PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steven Petersen (ranked 2781 p4p, 20910 weight class) and Mate Orsic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Orsic's choice of entrance music: KRS One - Rappaz R. N. Dainja. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Petersen
vs
Orsic

177 cm
39
165
16 - 13 - 0

185 cm
31
162
9 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite 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 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steven Petersen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mate Orsic!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Orsic with a poor takedown
and Petersen counters with a straight right hand.
Orsic misses with a few strikes there.
Petersen appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Orsic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Petersen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Orsic.
Petersen misses with a straight left.
Petersen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Orsic checks a low kick from Petersen.
Orsic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Petersen.
Petersen has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Petersen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Orsic doesn't seem bothered though.
Petersen blocks a jab.
Orsic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Petersen manages to avoid it.
Petersen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Petersen cracks Orsic with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Orsic lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

Orsic manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Petersen on his heels. He'll look to pass Petersen's guard now, I'm sure.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Petersen holds on and takes a little breather.
Orsic stays in close to Petersen's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Orsic is one step ahead there.
Orsic stays in close to Petersen's body and controls the position.
Orsic trying to control but Petersen is working from the bottom.
Petersen being controlled here, momentarily.
Petersen pulls Orsic in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Orsic looks to throw the jab but Petersen is out of range.
Orsic throws a series of punches but Petersen avoids them all with ease.
Petersen misses with a hook. Orsic ducked under it nicely.
Orsic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Orsic misses the jab.
Petersen connects with a right hand. Orsic shakes it off.
Orsic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A countering left hand to the body from Orsic misses.
Petersen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Petersen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Petersen with the inside leg kick.
Petersen looks to land a left hand but Orsic moved out of range nicely.
Petersen scores with a shot to the body.
Petersen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Petersen misses with a body shot.
Petersen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Orsic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Petersen moves away.
Petersen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Mate Orsic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petersen with a nice calf kick.
Orsic blocks a head kick by Petersen.
Orsic waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Petersen.
Orsic misses with a hook to the body
and Petersen counters with a stiff right hand.
Orsic throws a good cross that connects.
Petersen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Petersen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Steven Petersen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Orsic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Petersen throws out the jab.
Orsic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Petersen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Petersen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Orsic defending well as Petersen loads up on a big left hand.
Petersen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A big right from Orsic misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Petersen misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orsic throws a looping overhand right but Petersen ducks down to avoid it.
Jab from Petersen.
Petersen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Orsic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Petersen moves away.
Orsic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Petersen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Orsic.
A counter left hand to the body from Petersen misses its target.
Orsic misses with a lunging right hand
and Petersen counters with a stiff right hand.
Petersen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Orsic.
Orsic swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Petersen misses with a straight left.
Orsic misses with a straight right.
Petersen lands a nice hook to Orsic's body. Orsic takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Orsic throws the left hand but Petersen avoids the punch easily.
Petersen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A jab from Petersen finds it's way through Orsic's defenses.
Petersen lands a slapping body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Orsic shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Petersen as he jumps to the side.
Orsic swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Petersen to counter with a crisp jab.
Orsic misses with the combination.
Petersen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Orsic on the side of the head.
Petersen misses with a looping right.
Petersen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Orsic can do to turn this around?
Petersen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Orsic moves away from the strike by Petersen.
Orsic throws a looping overhand right but Petersen ducks down to avoid it.
Petersen appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petersen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Petersen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Orsic throws a hook to the side of Petersen's head but Petersen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Petersen with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orsic on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Orsic takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Orsic fails with a takedown attempt.
Steven Petersen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mate Orsic.
Petersen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Petersen wants it to stay on the feet.
Petersen connects with a body shot.
Petersen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Petersen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Petersen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Orsic.
Orsic rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Petersen counter with a right hand.
Orsic takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Petersen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Orsic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Petersen circles away quickly and effectively.
An attempted straight right counter from Petersen misses the target.
Orsic misses with an uppercut
and Orsic takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Orsic takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Orsic throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petersen lands with a good body shot.
Petersen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Orsic avoids the body shot from Petersen.
Orsic checks the leg kick nicely there.
A slow jab from Petersen misses its intended target.
Petersen tries a low kick but Orsic avoids it.
Orsic tries to clinch up.
Steven Petersen is winning the standup battle so far.
Orsic works Petersen's body with a nice hook.
Petersen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Petersen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Petersen stuns Orsic with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Petersen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Orsic moves away.
It seemed like Orsic was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A telegraphed right hand from Orsic misses the target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Petersen. Orsic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Orsic changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Orsic takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petersen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Petersen misses with a few strikes there.
Orsic misses with a hook
and Petersen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Petersen ducks under a wild hook from Orsic.
Petersen throws a low kick but Orsic avoids it.
Petersen throws a leg kick but Orsic sees it coming and moves out of range.
Petersen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Petersen throws a hook but Orsic avoids it easily.
Good exchange - Petersen coming out on top.
Orsic blocks a jab.
Orsic fails to land with a series of punches.
Orsic rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Petersen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As Orsic backs away, Petersen returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Petersen throws a hook to the side of Orsic's head but Orsic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Petersen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Orsic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petersen swings for the body but Orsic moves out of range.
Orsic swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Orsic ducks under a wild hook from Petersen.
Orsic moves out of range as Petersen strikes.
Orsic is looking to clinch.
Orsic lands a glancing blow to the side of Petersen's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petersen throws a hook to the side of Orsic's head but Orsic sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Petersen scores with the left hand. Orsic knows he should have avoided that one.
Orsic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Petersen throws a head kick that Orsic semi-blocks.
Orsic dodges the punch combination from Petersen.
Petersen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Petersen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Orsic swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Orsic takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Orsic takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Steven Petersen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Petersen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Petersen lunges at Orsic with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Orsic's hand.
Orsic takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Orsic keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Orsic staying out of range there.
Orsic throws a body punch but Petersen moves out of range.
Nice cross by Petersen.
Petersen moves out of range as Orsic strikes.
Orsic on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Orsic swings away with a body shot that misses
and Petersen counters with a big head kick but Orsic shrugs it off.
Orsic rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Petersen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Orsic throws a hook to the side of Petersen's head but Petersen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Petersen was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Petersen scoring well with a low kick there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Orsic pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Orsic scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Orsic is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petersen is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Orsic is thwarting Petersen's attempts to control the position.
Orsic wants to control but Petersen is keeping him busy.

Orsic seems to be working for a kimura but Petersen defends the submission attempt.
Petersen wants to control but Orsic is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Orsic is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Petersen!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Orsic can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Petersen is looking to escape.
Petersen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Petersen is working hard here to advance position.
Petersen tries to hold on but Orsic pushes him away.
Petersen stops Orsic from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Petersen tries to hold on but Orsic pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orsic looking to control and managing it successfully.
Orsic takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.
You can see the frustration on Petersen's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Orsic tries to keep control of the position but Petersen is staying busy.
Mate Orsic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mate Orsic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Orsic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Petersen haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Orsic controlling the position well here. Petersen rolled but Orsic kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Petersen tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Steven Petersen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petersen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Petersen tries to hold on but Orsic postures up.
Petersen tries to reverse the position but Orsic maintains control.
Petersen wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Orsic.
Petersen is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Orsic content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mate Orsic.
I think Petersen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Petersen!
A less than humble Steven Petersen misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.