PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Honjou Moriaki (ranked 5829 p4p, 3829 weight class) and Jantte Pekkis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Jantte Pekkis enters the cage!

Moriaki
vs
Pekkis

189 cm
19
194
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
180
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Honjou Moriaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jantte Pekkis!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Ryoma Takatsuka and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Moriaki shoots in and drives through. Pekkis sprawls well.
And Pekkis tries to counter it with a takedown but Moriaki pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Moriaki seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Pekkis drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Moriaki wants to control but Pekkis postures up.
Moriaki tries to improve position but can't.

Pekkis is trying to get an arm triangle but Moriaki is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moriaki is looking to reverse the position.
Pekkis controlling the position from side mount.

Pekkis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Moriaki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moriaki manages to work his way to half guard, despite Pekkis's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pekkis decides to return to a standing position.
Moriaki shoots and misses

and Pekkis counters with a single leg into guard. Moriaki didn't expect that.

Pekkis wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Moriaki's closed guard. He's half up but Moriaki has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Moriaki pivots and extends the arm, Pekkis falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Moriaki! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Honjou Moriaki!
During a confident post fight interview, Honjou Moriaki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.