PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ari Katajamaki (ranked 4772 p4p, 24988 weight class) and Boo Boo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Katajamaki
vs
Boo

162 cm
18
135
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
25
137
0 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ari Katajamaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Boo Boo!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Katajamaki.
Katajamaki misses with a takedown
enabling Boo to counter with a crisp jab.

Boo clinches up with Katajamaki and pushes him back against the cage.
Boo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Katajamaki prevents it.

Boo pulls guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Boo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Katajamaki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Katajamaki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Katajamaki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Boo's head.
Katajamaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Boo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Katajamaki 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.
Katajamaki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Katajamaki distracts Boo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Katajamaki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katajamaki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Katajamaki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Katajamaki with a nice head shot there.
Katajamaki cracks Boo with a solid left hand.
Katajamaki connects with a couple of short punches.
Katajamaki working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Katajamaki.
Boo looking to control.
Katajamaki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Katajamaki landing with the ground and pound.
Boo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Katajamaki working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Katajamaki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Boo's head.
Katajamaki stands up over Boo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Katajamaki lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Katajamaki scoring with some ground and pound.
Katajamaki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Katajamaki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Katajamaki lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Katajamaki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Katajamaki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Katajamaki working some strikes from top position.
Katajamaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Boo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Katajamaki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki landing with the ground and pound.
Katajamaki working some strikes from top position.
Katajamaki working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Katajamaki cracks Boo with a solid left hand.
Katajamaki scoring with some ground and pound.
Katajamaki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Katajamaki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Boo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Katajamaki defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Katajamaki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Katajamaki lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki won't allow Boo to sweep him here.
Katajamaki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Boo keeping full guard, as Katajamaki tries to pass.
Katajamaki is in close to Boo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Katajamaki works over Boo with some ground and pound from guard.
Katajamaki throwing strikes from guard but Boo blocks nicely.
Katajamaki throwing strikes but missing.
Katajamaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Katajamaki landing with the ground and pound.
Katajamaki connects with a couple of short punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Katajamaki shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Boo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Katajamaki closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Boo did well to prevent Katajamaki getting side control.
Boo is looking to get back to is feet but Katajamaki passes into side control.
Ari Katajamaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Katajamaki cracks Boo with a big elbow.
Katajamaki connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Boo some visible discomfort.
Katajamaki working the ground and pound from side control.
Katajamaki working the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Katajamaki working the head with strikes.
Katajamaki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Boo can do to turn this around?
Katajamaki looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Boo is avoiding damage well.
Katajamaki lands a decent elbow from side control.
Katajamaki works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katajamaki lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Katajamaki scoring with punches and elbows.
Katajamaki is working Boo over with some ground and pound from side control.
Katajamaki working the body and head with strikes.
Boo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Katajamaki scoring with punches and elbows.
Katajamaki working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Katajamaki lands a nice forearm strike.
Katajamaki cracks Boo with a big right hand but Boo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Katajamaki scores with a couple of short elbows.
Katajamaki grinds an elbow into Boo's temple.
Katajamaki working the ground and pound.
Boo taking a bit of punishment here - Katajamaki scoring with strikes.

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!
Katajamaki is chipping away with strikes.
Katajamaki working the ground and pound.
Katajamaki cracks Boo with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Boo is looking for a sweep.
Katajamaki working the head with strikes.
Katajamaki connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Boo some visible discomfort.
Katajamaki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Boo down.
Boo on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Katajamaki is looking to take a break and control but Boo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki working the body and head with strikes.
Katajamaki in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Katajamaki working the ground and pound.
Katajamaki grinds an elbow into Boo's temple.
Boo is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Katajamaki cracks Boo with a big elbow.
Katajamaki lands some shots froms side control.
Katajamaki lands a nice forearm strike.
Katajamaki works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Boo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Katajamaki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Check out the look on Katajamaki's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Katajamaki working the body and head with strikes.
Katajamaki cracks Boo with a big right hand but Boo just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Katajamaki lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Boo down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Katajamaki advances to full mount.
Katajamaki cracks Boo with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Katajamaki with good strikes from the mount here!
Katajamaki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Katajamaki is landing with some decent strikes but Boo is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Katajamaki with good strikes from the mount here!
Katajamaki fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Katajamaki with shots to the head and body - Boo looks very uncomfortable down there.
Katajamaki punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Boo tries to lock up and control but Katajamaki gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Katajamaki dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Katajamaki tries to close the distance and clinch but Boo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Katajamaki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Boo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Katajamaki.
Boo shoots in looking for a takedown but Katajamaki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Boo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Boo connects with a crisp jab.
Katajamaki shoots and misses
and Boo counters with a series of strikes. Katajamaki will be more careful next time no doubt.
Katajamaki dives in for a single leg takedown but Boo sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Katajamaki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Boo is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Katajamaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Katajamaki.
Katajamaki is looking to take this one to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katajamaki drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Boo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Katajamaki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boo looking for a takedown.
The referee is keeping an eye on Boo - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Katajamaki is looking for a takedown.
Katajamaki looking for a takedown.
Katajamaki is looking to take this one to the mat.
Katajamaki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Boo blocks an uppercut.
Katajamaki is working for takedown but Boo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Boo taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Boo breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Boo pushes Katajamaki up against the cage in a clinch.
Katajamaki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Boo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Boo Boo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Katajamaki shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Katajamaki was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Katajamaki throws an elbow but Boo slips to the side and avoids it well.
Katajamaki working the ground and pound.
Boo on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Boo taking a bit of punishment here - Katajamaki scoring with strikes.
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!
Katajamaki working the head and body with strikes.
Katajamaki looks up at the clock and then as Boo takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Katajamaki smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Katajamaki scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boo is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Katajamaki working the ground and pound.
Boo taking punishment in the form of punches.
An elbow from Katajamaki crashes against the mat.
Ari Katajamaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Katajamaki remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Katajamaki's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Katajamaki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Katajamaki is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Boo will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Boo is not content to let Katajamaki control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ari Katajamaki.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Katajamaki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Katajamaki!