PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Pikkarainen (ranked 4018 p4p, 325 weight class) and Royce Brandau (ranked 5432 p4p, 384 weight class). Royce Brandau struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Royce Brandau will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Pikkarainen
vs
Brandau

162 cm
19
147 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
154 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pikkarainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Royce Brandau!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brandau throws the kick towards the body but Pikkarainen avoids it.
Pikkarainen lands a jab to the nose.
Pikkarainen cracks a nice hook into Brandau's ribs.
Nice shot by Pikkarainen.
Brandau closes the distance and clinches up with Pikkarainen, looking for a takedown. Brandau pushes Pikkarainen against the cage but Pikkarainen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pikkarainen tests Brandau's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pikkarainen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brandau moves out of range of the strikes.
Pikkarainen scores with a three punch combo!
Pikkarainen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pikkarainen tries to bum rush Brandau with a series of wild strikes but Brandau uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen misses with the combination.
Pikkarainen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Pikkarainen lands a right hook to the body.
Brandau fails to land the takedown.
Brandau misses with a kick to the body.
Brandau takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Pikkarainen lands a jab to Brandau's midsection.
Pikkarainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pikkarainen has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Cozad MMA Helsinki in the buildup to the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Brandau is just out of range.
Pikkarainen scores with a body shot.
Pikkarainen works the jab nicely.

Brandau clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pikkarainen has Brandau pressed against the cage.
Pikkarainen is stalling here.
Pikkarainen seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
Pikkarainen tries a body shot but Brandau blocks it.

Pikkarainen has picked Brandau up - he's going for a ride! Pikkarainen dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Brandau wants to improve his position but Pikkarainen is controlling well.
Pikkarainen drops an elbow to the side of Brandau's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen trying to control from half guard but Brandau is working away.
Well, if Pikkarainen 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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Brandau manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pikkarainen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pikkarainen postures up.
Brandau looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pikkarainen is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pikkarainen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pikkarainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brandau is keeping the position for now.
Pikkarainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Brandau works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pikkarainen trying to control but Brandau is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pikkarainen swings for the body but Brandau moves out of range.
Pikkarainen throws a shot from downtown. Brandau moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pikkarainen lands a body shot.
Royce Brandau is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Brandau has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Brandau there as he acknowledges the shot.
Pikkarainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Brandau was well out of range. Poor timing from Pikkarainen.
Pekka Pikkarainen is winning the standup battle so far.
Pikkarainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Brandau.
Brandau wants to clinch.
Pikkarainen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pikkarainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen cracks Brandau with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pikkarainen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Pikkarainen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Brandau blocks a jab.
Pikkarainen works the jab nicely.

Brandau is rocked!
Pikkarainen fakes the leg kick and throws a superman punch. It's knocked Brandau out cold! Brutal finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Pekka Pikkarainen!
During a confident post fight interview, Pekka Pikkarainen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.