PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matteo Claessens (ranked 5837 p4p, 562 weight class) and Dean Pritchard (ranked 6256 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Claessens
vs
Pritchard

180 cm
25
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matteo Claessens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dean Pritchard!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Claessens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Pritchard. Pritchard obviously looking to wear him down.
Pritchard throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Claessens.
Claessens lands an overhand right.
Claessens fails to land with a series of punches.
Claessens staying out of range there.
Claessens seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Claessens shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Claessens was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pritchard wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Claessens working the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pritchard is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Claessens's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Claessens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Claessens throws a strike but Pritchard avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Claessens content to stall in guard here.
Claessens landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pritchard has control of Claessens's left arm, preventing Claessens from doing any damage.
Pritchard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Claessens looking to sit in guard and control but Pritchard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Pritchard is looking to stand up but Claessens won't let him.
Claessens looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Claessens controls Pritchard momentarily but Pritchard frees himself.
Claessens looking for a sweep. Not yet Claessens, not yet.
Claessens trying to keep a closed guard but Pritchard is proving a slippery customer.
Pritchard wants to stand but Claessens is controlling his posture from full guard.
Claessens knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pritchard on the ground.
Pritchard throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pritchard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pritchard tries to stand but Claessens is controlling from the bottom.
Claessens looking to control but Pritchard passes into half guard.
Claessens tries to roll over but Pritchard keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Claessens strikes from the bottom but Pritchard passes into mount!

Pritchard gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Pritchard pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pritchard throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Claessens with a poor takedown
and Pritchard counters with a nice low kick that buckles Claessens's knee momentarily.
Pritchard fakes the leg kick and cracks Claessens in the body.
Claessens is breathing heavily.
Claessens sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pritchard throws a front kick that sends Claessens stumbling back into the cage.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pritchard.
Pritchard throws a nice outside leg kick.
Pritchard scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pritchard.
Pritchard connects with an inside leg kick.
Pritchard misses with a hook.
Pritchard throws a nice inside leg kick.
Claessens on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Pritchard. Pritchard obviously looking to wear him down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pritchard.
Pritchard thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Claessens if he has to take too many more of those.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pritchard connects with a leg kick. Claessens looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Pritchard lands a nice looking body kick.
Pritchard lets loose with a powerful body kick. Claessens will feel that in the morning.
Claessens blocks a jab.
Pritchard scores with a spinning back kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pritchard fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Pritchard lands a head kick!
Pritchard moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Claessens throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pritchard's waist but Pritchard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Claessens off to one side.
Pritchard throws a front kick that sends Claessens stumbling back into the cage.
Pritchard throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Pritchard. That's going to slow Claessens down.
Pritchard lands a nice looking body kick.
Pritchard lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Both fighters circling a little - Pritchard finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Pritchard misses the jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pritchard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pritchard leaves Claessens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matteo Claessens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pritchard throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Pritchard dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Claessens takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Pritchard connects with an inside leg kick.
Pritchard throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Dean Pritchard seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pritchard buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pritchard scores with a head kick.
Claessens's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Pritchard slaps away a takedown attempt from Claessens, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A slapping body kick lands there for Pritchard.

Pritchard lands a big head kick that sends Claessens tumbling to the mat! Pritchard takes a step backwards and waves Claessens back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Claessens is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pritchard throws a series of punches but Claessens avoids them all with ease.
Oh Claessens is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pritchard lands with a thumping leg kick.
Pritchard looks for a left high kick but can't connect. Pritchard backs up to catch a breather... no he lunges forward with a huge flying knee that smacks Claessens's temple! It sends Claessens violently to the canvas! The crowd goes nuts as Pritchard celebrates and the doctors try to help Claessens!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Flying Knee). Dean Pritchard!