PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jere Karalahti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaska Paska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Jere Karalahti has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Karalahti
vs
Paska

188 cm
26
190 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

184 cm
29
193 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jere Karalahti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaska Paska!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karalahti looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Paska wants to get back to full guard.
Paska has a hand on Karalahti's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Karalahti takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Paska keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Karalahti jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Paska manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Paska is not content to let Karalahti control the position.
Paska tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Karalahti wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Karalahti tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Karalahti has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Karalahti is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Paska knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Paska is trying to improve his position.
Karalahti working away.
Paska is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karalahti gets to mount! Paska was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Karalahti can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Paska is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Karalahti working Paska over with strikes here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Paska tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Karalahti with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Karalahti sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Paska is in all sorts of trouble here.
Karalahti wants to control but Paska has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karalahti is looking for a kimura here.
Paska is staying active underneath Karalahti, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Paska tries to roll over but Karalahti keeps him under control.
Karalahti is trying to control the action in half guard but Paska is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Paska is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Karalahti jumps into side control!
What's Paska going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Paska tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Karalahti crashes against the mat.

Karalahti tries for a kimura but Paska is defending well.
Paska is looking for a sweep.

Karalahti is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Paska has escaped the position, nice work there.
Paska is trying to control Karalahti's posture but Karalahti avoids it.
The strikes coming from Karalahti are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paska is not content to let Karalahti control the position.
The strikes coming from Karalahti are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paska misses with a body shot.

Karalahti shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Paska is trying to get back to full guard.
Karalahti thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Paska's head.
Paska wants to get back to full guard but Karalahti has mounted him!
Jere Karalahti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Paska defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Karalahti.
Karalahti wants to control the pace but Paska is squirming around nicely.
Karalahti looking to ground and pound but Paska is blocking nicely.
Paska is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karalahti trying to control but Paska is having none of it.

Karalahti is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Paska is surviving well by controlling Karalahti's body position as best he can.
Paska is trying to escape the mount.

Karalahti is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Paska can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Paska throwing hammer fists to the chest of Karalahti. What's that going to do exactly?
Paska is trying to escape the mount.

Karalahti jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Paska manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paska manages to work his way to half guard, despite Karalahti's best efforts.
Paska tries to roll over but Karalahti keeps him under control.
Karalahti trying to control from half guard but Paska is working away.
Karalahti is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Paska is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Paska trying to hold on to Karalahti's head to control him but Karalahti postures up.
Karalahti trying to control from half guard but Paska is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Jere Karalahti wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Karalahti looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Paska!

Paska defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Karalahti.
Karalahti trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Paska swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Karalahti is working for a guillotine from mount but Paska frees his head quite easily.

Karalahti working for a submission but Paska is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paska is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Paska manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Karalahti 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.

Karalahti is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Paska has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karalahti not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jere Karalahti dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Karalahti shoots in and bounces Paska off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Paska escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Karalahti gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Paska has his foot on Karalahti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Karalahti works his way back into a safe position though.

Karalahti 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.
Paska keeping moving, preventing Karalahti from controlling successfully.
Karalahti pushing down on Paska's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Karalahti is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paska looking for submissions off his back.

Karalahti wants to work for an arm triangle but Paska is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Karalahti looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Paska strikes from the bottom but Karalahti passes into mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Karalahti is working for a guillotine from mount but Paska frees his head quite easily.

Karalahti has hold of Paska's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Paska manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Paska is trying desperately to improve position.
Paska is squirming around, avoiding Karalahti's attempts to control the action.

Karalahti has control of Paska's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Paska regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Karalahti with shots to the head and body - Paska looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paska bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Paska loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Paska postures up in Karalahti's guard and throws a big left but Karalahti blocks it.

Paska got a little sloppy there for a moment and Karalahti has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paska has managed to get both his arms back between Karalahti's legs - danger averted.
Karalahti keeping moving, preventing Paska from controlling successfully.
Paska might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Karalahti kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Karalahti escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Paska gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Karalahti pushes a forearm under Paska's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Paska is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jere Karalahti!