PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bartek Pietrzak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Naru Jarkko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jarkko has chosen Hawaii 78 & E ala E as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pietrzak
vs
Jarkko

171 cm
32
144 lbs
27 - 9 - 0

180 cm
36
155 lbs
38 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)
Walhalla Clothing (50 $ a piece today)

Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Bartek Pietrzak!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Naru Jarkko!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pietrzak keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jarkko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Pietrzak lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Pietrzak feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Jarkko's calf.
Pietrzak falls off balance throwing a combination

and Jarkko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jarkko.
Jarkko throws a big elbow that misses.
Pietrzak wants to sweep here but Jarkko controlling him for the moment.
Jarkko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jarkko preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jarkko pushes down on Pietrzak's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Jarkko is looking to advance position but Pietrzak won't allow it.
Jarkko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pietrzak is looking to control Jarkko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pietrzak avoid being mounted?
Jarkko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pietrzak!
Pietrzak bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Pietrzak throws a strike but Jarkko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak is trying to keep Jarkko in close.
Jarkko throws a big elbow that misses.

Pietrzak looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jarkko wants to control from the top but Pietrzak keeps moving.
Pietrzak is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jarkko forces his way into half guard.
Jarkko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jarkko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pietrzak is looking for a sweep. Jarkko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak is in trouble now - Jarkko has advanced to mount!

Jarkko looking to secure an arm triangle but Pietrzak defends it well.
Pietrzak really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Jarkko landing shots from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jarkko lands a big elbow.
Pietrzak is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pietrzak is looking to improve his position but Jarkko isn't that keen on the idea.
Pietrzak tries to lock up and control but Jarkko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jarkko lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Pietrzak tries to hold on but Jarkko pushes him away.

Jarkko looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Pietrzak regains half guard.
Jarkko sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Pietrzak blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jarkko.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pietrzak tries to roll over but Jarkko keeps him under control.

Pietrzak looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Jarkko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Naru Jarkko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nice defenses there by Jarkko.
Jarkko throws a shot from downtown. Pietrzak moves away and avoids it.
Jarkko looks to land a left hand but Pietrzak moved out of range nicely.
Pietrzak walks into a left hand.
Jarkko is looking to slow Pietrzak down with leg kicks.
Jarkko digs a good hook to Pietrzak's body.
Naru Jarkko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pietrzak takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jarkko lands with a thumping leg kick.
Jarkko misses with a hook
and Pietrzak counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jarkko.
Pietrzak changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Jarkko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pietrzak swivels and escapes.
Jarkko scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Pietrzak fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Jarkko on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jarkko shoots in but no luck this time.
Jarkko pivots, looking for a leg kick but Pietrzak is out of range and Jarkko settles back down.
A telegraphed right hand from Jarkko misses the target.
Pietrzak drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jarkko sprawls and moves away.
Jarkko moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Pietrzak gets a double leg takedown into Jarkko's guard.
Pietrzak pushing down on Jarkko's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pietrzak looks to land a strike but Jarkko avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Pietrzak with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jarkko keeping moving, preventing Pietrzak from controlling successfully.

Jarkko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak throwing strikes from guard but Jarkko blocks nicely.
Pietrzak forces his way into half guard.
Pietrzak is keen to just control but Jarkko is a slippery customer.
Pietrzak wants to free his trapped foot but Jarkko is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Jarkko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pietrzak trying to control the action but Jarkko is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak prevents Jarkko from improving his position.
Pietrzak is just content to waste time from the top position. Jarkko takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Jarkko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pietrzak.
Pietrzak slips nicely into half guard.
Jarkko felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Jarkko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pietrzak tries to pass to full mount but Jarkko defends it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jarkko thuds his right hand into Pietrzak's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jarkko misses with a kick to the body.
Jarkko misses with a low kick.
Pietrzak drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jarkko sprawls and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jarkko misses with an uppercut. Pietrzak saw that one coming.
Jarkko thows a leg kick but Pietrzak checks it

and Pietrzak counters with a single leg into guard. Jarkko didn't expect that.
Pietrzak postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bartek Pietrzak will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jarkko rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Pietrzak counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pietrzak throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pietrzak passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Jarkko!
Jarkko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jarkko is still trying to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pietrzak landing strikes, looking to finish!
Pietrzak can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jarkko is looking to escape.

Pietrzak is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Jarkko has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Jarkko!
Naru Jarkko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jarkko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jarkko passes Pietrzak's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak is pressing down on Jarkko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jarkko looking to sit in guard and control but Pietrzak gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pietrzak slips nicely into half guard.
Pietrzak is trying to control. Jarkko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pietrzak prevents Jarkko from improving his position.
Pietrzak sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Jarkko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pietrzak.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Pietrzak seems content to control.

Pietrzak is working for a submission of some sort.
Jarkko has hold of Pietrzak's hands but Pietrzak slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pietrzak wants to control but Jarkko is keeping him busy.
Pietrzak thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jarkko's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Jarkko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Pietrzak.
Pietrzak is looking to work some ground and pound but Jarkko has wrist control.
Jarkko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Pietrzak wants to get back to full guard but Jarkko has passed into side control.
Jarkko wants to control but Pietrzak is keeping him busy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pietrzak is trying to get back to half guard.
Pietrzak is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bartek Pietrzak clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Jarkko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pietrzak sprawls well. Pietrzak wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jarkko gets slowly back to his feet.
Pietrzak feinted with a counter takedown.
Pietrzak listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Jarkko with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Jarkko looks to land a right hand but Pietrzak moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pietrzak displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jarkko throws out the jab.
Jarkko scores with a kick to the body.
Pietrzak misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jarkko. Pietrzak does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jarkko slips a jab from Pietrzak.
Jarkko lands a really nice looking cross but Pietrzak seems unphased.
Jarkko tries to work over Pietrzak's front leg with a kick but Pietrzak checks it.
Pietrzak closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jarkko circles away.
Jarkko throws a solid leg kick but Pietrzak takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Jarkko.
Jarkko throws a body shot but no joy.
Pietrzak feinted with a counter takedown.
Jarkko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pietrzak throws a front kick aimed at Jarkko's knee but Jarkko avoids it well.
Jarkko lands a jab-cross combination.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Jarkko crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Pietrzak - the referee stops the clock and Jarkko gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Pietrzak. Jarkko manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Pietrzak chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Jarkko can pounce on him.
The fighters circling - Jarkko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jarkko throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pietrzak counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pietrzak misses with an attempted mid kick.
Pietrzak takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jarkko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pietrzak swivels and escapes.
Jarkko throws a hook but Pietrzak blocks it.
Jarkko connects with an inside leg kick.
Jarkko misses with a low kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Jarkko.
Pietrzak scores with a nice body kick.
Jarkko throws a series of punches but Pietrzak avoids them all with ease.
A big left from Jarkko misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Jarkko.
Pietrzak misses with an uppercut. Jarkko saw that one coming.
Jarkko throws a leg kick but Pietrzak sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Pietrzak feinted with a counter takedown.
A slow jab from Jarkko misses its intended target.
Pietrzak takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A combination from Pietrzak does no damage.
Pietrzak goes for a double leg but Jarkko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Jarkko continues to drive forward.
Pietrzak slips a straight right by Jarkko.
Jarkko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jarkko takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bartek Pietrzak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Naru Jarkko.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jarkko or perhaps it was just good defense by Pietrzak, which made it look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jarkko throws a leg kick but Pietrzak sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Pietrzak misses the jab.
Nice cross by Jarkko.
Naru Jarkko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jarkko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pietrzak to score with a decent uppercut.
Pietrzak scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
It looks like Pietrzak has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jarkko tries to clinch but Pietrzak moves out of range.
Jarkko connects with a solid leg kick.
Jarkko throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Pietrzak on the side of the head.

Pietrzak changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Jarkko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Pietrzak tries for a kimura but Jarkko is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Naru Jarkko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Jarkko moves out of range of the leg kick from Pietrzak.
Pietrzak bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jarkko's head.
Jarkko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jarkko wants it to stay on the feet.
Jarkko throws a jab but it's blocked by Pietrzak.
Jarkko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pietrzak manages to avoid it.
Jarkko thows a body kick. Pietrzak tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Jarkko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Pietrzak on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Jarkko. Jarkko obviously looking to wear him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jarkko on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Jarkko connects with a body shot.
Jarkko shoots in but no luck this time.
Jarkko misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jarkko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jarkko feints the counter takedown.
Pietrzak cracks Jarkko with a good jab.
Jarkko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jarkko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice defenses there by Pietrzak.
Jarkko throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pietrzak.
Pietrzak lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pietrzak shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jarkko as he jumps to the side.
Pietrzak moves out of range of the leg kick from Jarkko.
Jarkko moves out of range as Pietrzak strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jarkko throws a jab but it's blocked by Pietrzak.
Jarkko is looking to score with low kicks.
Jarkko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pietrzak was well out of range. Poor timing from Jarkko.
A big left from Jarkko misses.
Pietrzak takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Jarkko throws a leg kick but Pietrzak sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pietrzak is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Jarkko cracks the inside of Pietrzak's front leg.
Pietrzak is looking to slow Jarkko down with leg kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good standup being displayed there by Pietrzak as he connects with a hook.
Jarkko misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jarkko lunges at Pietrzak with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pietrzak's hand.
Jarkko throws a leg kick but Pietrzak sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Jarkko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pietrzak is able to avoid easily.
Pietrzak avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jarkko throws a looping overhand right but Pietrzak ducks down to avoid it.
Jarkko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pietrzak avoids a kick to the body.
Pietrzak tries to clinch up.
Jarkko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pietrzak counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pietrzak.
Jarkko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pietrzak trying to control the position from guard on top but Jarkko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pietrzak slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pietrzak creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Pietrzak is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Jarkko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Pietrzak working the ground and pound but Jarkko is defending the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bartek Pietrzak.
I think Pietrzak has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 49:47
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bartek Pietrzak!
Bartek Pietrzak retains his featherweight title!
A very excited looking Bartek Pietrzak made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.