PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tuukka Rask (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Routalempi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rask
vs
Routalempi

188 cm
20
167 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
39
161 lbs
14 - 15 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very quick

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tuukka Rask!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Routalempi!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Rask misses.
Routalempi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Routalempi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rask tries for a takedown but Routalempi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pekka Routalempi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Routalempi dives in and grabs Rask's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rask pushes down on Routalempi's head and hops out.
Rask misses with a head kick.
Nice shot lands for Routalempi.
Rask on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Routalempi does no damage.
Routalempi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rask blocks a head kick by Routalempi.
Good standup being displayed there by Routalempi as he connects with a hook.
Routalempi fails to land with a series of punches.
Routalempi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Routalempi misses with the combination.
Rask's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Rask duly obliges.

It looks like Pekka Routalempi has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rask takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rask throws a looping overhand right but Routalempi ducks down to avoid it.

Rask closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Routalempi gets full guard.
Rask will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rask content to stall in guard here.

Rask avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rask controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rask throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rask passes Routalempi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Routalempi gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Routalempi looking for a triangle here. Rask is fighting it but it looks tight! Routalempi pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Rask is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Pekka Routalempi!
Pekka Routalempi was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.