PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Biorj Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niklas Backstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Kato
vs
Backstrom

180 cm
21
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
23
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Biorj Kato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niklas Backstrom!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kato looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Backstrom is fending him off so far but Kato persists. Nope, Backstrom circles away and we're back to standing.
Backstrom circles away from the clinch attempt.
Backstrom walks into a left hand.

Kato clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Kato.
Kato lands an elbow inside that Backstrom shrugs off.

Kato breaks the clinch.
Kato shoots for a double leg takedown but Backstrom sprawls well. He's pushed Kato's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Biorj Kato seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kato clinches up with Backstrom and pushes him back against the cage.
Kato wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Biorj Kato. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kato lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Backstrom backwards.
Kato throws an elbow but it misses.

Kato breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backstrom stuffs the takedown attempt from Kato. Kato gets slowly back to his feet.
Kato misses with an uppercut. Backstrom saw that one coming.
Kato throws a low kick but it's checked well by Backstrom.
Kato dives in for a single leg takedown but Backstrom sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Backstrom goes for a takedown attempt but Kato pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kato fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kato does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Kato has closed the distance and engaged Backstrom in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato scores with a hook to the body.
Kato has Backstrom pushed against the cage.

Kato breaks the clinch.
Kato tries a low kick but Backstrom avoids it.
Kato throws a head kick but Backstrom moves out of range.

Kato moves into the clinch successfully.

Kato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kato has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kato manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Backstrom passes Kato's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Backstrom is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kato wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Backstrom seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kato does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kato wants to get back to his feet.

Backstrom is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kato is trying to stand up here but Backstrom is controlling him well.
Kato is breathing heavily.

Backstrom is trying for a kimura here. Kato looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Backstrom wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Niklas Backstrom!