PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Liam Nate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joni Pahkala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Nate
vs
Pahkala

170 cm
25
147 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Nate!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joni Pahkala!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nate tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pahkala sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Nate somewhat.
Nice sprawl there from Pahkala as Nate shoots in.
Pahkala avoids a punch combination nicely.

Nate drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Nate throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Pahkala is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Pahkala's face as Nate controls the position.

Nate tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pahkala is trying to improve his position.
Nate moves into full mount!
Pahkala holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Nate tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Nate goes for an armbar but Pahkala turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Pahkala.
Nate is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pahkala tries to free his leg and advance position but Nate is retaining full guard.
Pahkala would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Pahkala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nate swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nate shoots in and drives through. Pahkala sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Nate. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pahkala fails with a takedown attempt.
Nate shoots in for a takedown but Pahkala shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pahkala.
Pahkala fails with the takedown.
Pahkala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nate fails to land the takedown.
Nate will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nate fails to land the takedown.
Nate is breathing heavily.
Nate throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pahkala throws a half hearted mid kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pahkala is defended easily by Nate.
Pahkala goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Nate closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pahkala circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Nate. Those never looked like landing.
Nate fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pahkala avoids it really well and circles away.
Horrible takedown by Nate or perhaps it was just good defense by Pahkala which made him look bad.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pahkala misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Nate dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Pahkala shoots in and drives through. Nate sprawls well.

Nate gets a takedown into half guard.
Pahkala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Nate is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pahkala has managed to free his arm - good work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Nate in particular looking to stall.
Pahkala regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Nate.
Nate passes Pahkala's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nate controlling the pace.
Nate is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Pahkala reverses the position - he's now on top in Nate's guard.
Pahkala with a flurry of punches that miss.
Pahkala tries to free his leg and advance position but Nate is retaining full guard.
Nate is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pahkala is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nate pushes Pahkala off and scrambles back to his feet.
Nate dives in and grabs Pahkala's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pahkala pushes down on Nate's head and hops out.
Liam Nate seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Pahkala.
A head kick misses from Pahkala.
Pahkala is breathing heavily.
Pahkala stuffs the takedown attempt from Nate. Nate gets slowly back to his feet.
Nate tries for a takedown but Pahkala sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Nate. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pahkala gets caught napping as Nate dives in and scores a takedown. Pahkala manages to retain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pahkala working for a triangle but Nate defends it easily.
Nate not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Nate stopping the sweep attempt from Pahkala.
Nate looking to pass the guard.
Pahkala can't keep his opponent in guard - Nate advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Nate tries to pass to full mount but Pahkala defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nate works his way into side control.
Nate advances nicely into full mount.
Nate misses with a head shot.
Nate controlling the pace for now.
Nate throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Pahkala because Nate loaded up on that one.
Nate misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Liam Nate overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nate controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Nate 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!

Nate looks for a takedown but Pahkala sprawls well.
Nate misses with a two punch combination.
Pahkala tries for a takedown but Nate sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Nate changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pahkala looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pahkala can't do much from the bottom here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Nate wants to control but Pahkala is keeping him busy.
Nate misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Pahkala takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Nate working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nate wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pahkala, who protects the arm well.
Pahkala is not content to let Nate control the position.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Nate passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Pahkala!
Pahkala is trying to escape the mount.
Nate controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pahkala avoids a series of strikes thrown by Nate.
Pahkala is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Nate takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nate thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Pahkala tries to lock up and control but Nate gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pahkala really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nate. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Nate takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Pahkala has left one of his arms exposed and Nate doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Pahkala screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Liam Nate!