PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manvel Gamburyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kustaa Pohjanala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gamburyan comes to the cage accompanied by Gamburyan vs. Brown on April 24th. Pohjanala comes into a darkened arena with his song building. AC/DC - Hard as a Rock kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Gamburyan
vs
Pohjanala

165 cm
34
159 lbs
8 - 15 - 0

168 cm
36
157 lbs
25 - 24 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
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 8 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manvel Gamburyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kustaa Pohjanala!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Gamburyan.
Gamburyan defending well as Pohjanala loads up on a big left hand.
Pohjanala dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gamburyan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Pohjanala slaps away a takedown attempt from Gamburyan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gamburyan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Gamburyan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gamburyan shoots in looking for a takedown but Pohjanala manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gamburyan's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Gamburyan shoots in and drives through. Pohjanala sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manvel Gamburyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pohjanala pushes Gamburyan up against the cage in a clinch.
Gamburyan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Pohjanala avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gamburyan has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pohjanala is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gamburyan has had enough of the clinch but Pohjanala keeps him there for the moment.
Pohjanala lands an elbow that stopped Gamburyan in his tracks for a moment.
Pohjanala lands with a left to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Gamburyan lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pohjanala trying to hold on to Gamburyan's head to control him but Gamburyan postures up.
Gamburyan thows a huge punch but Pohjanala dodges it nicely.
Pohjanala is controlling Gamburyan's trapped leg to prevent Gamburyan from advancing to side control.

Gamburyan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pohjanala sees it coming and defends easily.
Pohjanala has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gamburyan is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gamburyan is keen to just control but Pohjanala is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gamburyan slows the pace down in half guard.

Pohjanala actively working from the bottom here.
Well, if Gamburyan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Gamburyan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gamburyan wants to control but Pohjanala is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gamburyan trying to mount his opponent but Pohjanala defends it.
Gamburyan is trying to control. Pohjanala wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala wants to control but Gamburyan is keeping busy.

Gamburyan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Gamburyan slows the pace down in half guard.
Pohjanala trying to control but Gamburyan postures up.
Gamburyan is controlling the pace.
Gamburyan has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamburyan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Manvel Gamburyan.
Gamburyan has a takedown stuffed.
Manvel Gamburyan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gamburyan closes the distance and clinches up with Pohjanala, looking for a takedown. Gamburyan pushes Pohjanala against the cage but Pohjanala circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gamburyan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pohjanala counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pohjanala lands a lovely overhand right.
Pohjanala swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pohjanala swings for the body but Gamburyan moves out of range.
Gamburyan on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Pohjanala stuffs the takedown attempt from Gamburyan. Gamburyan gets slowly back to his feet.
Gamburyan shoots in for a double leg but Pohjanala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pohjanala displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gamburyan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manvel Gamburyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gamburyan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pohjanala trying to control the position from guard on top but Gamburyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gamburyan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pohjanala.
Pohjanala slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pohjanala wants to control from the top but Gamburyan keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kustaa Pohjanala has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Gamburyan looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gamburyan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pohjanala circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pohjanala connects with a nice looking jab.
A lazy left from Pohjanala finds it's target.
Gamburyan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pohjanala scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Pohjanala stuffs the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gamburyan.
Pohjanala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gamburyan was well out of range. Poor timing from Pohjanala.
Gamburyan has his takedown stuffed
and Pohjanala counters with a straight right hand.
A head kick misses from Pohjanala.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala connects with a high kick.
Pohjanala misses with a body shot.
Gamburyan has his takedown stuffed
letting Pohjanala counter with a right hand.
Pohjanala lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pohjanala.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gamburyan takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Gamburyan shoots in but Pohjanala avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pohjanala connects with a body shot.

Pohjanala closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gamburyan's guard.

Pohjanala 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.
Pohjanala's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Pohjanala passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kustaa Pohjanala has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamburyan is looking for a sweep.
Gamburyan wants to control but Pohjanala postures up.
Sloppy strikes there by Pohjanala.

Pohjanala working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pohjanala tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Pohjanala looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The strikes coming from Pohjanala are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Gamburyan isn't going anywhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pohjanala is working to tighten is grip on Gamburyan's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Gamburyan has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Pohjanala is really squeezing tight and eventually Gamburyan passes out! Pohjanala breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Kustaa Pohjanala!