PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Pablos (ranked 3504 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Karhu (ranked 4351 p4p, 0 weight class). Karhu has chosen Samuli Edelmann - Teit meistä kauniin as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pablos
vs
Karhu

175 cm
39
137 lbs
27 - 37 - 0

176 cm
38
138 lbs
30 - 16 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 37 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Pablo Pablos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Antti Karhu!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karhu misses with an uppercut.
Pablos seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Pablos goes for a double leg but Karhu avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Karhu continues to drive forward.
Karhu swings for the body but Pablos moves out of range.
Pablos shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Karhu but Karhu pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Karhu is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pablos fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Pablos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pablos shoots in and drives through. Karhu sprawls well.
Pablos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Karhu sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Karhu connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Karhu cracks Pablos with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Karhu looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Karhu misses the shot to the body.
Karhu is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Karhu scores with a hook to the body. Pablos takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karhu scores with a body shot.
Pablos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu lands with a nice body punch.
Pablos misses with a takedown attempt - Karhu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pablos uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Karhu.
Karhu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pablos drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A big right from Pablos misses.

Pablos gets a takedown into half guard.
Karhu wants to stand back up but Pablos manages to pass into side control.
Karhu manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Karhu is looking for a sweep. Pablos is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Pablos is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Karhu is just riding it out for now. Pablos eventually gives up the hold.
Karhu is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pablos's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pablos's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pablos turns into Karhu and is now in his guard.
Karhu is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Karhu working for submissions but it's allowed Pablos to get to half guard.
Karhu manages to get to full guard.
Pablos stands and throws Karhu's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu trying to control but Pablos flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
I really don't envy Karhu right now.

Pablos is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Karhu knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Karhu for a finish.

Pablos looking to break Karhu's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Karhu remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Pablos will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Karhu is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Karhu can't escape the position.

Karhu is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Karhu is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Pablos off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Pablos is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Karhu knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Karhu for a finish.

Pablos looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Pablos is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Pablos seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Karhu lands with a nice body punch.
Karhu lands with a right hand.
A left and a right from Karhu both land. Nice combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Karhu misses with an uppercut. Pablos saw that one coming.
Karhu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Karhu enables Pablos to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Karhu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Pablos trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Karhu manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karhu looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Karhu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pablos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Karhu is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Pablos shoots in and drives through. Karhu sprawls well.
Karhu misses with a hook.
Karhu is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Karhu tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pablos was well out of range. Poor timing from Karhu.
Karhu lands a really nice looking cross but Pablos seems unphased.
Pablos shoots in but Karhu avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Karhu lands a lovely overhand right.

Pablos gets a double leg takedown into Karhu's guard.

Karhu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pablos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Karhu is trying to keep Pablos in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pablos would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Karhu keeping full guard, as Pablos tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu keeping moving, preventing Pablos from controlling successfully.
Pablos being controlled here momentarily.
Pablos passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Karhu struggling a bit here.
Karhu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Karhu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pablos wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Pablos has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Karhu tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pablos get's back to his feet.
Pablos has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Karhu.
Pablos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Karhu sprawls well. Karhu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pablos gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Pablos. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pablos moves out of range as Karhu strikes.
Karhu stuffs the takedown.
Karhu throws out a counter right but Pablos avoids it with no problem.
Pablos dives in for a single leg takedown but Karhu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Pablos fails to land the takedown.
Antti Karhu seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Karhu shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pablos appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Pablos has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Pablos there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice cross by Karhu.
Karhu swings for the body but Pablos moves out of range.
Karhu chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karhu connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablos moves out of range as Karhu strikes.
Karhu cracks a nice hook into Pablos's ribs.
Nice cross by Karhu.
Karhu throws a right hand that misses
and Karhu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Karhu lands the left hand.
Karhu looks to land a combination. Pablos sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Pablos is rocked!
Antti Karhu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Karhu lands a jab to Pablos's midsection.
Oh Pablos is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pablos takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Karhu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Karhu wants it to stay on the feet.
Pablos fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karhu throws an overhand right that drops Pablos like a sack of potatoes! Karhu dives in to finish the fight with more strikes and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Antti Karhu!
Antti Karhu decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.
The defeated Pablo Pablos had this to say: 'thanks my sponsors and fans!!!'.