PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paavo Pesu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matti Munakas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pesu has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Matti Munakas will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Pesu
vs
Munakas

180 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Win Nutritional RJ - credibility & best price
Win Nutritional RJ - credibility & best price

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paavo Pesu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Munakas!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pesu.
Pesu is breathing heavily.
Munakas moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Pesu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Munakas swivels and escapes.
A right-left combo lands from Munakas.
Pesu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Munakas lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Munakas clinches up with Pesu and pushes him back against the cage.
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!
Munakas landing knees to the body.

Munakas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Munakas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Munakas tries to close the distance and clinch but Pesu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Munakas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munakas wants to stand but Pesu has his arm trapped.
You can see the frustration on Pesu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pesu prevents Munakas from improving position.
You can see the frustration on Pesu's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Munakas landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pesu taking punishment in the form of punches.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A left and a right from Munakas both land. Nice combination.
Pesu takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
A left and a right from Munakas both land. Nice combination.
Munakas throws a nice head kick!
Munakas doesn't manage to clinch there - Pesu circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munakas throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Munakas scores with a four punch combination!
Munakas cracks the inside of Pesu's front leg.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Munakas lands an elbow that stopped Pesu in his tracks for a moment.

Munakas breaks from the clinch.
Pesu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pesu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paavo Pesu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Munakas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pesu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Munakas plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Munakas.

Munakas closes the distance and clinches.

Munakas pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Munakas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Munakas showed some decent athleticism there.
Munakas stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Munakas dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Munakas throws a head kick that Pesu semi-blocks.
Munakas moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Munakas clinches up against the cage.
Munakas being controlled against the cage.
Munakas lands a body punch in the clinch.
Munakas lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Munakas looking to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A short uppercut from Munakas.
Munakas stalling in the clinch but Pesu improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munakas has Pesu pressed against the cage.
Pesu tries to break the clinch but Munakas is controlling the position.

Munakas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Munakas scores with a head kick.
Munakas scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Munakas tries to clinch but Pesu is having none of it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Munakas - that will leave a mark!
Munakas lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Munakas.
Munakas is looking to clinch but Pesu is avoiding it.
Both fighters circling a little - Munakas finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Paavo Pesu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Munakas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Pesu's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Munakas throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pesu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Munakas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Munakas lands in his opponent's guard.
Munakas sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Munakas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pesu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Munakas has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Pesu is proving hard to escape from.
Munakas is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pesu is trying to hold Munakas in close to prevent damage but Munakas has managed to pass into half guard.
Munakas is trying to control. Pesu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pesu trying to control but Munakas postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Munakas lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pesu with a poor takedown
and Munakas counters with an inside leg kick.
Pesu walks forward, straight into a front kick from Munakas.
Munakas fails with an attempt to clinch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Munakas.
Munakas lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pesu backs up against the cage.

Munakas clinches up with Pesu and pushes him back against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Munakas.
Munakas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Munakas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Munakas lands an elbow inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Munakas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Munakas is trying to stall.
Munakas lands a nice elbow.
A short left from Munakas.
Munakas landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Munakas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Munakas manages to break the clinch.
Munakas lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Munakas is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Munakas tries to clinch up but Pesu circles away and keeps his distance.
A slapping body kick lands there for Munakas.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munakas goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Crunch! Munakas slams his shin into Pesu's torso.
Munakas moves in looking to clinch but Pesu pushes him off.

Munakas closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Munakas lands in his opponent's guard.
Munakas wants to control from the top but Pesu keeps moving.
Munakas tries to stand but Pesu is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Munakas preventing the sweep.
Munakas trying to control but Pesu is working from the bottom.
Pesu trying to keep a closed guard but Munakas is proving a slippery customer.

Pesu had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Munakas is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Pesu Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Munakas's back instead.
Munakas holding both Pesu 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pesu is looking to control Munakas but Munakas is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Munakas has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Munakas staying busy and making it hard for Pesu to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Munakas turns into Pesu and is now in his guard.
Munakas is looking to stand up but Pesu won't let him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Munakas thuds his shin into the meat of Pesu's side.
Munakas connects with a single shot there.
Munakas lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Munakas scores with a body shot.

Munakas closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Munakas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pesu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Munakas counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Munakas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Munakas 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Munakas!