PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jani Pekkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cale Sheas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jani Pekkanen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pekkanen
vs
Sheas

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jani Pekkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cale Sheas!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pekkanen lands with a nice combination. Sheas backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Cale Sheas has been cut.
No joy there for Pekkanen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sheas swats away the attempt to clinch by Pekkanen.

Sheas scores with a takedown into Pekkanen's guard.
Pekkanen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sheas controls the pace.
Sheas stands and throws Pekkanen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pekkanen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Sheas throwing shots but Pekkanen is blocking nicely.
Sheas is keen to just control but Pekkanen is a slippery customer.
Still in half guard, Sheas seems content to control.
Pekkanen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Pekkanen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkanen prevents Sheas from getting the reversal.
Pekkanen avoids the attempt from Sheas to control.
Sheas looks gassed!
Sheas is in a horrible position here. Pekkanen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sheas is squirming around, avoiding Pekkanen's attempts to control the action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pekkanen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Pekkanen landing strikes from the mount.
Sheas really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pekkanen is landing with some decent strikes but Sheas is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekkanen with good strikes from the mount here!

Sheas is rocked!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Pekkanen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Sheas is still in real trouble! Can Pekkanen finish him?
Sheas keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pekkanen tries to control but Sheas wriggling away.
Pekkanen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pekkanen avoids the attempt from Sheas to control.
Sheas seems to have recovered his senses.
Sheas is trying to keep from getting into a worse position than he's already in but Sheas is working away and isn't letting himself get tied up.
Pekkanen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Sheas is looking to improve his position but Pekkanen isn't that keen on the idea.
Sheas tries to lock up and control but Pekkanen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Sheas is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheas wants to control but Pekkanen is having none of it.
Sheas is trying to escape the mount.
Sheas slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Sheas is trying to get back to full guard.
Pekkanen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Sheas does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pekkanen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Sheas tries to get to full guard but Pekkanen has control of the leg.
Pekkanen is keen to just control but Sheas is a slippery customer.
Sheas is looking to control Pekkanen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sheas avoid being mounted?
Sheas is looking to get back to full guard here but Pekkanen has managed to pass to side control instead.
Pekkanen landing strikes from the mount and Sheas is in trouble!
Pekkanen wants to control the pace but Sheas is squirming around nicely.
Pekkanen lands with some strikes.
Pekkanen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sheas hang on?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pekkanen breaks from Sheas's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pekkanen cracks Sheas with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Sheas is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pekkanen landing strikes from the mount and Sheas is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jani Pekkanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cale Sheas's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Sheas pushes Pekkanen up against the cage in a clinch.

Pekkanen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Sheas.
Pekkanen has his takedown stuffed

and Sheas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pekkanen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sheas trying to control but Pekkanen is working from the bottom.
Pekkanen wants to sweep but no luck.
Sheas trying to control the position from guard on top but Pekkanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sheas forces his way into half guard.

Sheas stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Pekkanen to get to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sheas closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Pekkanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkanen shoots in looking for a takedown. Sheas tries to sprawl out of it but Pekkanen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sheas manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pekkanen has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jani Pekkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sheas drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pekkanen controls Sheas momentarily but Sheas frees himself.
Sheas trying to control but Pekkanen is working from the bottom.

Pekkanen pushes Sheas off and gets back to his feet.
Pekkanen closes the distance looking to clinch

and Sheas counters with a shoot takedown. Pekkanen fights it but they end up in guard.
Sheas wants to stand but Pekkanen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sheas preventing the sweep.
Pekkanen 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheas controlling from the top position.
Pekkanen lands some strikes from the bottom.
Pekkanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pekkanen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sheas!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pekkanen looking to finish Sheas with some ground and pound. This is bad for Sheas!
Sheas manages to control the position for a moment.
Sheas wants to control but Pekkanen is having none of it.
BOOM! Pekkanen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sheas really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Pekkanen.
BOOM! Pekkanen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sheas tries to lock up and control but Pekkanen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pekkanen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Sheas wants to hold on but Pekkanen pushes him away.
Sheas holds on for dear life, controlling Pekkanen's posture momentarily.
BOOM! Pekkanen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sheas working to try and regain half guard.
Pekkanen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Sheas is bucking up trying to escape but Pekkanen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
A nice elbow there by Pekkanen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pekkanen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pekkanen landing strikes from the mount.
Sheas wants to hold on but Pekkanen pushes him away.
Pekkanen controlling from the full mount.
Sheas is looking to improve his position but Pekkanen isn't that keen on the idea.
Sheas wants to hold on but Pekkanen pushes him away.
Pekkanen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sheas is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pekkanen content just to control the position here.
Sheas in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jani Pekkanen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Cale Sheas's cut.
That's time! Pekkanen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sheas moves away from the strike by Pekkanen.
Jani Pekkanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pekkanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pekkanen tries to clinch but Sheas moves away
and Sheas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sheas keeps the fight on the outside.
Pekkanen looks for the body kick but Sheas saw that one coming.
No luck for Pekkanen with that takedown attempt.
Pekkanen shoots in for a double leg but Sheas sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pekkanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Sheas circles away.
Pekkanen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Sheas pinned against the cage. Sheas gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jani Pekkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sheas keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Sheas. No joy for Pekkanen on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sheas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pekkanen looks to land a body kick but Sheas moved away.
Pekkanen throws a body punch but Sheas moves out of range.
Pekkanen misses the jab.
Pekkanen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sheas tries to avoid it but Pekkanen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sheas to the ground. Sheas escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pekkanen throws a lazy right hand but Sheas sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekkanen tries to clinch but Sheas is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pekkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sheas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pekkanen tries to clinch up but Sheas circles away and keeps his distance.
Pekkanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sheas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pekkanen is looking to clinch but Sheas is avoiding it.
Both fighters circling a little - Sheas finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Pekkanen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pekkanen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Pekkanen clinches up with Sheas and pushes him back against the cage.
Sheas has had enough of the clinch but Pekkanen keeps him there for the moment.
Pekkanen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sheas prevents it.
Sheas lands an elbow inside that Pekkanen shrugs off.
Pekkanen stops a takedown attempt from Sheas.

Sheas decides to pull guard.
Sheas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pekkanen.
Pekkanen is pushing down on Sheas's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sheas is fighting to maintain full guard but Pekkanen has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sheas manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Pekkanen throwing strikes but missing.
Sheas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekkanen is trying to stand up here but Sheas is controlling him well.
Pekkanen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Sheas is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pekkanen landing a few short strikes.
Sheas is trying to control the action in half guard but Pekkanen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sheas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Pekkanen is refusing to be controlled, as Sheas sits in half guard.
Jani Pekkanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sheas perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pekkanen has hold of Sheas's hands but Sheas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheas trying to control the pace.
Pekkanen punching from the bottom.
Sheas slips a nice elbow through Pekkanen's hands, connecting with Pekkanen's forehead.

Sheas is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sheas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Sheas is trying to control the action in half guard but Pekkanen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pekkanen is trying is best to control the position here.
Pekkanen is staying active underneath Sheas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pekkanen gets back to full guard.

Sheas gets to his feet - Pekkanen follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sheas is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sheas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Sheas with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Sheas jumps into guard, dragging Pekkanen to the mat.
Sheas throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Sheas pulls Pekkanen in close to his closed guard and prevents Pekkanen from doing any damage or advancing position.

Sheas throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sheas looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pekkanen is one step ahead there.
Cale Sheas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Sheas escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pekkanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cale Sheas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pekkanen 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jani Pekkanen!