PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Skender Baruti (ranked 6593 p4p, 549 weight class) and Esa Petteri (ranked 4651 p4p, 445 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Baruti
vs
Petteri

202 cm
18
255 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

187 cm
19
270 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Skender Baruti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esa Petteri!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Petteri decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Petteri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Petteri is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Baruti definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petteri wants to take a breather but Baruti is having none of it.
Petteri seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Petteri controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petteri missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Baruti blocking the ground and pound attempt from Petteri.
Petteri perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Petteri trying to control from half guard but Baruti is working away.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Petteri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Petteri looks to land a strike but Baruti avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's two 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.
Petteri throws an elbow that misses. Baruti uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Petteri's guard. Nice move by Baruti!

Baruti sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Petteri doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Petteri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Petteri controls Baruti momentarily but Baruti frees himself.
Petteri lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Petteri scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petteri content to stall in guard here.
Baruti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Petteri's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Petteri lands a couple of elbows.
Petteri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Petteri controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Petteri's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Petteri showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Petteri is looking to pass into half guard but Baruti pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Baruti is in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petteri is striking but Baruti is not phased and passes to half guard.
Petteri wants to control but Baruti is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Petteri is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petteri pushes Baruti off looking to stand but Baruti dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Petteri closes this distance looking for a takedown but Baruti circles away.

Petteri scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Petteri seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Baruti does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Petteri throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Petteri's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Petteri is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Petteri looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Petteri controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petteri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Petteri lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Petteri lands a nice short elbow.
Petteri is controlling the pace.
Let's hope that Petteri 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.

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.
Petteri not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Baruti avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Petteri.
Petteri looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Petteri throws a strike but Baruti avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petteri lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Petteri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Baruti looking for a sweep. Not yet Baruti, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Petteri tries for a takedown but Baruti sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Baruti was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Petteri has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Baruti is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Skender Baruti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Petteri tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Petteri connects with a jab.
Petteri has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Petteri closes the distance and clinches up with Baruti, looking for a takedown. Petteri pushes Baruti against the cage but Baruti circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Skender Baruti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esa Petteri.
Petteri swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baruti swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Petteri will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Baruti scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Petteri will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baruti connects with a looping right hand.
Petteri throws a sloppy head kick
and Baruti counters with a stiff right hand.

Petteri dives in and scores a takedown into Baruti's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baruti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Petteri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Esa Petteri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Petteri lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Petteri throws a big elbow that misses.
Petteri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Petteri's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Petteri slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Petteri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Baruti lands with a cross.
Nice sprawl there from Baruti as Petteri shoots in.
Petteri shoots in but Baruti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Baruti half committed to a counter leg kick.
Petteri displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baruti throws out the jab.
Petteri misses with a combination
letting Baruti counter with a right hand.

It looks like Esa Petteri has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petteri tries to bum rush Baruti with a series of wild strikes but Baruti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Petteri looks to land a combination. Baruti sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Baruti is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Petteri dives in and grabs Baruti's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baruti pushes down on Petteri's head and hops out.
Skender Baruti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esa Petteri.
Horrible takedown attempt by Petteri or perhaps it was just good defense by Baruti, which made it look bad.
Baruti was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baruti throws a jab but it's blocked by Petteri.
Petteri shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Esa Petteri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petteri with a poor takedown
and Baruti counters with a nice uppercut.
Skender Baruti is winning the standup battle so far.
Baruti takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Petteri misses with a takedown attempt
and Baruti counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Petteri takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Baruti tries to sprawl but Petteri drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Petteri lands with a punch from half guard.
Petteri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Petteri sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Petteri takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Skender Baruti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petteri is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Petteri working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Petteri with a momentary lay and pray from 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!
Baruti has hold of Petteri's hands but Petteri slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ground and pound from Petteri.
Baruti is refusing to be controlled, as Petteri sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petteri lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Baruti is not content to let Petteri control the position.
Petteri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Petteri missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Petteri wants to work for an arm triangle but Baruti is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Petteri throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Esa Petteri is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Petteri scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Baruti is trying to control Petteri's posture but Petteri avoids it.
Petteri tries to score with some ground and pound. Baruti controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
A lull in the action here as Petteri stalls from top position.
More stalling from Petteri.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Esa Petteri.
I've got Petteri winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esa Petteri!