PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yuras Arlovski (ranked 3890 p4p, 324 weight class) and Pekka Pikkarainen (ranked 6534 p4p, 430 weight class). Arlovski comes to the cage accompanied by We will rock you. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Arlovski
vs
Pikkarainen

180 cm
25
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

162 cm
19
147 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuras Arlovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pikkarainen!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pikkarainen throws a lazy right hand but Arlovski sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pikkarainen's coach down at No Guts NO Glory was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Pikkarainen's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Arlovski throws a sloppy head kick and Pikkarainen moves out of range easily.
Arlovski looks to land a body kick but Pikkarainen moved away.

Arlovski clinches up against the cage.
Arlovski is looking to take this one to the mat.

Pikkarainen gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Pikkarainen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pikkarainen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Arlovski is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Pikkarainen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
It looks like Pikkarainen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Arlovski tries to clinch there but Pikkarainen circles away.
Arlovski connects with a body shot.
Pikkarainen scores with a jab.

Pikkarainen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Arlovski was covering up waiting for the punch and Pikkarainen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Pikkarainen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pikkarainen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pikkarainen is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pikkarainen misses with a hook. Arlovski ducked under it nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
We've been told by Arlovski's head coaches at Cozad MMA St Petersburg that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Pikkarainen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Arlovski on the side of the head.
Arlovski doesn't manage to clinch there - Pikkarainen circles away.
Pikkarainen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Arlovski stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pikkarainen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Arlovski fails in his attempt to clinch.
Arlovski slips under a jab.
Arlovski tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pikkarainen swivels and escapes.
Pikkarainen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Pikkarainen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pikkarainen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pikkarainen stands and throws Arlovski's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pikkarainen working the body and head with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pikkarainen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Arlovski gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Pikkarainen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Arlovski's hands.
Arlovski throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pikkarainen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Pikkarainen. Those never looked like landing.
Arlovski shoots in for a double leg but Pikkarainen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Arlovski takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Pikkarainen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pikkarainen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Pekka Pikkarainen has got the better of the ground game so far.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Pikkarainen.
Ground and pound from Pikkarainen.
Pikkarainen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pikkarainen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pikkarainen stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen passes to full mount!
Pikkarainen controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pikkarainen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Pikkarainen with good strikes from the mount here!
Pikkarainen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Pikkarainen dominating with strikes here.
Pikkarainen working the ground and pound effectively.
Pikkarainen controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen landing punches.
Pikkarainen lands a couple of good shots and Arlovski has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Pikkarainen biding his time, looking for the opening.
Pikkarainen is landing with strikes from the back.
Pikkarainen is working the ground and pound. Can Arlovski escape?
Pikkarainen is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arlovski is trapped and Pikkarainen is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Pikkarainen biding his time, controlling Arlovski.
Can Arlovski hold on?! Pikkarainen is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pikkarainen throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Arlovski!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pikkarainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Pikkarainen works over Arlovski's head and body with a nice combination.

Arlovski tries to sprawl but Pikkarainen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Pikkarainen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Pikkarainen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pikkarainen slows the pace down in half guard.
Pikkarainen is continuing to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pikkarainen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Arlovski!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen raining down hammerfists from mount.
Pikkarainen looking to finish Arlovski with some ground and pound. This is bad for Arlovski!
Arlovski taking shots to the head.
Pikkarainen controlling from mount.
Arlovski really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pikkarainen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pikkarainen content just to control the position here.
Pikkarainen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Pikkarainen working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen controlling from the full mount.
Pikkarainen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Arlovski looks a forlorn figure.
Pikkarainen working the ground and pound effectively.
Pikkarainen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The adventures of Pikkarainen the control monster continue. Boring.
Pikkarainen breaks from Arlovski's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pikkarainen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Arlovski?
Pikkarainen in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Arlovski is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen controlling from the full mount.
Pikkarainen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pikkarainen punishing his opponent with strikes.
Pikkarainen with shots to the head and body - Arlovski looks very uncomfortable down there.
Pikkarainen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Arlovski tries to buck Pikkarainen off but he can't manage it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pikkarainen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Oh Arlovski is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pikkarainen with good strikes from the mount here!
Yuras Arlovski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pekka Pikkarainen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pikkarainen looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Pikkarainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pikkarainen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 25:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 25:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Pikkarainen!
A very excited looking Pekka Pikkarainen 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.