PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Billabong (ranked 185 p4p, 432 weight class) and Ispa Perkele (ranked 30 p4p, 64 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Billabong
vs
Perkele

171 cm
28
155
20 - 7 - 2

179 cm
32
165
27 - 14 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Brooklyn Threads
Brooklyn Apothecary

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 20 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Billabong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 14 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ispa Perkele!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perkele throws a lazy head kick
and Billabong counters with a left to the body.
Billabong misses with a straight left.
Perkele is looking to slow Billabong down with leg kicks.
Billabong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Perkele.
Billabong staying out of range there.
Perkele displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Billabong throws out the jab.
Perkele misses the jab.
Perkele swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Billabong connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Perkele has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Billabong throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Perkele takes a swing at Billabong's ribcage but misses.
Perkele on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Billabong looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Perkele throws a lazy uppercut
and Billabong counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Perkele throws a hook but Billabong avoids it easily.
Perkele jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A punch lands to the side of Billabong 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Perkele. Billabong does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele misses with a low kick.
Billabong shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Perkele but Perkele pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Billabong connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Perkele moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Perkele.
Billabong lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Billabong takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Billabong throws a body punch but Perkele moves out of range.
Billabong misses with an uppercut
letting Perkele counter with a right hand.
Perkele lands with a shot to the body.
Perkele rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Billabong counter with a right hand.
Perkele blocks a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Billabong throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Perkele misses with a shot to the body
and Billabong counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billabong misses with an uppercut. Perkele saw that one coming.
Billabong scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Perkele doesn't seem bothered though.
Billabong staying out of range there.
Perkele looks to land a right hand but Billabong moved out of range.
Billabong lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Perkele circles away quickly and effectively.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Billabong.
A swing and a miss from Perkele.
Perkele swings widly with a right hand
and Billabong counters with a nice uppercut.
Billabong throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Perkele counters with a nice uppercut.
Perkele fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Billabong has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ispa Perkele is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Billabong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Perkele manages to avoid it.
The fighters circle momentarily. Billabong darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Perkele.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Billabong.
Perkele throws out a counter right but Billabong avoids it with no problem.

Billabong drives through with a takedown into Perkele's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele pulls Billabong in close to prevent any damage.
Perkele looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Perkele holds on and takes a little breather.
Perkele trying to keep a closed guard but Billabong is proving a slippery customer.
Billabong with a flurry of punches that miss.
Billabong not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Billabong won't allow Perkele to get back to his feet.
Perkele pulls Billabong in close to prevent any damage.
Perkele trying to keep a closed guard but Billabong is proving a slippery customer.

Perkele pushes Billabong off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Billabong does no damage.
Perkele misses with a body shot.
Perkele misses with a leg kick.
Billabong attempts a counter takedown but Perkele avoids it well and moves away.
Perkele scores with a nice head shot.
A leg kick checked by Billabong.
Billabong misses the shot to the body.
Billabong lands a jab to the nose.
Billabong connects with a crisp jab.
Perkele misses with a straight right.
Billabong blocks a low kick nicely.
Billabong misses with a jab, cross combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Billabong tests Perkele's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Perkele throws a body shot but no joy.
Perkele ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Billabong closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Billabong lands in his opponent's guard.

Perkele is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Johnny Billabong will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Billabong digs a good body shot into Perkele's ribs.
Billabong getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Perkele thumps Billabong with a low kick.
Perkele throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Billabong counters with a stiff right hand.
Billabong throws a jab when Perkele was well out of range.
Perkele walks into a straight right hand from Billabong.
Perkele misses with a hook.
An attempted straight right counter from Billabong misses the target.
Donk. Billabong catches Perkele right on the button with a cross.
Perkele ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Perkele ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Perkele tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Billabong is able to avoid easily.
A combination from Perkele does no damage.
Billabong throws a left and a right that both miss
and Perkele counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Perkele throws a right hand that misses
and Billabong counters with a stiff right hand.
Perkele throws a right hand that misses
letting Billabong counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billabong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Perkele throws out the jab.
Billabong walks into a jab.
Johnny Billabong is winning the standup battle so far.
Billabong keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Billabong.
Perkele drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Perkele misses with a wild body shot.
Billabong swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Billabong throws an overhand right that lands on Perkele's shoulder, as Perkele tries to avoid the shot.
Billabong uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Perkele.
Perkele tries to land a leg kick but Billabong saw it coming and moves away.
A shot to the body from Perkele misses
and Billabong counters with a straight right hand.
Perkele misses with a body shot
and Billabong makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Perkele scores with a hook.
Billabong checks the leg kick nicely there.
Billabong on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Perkele throws a leg kick

and Billabong counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Billabong postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Perkele wants to stand up but Billabong is controlling him.
Billabong with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Perkele is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Billabong wants to control from the top but Perkele keeps moving.
Billabong won't allow Perkele to sweep him here.
Billabong postures up.
Perkele wants to get back to his feet but Billabong is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Perkele controls Billabong momentarily but Billabong frees himself.
Perkele is looking to stand up but Billabong isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Perkele controls Billabong momentarily but Billabong frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Billabong scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Billabong is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Perkele tries to work over Billabong's front leg with a kick but Billabong checks it.
Billabong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Perkele manages to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Perkele.
A big right from Billabong misses.
Perkele tests Billabong's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Billabong throws the left hand but Perkele avoids the punch easily.
Perkele is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Billabong.
The fighters circling - Billabong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A little jabbing left from Perkele on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Billabong throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Billabong fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele misses with a hook. Billabong ducked under it nicely.
Billabong slips a straight right by Perkele.
Perkele misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Billabong to counter with a crisp jab.
Perkele swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Billabong decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Billabong stops Perkele from getting back to his feet.
Perkele is trying to get back to full guard.
Perkele is looking to control Billabong's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Perkele avoid being mounted?
Perkele pushes Billabong off looking to stand but Billabong dives back in and keeps control.
Billabong scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Perkele is pressing down on Billabong's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Perkele is looking to stand up but Billabong isn't so interested in that idea.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Billabong dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Billabong takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Billabong throws an off balance right hand
and Perkele counters with a nice low kick that buckles Billabong's knee momentarily.
Perkele misses with a hook.
A shot to the liver by Perkele. Beautiful body shot.
Billabong keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Perkele.
Billabong drops down looking for a counter takedown but Perkele sprawls and moves away.
Billabong scores with a hook.
Billabong scores with a shot to the body.
Billabong is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Perkele connects with a solid leg kick.
Perkele misses with a straight right.
Billabong swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Billabong throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Perkele sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Perkele tries a quick counter leg kick but Billabong is wise to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perkele blocks a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Perkele! But no joy.
Perkele misses with a hook.
Billabong moves out of range as Perkele throws a body kick.
Perkele tries to move into range but Billabong moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Perkele throws a looping overhand right but Billabong ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billabong lands with a hook. Perkele tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Perkele misses with a lunging right hand
and Billabong counters with a stiff right hand.
Billabong ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Billabong lands a really nice looking cross but Perkele seems unphased.
Billabong is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Perkele throws a body shot but no joy.
A counter left hand to the body from Billabong misses its target.
Perkele misses with a wild body shot.
Billabong lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Perkele at a distance.
Billabong lands with an uppercut that bounces Perkele off the cage and back into range.
A slow jab from Perkele misses its intended target.
Perkele slips a straight right by Billabong.
Perkele avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Perkele connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Billabong throws a jab but it's blocked by Perkele.
Perkele swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Billabong misses
and Perkele cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Perkele misses the target.
Billabong misses with a lunging right hand
and Perkele counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Perkele on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Billabong lands with a nice body punch.
Perkele works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Perkele misses with a looping left.
Perkele misses with a looping left.
Perkele has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Billabong swings for the body but Perkele moves out of range.
Good standup being displayed there by Billabong as he connects with a hook.
Perkele wants to land a leg kick but Billabong is out of range.
Billabong thows a left - swing and a miss!
Perkele tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Billabong was well out of range. Poor timing from Perkele.
Billabong throws a sloppy body shot
and Perkele counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billabong getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Perkele throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Perkele fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Billabong manages to avoid it.
Billabong walks forward, straight into a front kick from Perkele.
Billabong looks to land a right hand but Perkele moved out of range.
Perkele has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Billabong finds it's way round the side to connect with Perkele's head.
Perkele goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Johnny Billabong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Perkele looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Billabong throws a body shot but no joy.
Billabong throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Perkele cracks Billabong with a good jab.
Perkele moves out of range as Billabong strikes.
Perkele throws a hook but Billabong blocks it.
Perkele displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Billabong throws out the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billabong staying out of range there.
Billabong is looking to counter punch.
Perkele ducks under a wild hook from Billabong.
Billabong jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Billabong swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Perkele.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Left hook, right uppercut from Perkele.
Billabong misses with a straight left.

Perkele gets caught flat footed, as Billabong shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Johnny Billabong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Billabong controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Perkele is wriggling around but Billabong manages to pass to half guard.
Ispa Perkele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Perkele is positioning himself well to prevent Billabong advancing to mount.

Billabong seems to be looking for submissions.

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 Johnny Billabong.
Well Billabong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Billabong!
Johnny Billabong decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
Ispa Perkele was interviewed post fight and said 'Back to the gym I guess.'.