PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zhan Dhelan (ranked 1389 p4p, 980 weight class) and Jallu Pesonen (ranked 148 p4p, 109 weight class). Pesonen has chosen DJ Orkidea - Joutsenlaulu 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.

Dhelan
vs
Pesonen

150 cm
35
145
25 - 16 - 1

165 cm
38
151
27 - 22 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

Urban Fighter
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 25 - 16 - 1, fighting out of New York, Zhan Dhelan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jallu Pesonen!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dhelan looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pesonen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pesonen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dhelan 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.
Dhelan pushing down on Pesonen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Dhelan is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pesonen is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pesonen defending well though.
Dhelan is stalling here. Pesonen is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Dhelan seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Pesonen has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Pesonen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dhelan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pesonen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Dhelan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pesonen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Pesonen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dhelan has escaped the position, nice work there.
Dhelan is looking for a sweep.

Pesonen tries for a kimura but Dhelan is defending well.
Dhelan is trying to get back to half guard.
Pesonen in the domination position with Dhelan hanging on.

Pesonen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dhelan, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dhelan regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pesonen wants to pass the guard but Dhelan is defending well.
Pesonen stalling.
Dhelan gets full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dhelan is looking for a triangle here but Pesonen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
We've been hearing good reports from Dhelan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Dhelan tries to buck Pesonen off but Pesonen is having none of it.
Dhelan striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Pesonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dhelan keeps working.
Pesonen taking a breather here.
Dhelan tries to buck Pesonen off but Pesonen is having none of it.
Dhelan is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pesonen is looking to take a break and control but Dhelan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dhelan is looking for a sweep.
Dhelan regains half guard.
Pesonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dhelan keeps working.
Dhelan is trying to get back to full guard.
Pesonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dhelan keeps working.
Pesonen stalling.

Dhelan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pesonen prevents Dhelan from improving his position.
Dhelan is pressing down on Pesonen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pesonen tries to free his leg and advance position but Dhelan is retaining full guard.

Dhelan working for submissions but it's allowed Pesonen to get to half guard.
Pesonen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Dhelan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pesonen pulls his head out easily.
Dhelan is looking to improve his position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dhelan trying to control but Pesonen postures up.
Pesonen trying to control the pace.

Pesonen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dhelan defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jallu Pesonen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dhelan connects with a body shot.
Dhelan throws a looping overhand right but Pesonen ducks down to avoid it.
Dhelan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Both fighters circling a little - Pesonen finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Dhelan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pesonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dhelan paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A slow jab from Dhelan misses its intended target.
Pesonen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Dhelan walks into a stiff left hand from Pesonen.
Dhelan fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan thumps Pesonen with a low kick.
Dhelan feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Pesonens jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Pesonen stuffs the takedown attempt from Dhelan. Dhelan gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pesonen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dhelan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Dhelan looking for submissions off his back.

Dhelan actively working from the bottom here.

Dhelan is defending against the submission attempts here by Pesonen.
Pesonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pesonen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dhelan is just riding it out for now. Pesonen eventually gives up the hold.

Pesonen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dhelan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dhelan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan moves into full guard.
Pesonen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Dhelan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Pesonen connects with a couple of short punches.

Pesonen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dhelan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pesonen has managed to get both his arms back between Dhelan's legs - danger averted.
Pesonen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pesonen wants to control from the top but Dhelan keeps moving.
Pesonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dhelan is keeping the position for now.

Dhelan looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Pesonen has picked Dhelan up and slammed him! Dhelan can't keep hold of the triangle and Pesonen manages to pass to side control!
Dhelan is looking to reverse the position.

Pesonen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan is looking for a sweep.

Pesonen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Dhelan knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Dhelan wants to control but Pesonen postures up.
Jallu Pesonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dhelan is trying to improve his position.
Pesonen trying to control the action but Dhelan is working from the bottom.
Dhelan is trying to improve his position.

Pesonen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dhelan, who protects the arm well.
Dhelan tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pesonen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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.
Pesonen controlling the position.
Dhelan is looking for a sweep.
Dhelan regains half guard.

Dhelan looking for submissions off his back.

Dhelan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pesonen pulls his head out easily.
Pesonen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pesonen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dhelan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pesonen is working away from the top position though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jallu Pesonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pesonen enables Dhelan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pesonen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Pesonen is controlling Dhelan's posture.
Dhelan wants to control from the top but Pesonen keeps moving.
Dhelan looking to pass the guard.
Dhelan passes Pesonen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dhelan looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Dhelan seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pesonen gets back to full guard.
Dhelan throwing strikes from guard but Pesonen blocks nicely.
Dhelan scoring with some ground and pound.
Dhelan slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Dhelan tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dhelan throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pesonen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Dhelan is working for a kimura but Pesonen is defending it quite comfortably.

Dhelan is trying to work for a kimura but Pesonen is defending well.
Pesonen manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Pesonen manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Dhelan has control of Pesonen's left arm, preventing Pesonen from doing any damage.
Dhelan wants to hit a sweep here but Pesonen passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Dhelan there!
Jallu Pesonen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dhelan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pesonen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dhelan is looking to escape.
Dhelan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Zhan Dhelan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhelan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pesonen keeping full guard, as Dhelan tries to pass.
Pesonen has Dhelan pulled in close to control his posture.
Dhelan stopping the sweep attempt from Pesonen.

Dhelan drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pesonen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dhelan has Pesonen in his guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Zhan Dhelan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pesonen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jallu Pesonen!
Jallu Pesonen managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing, into his post fight interview.