PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lauri Pekkarinen (ranked 493 p4p, 57 weight class) and Terry Bogard (ranked 519 p4p, 63 weight class). Pekkarinen comes into the arena with For Heavy Metal we will die! blaring out of the sound system. 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.

Pekkarinen
vs
Bogard

188 cm
33
193 lbs
21 - 9 - 2

186 cm
31
193 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 9 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lauri Pekkarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Terry Bogard!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pekkarinen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Pekkarinen wants to take a breather but Bogard is having none of it.
Bogard tries to roll over but Pekkarinen keeps him under control.
Bogard is looking to control Pekkarinen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bogard avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pekkarinen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bogard defending well though.
Pekkarinen is nestled in close to Bogard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pekkarinen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bogard wants to improve his position but Pekkarinen is controlling well.
Pekkarinen throwing shots but Bogard is blocking nicely.
Bogard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pekkarinen.
Bogard moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bogard manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pekkarinen manages to get himself to full guard.

Bogard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Pekkarinen keeping full guard, as Bogard tries to pass.
Bogard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bogard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pekkarinen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Pekkarinen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bogard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Pekkarinen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Pekkarinen looking for a guillotine here but Bogard defends easily.
My spies in Midnight MMA inform me that Bogard has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bogard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pekkarinen's head.
Bogard is working Pekkarinen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pekkarinen looking to control.
Bogard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Pekkarinen keeping moving, preventing Bogard from controlling successfully.
Pekkarinen trying to control the position.
Bogard preventing the sweep.
Bogard looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pekkarinen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bogard distracts Pekkarinen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Pekkarinen looking for a guillotine here but Bogard defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pekkarinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Bogard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pekkarinen is on top in guard.

Bogard looking to control but Pekkarinen passes into half guard.
Bogard gets full guard.
Pekkarinen throwing strikes from guard but Bogard blocks nicely.
Bogard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bogard trying to keep a closed guard but Pekkarinen is proving a slippery customer.
Bogard wants to sweep but no luck.
Bogard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pekkarinen.
Pekkarinen preventing the sweep.
Pekkarinen throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bogard wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Pekkarinen is now in half guard.
Bogard wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lauri Pekkarinen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bogard lands a leg kick that knocks Pekkarinen off balance momentarily.
Bogard throws a body kick that misses.
Bogard shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Pekkarinen throws a shot from downtown. Bogard moves away and avoids it.
Bogard takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Pekkarinen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bogard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pekkarinen somewhat.
Pekkarinen avoids the head kick by Bogard.
Pekkarinen looks to land a right hand but Bogard moved out of range.
A swing and a miss from Pekkarinen.
Bogard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bogard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bogard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pekkarinen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bogard looks to land a right hand but Pekkarinen moved out of range.
Pekkarinen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bogard moves out of range as Pekkarinen strikes.

Bogard shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pekkarinen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
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!

Pekkarinen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bogard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bogard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkarinen wants to sweep here but Bogard controlling him for the moment.
Pekkarinen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bogard stopping the sweep attempt from Pekkarinen.
Pekkarinen is working hard here to advance position.
Bogard throwing strikes from guard but Pekkarinen blocks nicely.

Pekkarinen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bogard tries to free his leg and advance position but Pekkarinen is retaining full guard.

Pekkarinen has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Bogard doesn't defend quickly enough and Pekkarinen has managed to lock this one up! Can Bogard escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Pekkarinen on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Lauri Pekkarinen!
Lauri Pekkarinen 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.
Terry Bogard was interviewed post fight and said 'No excuses, you learn more from loses than you do from wins. Cheers!'.