PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Pittana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Larichkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pittana
vs
Larichkin

185 cm
20
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
172 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Pittana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pavel Larichkin!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Larichkin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Larichkin lands in his opponent's guard.
Larichkin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pittana wants to get back to his feet but Larichkin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pittana looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Larichkin is standing up over Pittana. Pittana looks to escape but Larichkin dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pittana wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The strikes coming from Larichkin are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Larichkin trying to control the position but Pittana is working away.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Larichkin scores with a takedown into Pittana's guard.
Larichkin postures up in Pittana's guard and throws a big left but Pittana blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larichkin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Larichkin won't allow Pittana to sweep him here.
Larichkin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pittana looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Larichkin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Larichkin looks gassed!
Pittana wants to sweep but no luck.
Larichkin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pittana. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Larichkin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Larichkin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Larichkin wants to control but Pittana is keeping him busy.
Pittana wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Larichkin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pittana sees it coming and defends easily.

Larichkin wants to work for an arm triangle but Pittana is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Larichkin is trying to work for a kimura but Pittana is defending well.
Larichkin lands with a punch from half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pittana throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Larichkin.
A slapping body kick lands there for Pittana.
Pittana fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larichkin keeps the fight on the outside.

Larichkin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pittana wants to improve his position but Larichkin is controlling well.
Larichkin moves nicely into side control.
Pittana prevents Larichkin from improving position.
Pittana tries to buck Larichkin off but Larichkin is having none of it.

Larichkin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pittana is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Larichkin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pittana is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Larichkin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Larichkin wants to control for a moment but Pittana uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Larichkin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Larichkin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Larichkin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pittana but Pittana pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Larichkin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pittana circles away.
Pittana with a poor takedown

and Larichkin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pittana wants to get back to his feet.

Larichkin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pittana sees it coming and defends easily.
Pittana is trying to maintain the position but Larichkin is very close to passing his half guard.
Larichkin stops Pittana from getting back to his feet.
Pittana on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Larichkin in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pittana wants to control but Larichkin is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pittana regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Larichkin.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pittana moves out of range of the body kick from Larichkin.
Pittana misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Larichkin blocks a head kick by Pittana.

Larichkin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pittana is trying to maintain the position but Larichkin is very close to passing his half guard.

Larichkin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pittana is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larichkin is trying to control the action in half guard but Pittana is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pittana is looking to get back to full guard here but Larichkin has managed to pass to side control instead.
Pittana is looking to improve his position but Larichkin isn't that keen on the idea.
Larichkin cracks Pittana with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Larichkin is landing with some decent strikes but Pittana is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Larichkin is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Pittana is surviving well by controlling Larichkin's body position as best he can.

Larichkin is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Pittana shoots and misses

so Larichkin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Larichkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Pittana is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larichkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pittana swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Larichkin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Larichkin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pittana tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Larichkin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pittana manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Larichkin manages to get himself to full guard.

Larichkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Pittana gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Larichkin controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Larichkin working a defensive guard here.
Pittana working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Larichkin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Larichkin pulls Pittana in close to prevent any damage.
Pittana wants to stand but Larichkin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Larichkin lands a two punch combo.
Larichkin circles away from the clinch attempt

and Larichkin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pavel Larichkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pittana.
Crunch! Pittana slams his shin into Larichkin's torso.
Pittana looks to clinch
and Larichkin makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Pittana tries to clinch but Larichkin moves out of range.
Pittana is looking to slow Larichkin down with leg kicks.
Pittana throws a head kick that misses.

Larichkin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pittana regains half guard.

Larichkin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Larichkin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pittana defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pittana is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larichkin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Pavel Larichkin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Larichkin passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Pittana!
Pittana wants to hold on but Larichkin pushes him away.

Pittana defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Larichkin.
Larichkin landing shots from mount.
Pittana is in all sorts of trouble here.
Larichkin cracks Pittana with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pittana is in a horrible position here. Larichkin smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Larichkin is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Pittana can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Larichkin with shots to the head and body - Pittana looks very uncomfortable down there.
Larichkin prevents Pittana from getting the reversal.
Pittana wants to get back to his feet.

Larichkin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
BOOM! Larichkin connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pittana is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Larichkin has taken his back!
Larichkin lands a shot to the head.
Pittana breaks Larichkin's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Pittana wants to stand but Larichkin is controlling his posture from full guard.
Larichkin is looking to stand up but Pittana isn't so interested in that idea.
Larichkin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Larichkin lands a big elbow.

Larichkin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Larichkin prevents Pittana from getting the reversal.
Pittana really wants to buck Larichkin off and get back to his feet.
Larichkin is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Alex Pittana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pittana is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Pittana is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pavel Larichkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Larichkin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavel Larichkin!