PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Darren James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Routalempi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pekka Routalempi has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Darren James's chin.

James
vs
Routalempi

178 cm
24
165 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

176 cm
31
161 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Darren James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Routalempi!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James fails with the takedown.
James fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Routalempi avoids it really well and circles away.
Routalempi works James's body with a nice hook.
Pekka Routalempi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James staying out of range there.
Routalempi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but James moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Routalempi as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James closes this distance looking for a takedown but Routalempi circles away.
Routalempi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fighters circling - Routalempi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Routalempi lands a nice looking body shot.
James fails with the takedown.
Routalempi jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Routalempi.
The fighters circling - Routalempi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Routalempi tries to clinch up but James circles away and keeps his distance.
Routalempi throws the left hand but James avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Routalempi throws a right and a left that both miss.
Routalempi tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Routalempi defends it nicely.
Routalempi throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Routalempi tries to close the distance and clinch but James swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Routalempi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Routalempi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
James tries to score a power double leg takedown but Routalempi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten James somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Routalempi 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.

Routalempi comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Routalempi misses with a few strikes there.
James dodges the punch combination from Routalempi.
Routalempi swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Routalempi throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
Routalempi misses with a wild body shot.
Routalempi scores with a hook to the body. James takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
James has a takedown stuffed.
Routalempi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down James rather than just go for the knockout.
Routalempi throws a series of punches but James avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Routalempi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
Some wild striking there from Routalempi.
Routalempi misses with a two punch combination.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for James. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Routalempi throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Routalempi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Routalempi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Routalempi throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
James with a poor takedown

and Routalempi counters with a single leg into guard. James didn't expect that.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Routalempi gets to his feet. James looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
James takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
James looks for a takedown but Routalempi sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Routalempi stuffs the takedown attempt from James. James gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Routalempi misses with a wild combination.
Routalempi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.

James drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Routalempi tries to bench press James off him but James keeps the position.
Routalempi is trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Routalempi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

James shoots for a double leg takedown but Routalempi sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Routalempi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pekka Routalempi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Routalempi.

James shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Routalempi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Routalempi tries to get back to half guard but can't.

James has hold of Routalempi's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Routalempi tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - James cranks the arm and Routalempi screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Routalempi, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Darren James!