keep at a distance but Pelkonen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pudzianowski has had enough of the clinch but Pelkonen keeps him there for the moment.
Pelkonen lands a good knee to the midsection. Pudzianowski won't want to take too many of those.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Pelkonen.
Pelkonen has Pudzianowski pressed against the cage, preventing Pudzianowski from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pudzianowski wants a takedown but no success here.
Pudzianowski takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pelkonen landing knees to the body.
Pelkonen lands a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pelkonen has picked Pudzianowski up - he's going for a ride! Pelkonen dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Eero Pelkonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ground and pound from Pelkonen.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pudzianowski can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pudzianowski is breathing heavily.
Pelkonen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pudzianowski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nice strikes from Pelkonen there.
Pelkonen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pudzianowski with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pudzianowski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pelkonen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pelkonen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nice strikes from Pelkonen there.
Pudzianowski taking some punishment here, with Pelkonen in his half guard.

That has opened up Mariusz Pudzianowski's cut even more.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pelkonen connects with a nice short shot to Pudzianowski's temple.
Pelkonen slips a nice elbow through Pudzianowski's hands, connecting with Pudzianowski's forehead.

Pudzianowski is rocked!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pelkonen connects with a nice short shot to Pudzianowski's temple.
Pudzianowski is still in real trouble! Can Pelkonen finish him?
Pelkonen winds up and cracks Pudzianowski with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

The cut above Mariusz Pudzianowski's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pelkonen working over Pudzianowski with some ground and pound. Pudzianowski looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pelkonen is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Pudzianowski is hurt! He's hurt bad - Pelkonen fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Pudzianowski from any more punishment! Congratulations to Pelkonen! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eero Pelkonen!
Eero Pelkonen retains his heavyweight title!