PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Eric Saari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pyry Perkele (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pyry Perkele is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Eric Saari
vs
Perkele

188 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
18
217 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Eric Saari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pyry Perkele!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saari takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Saari looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Perkele fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Saari has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Perkele shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Saari's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Perkele trying to control the position from guard on top but Saari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Perkele trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Perkele throwing strikes from guard but Saari blocks nicely.
Saari preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Perkele postures up in Saari's guard and throws a big left but Saari blocks it.
Perkele trying to stand up but can't free himself from Saari's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saari keeping moving, preventing Perkele from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele passes into half guard.
Perkele trying to pass the guard but Saari defending well.
Perkele really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Saari. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Perkele thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saari's head.
Perkele wants to free his trapped foot but Saari is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Perkele stalling.
Perkele wants to pass the guard but Saari is defending well.
Well, if Perkele is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Perkele is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Perkele tries to pass to full mount but Saari defends it.

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

Perkele looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Perkele in particular looking to stall.
Perkele trying to mount his opponent but Saari defends it.
Perkele throwing shots but Saari is blocking nicely.
Perkele wants to pass to mount but Saari is defending the position.
Perkele performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Perkele stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Perkele gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perkele unloads a knee to the mid-section. Saari lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Perkele manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Perkele has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Saari uses from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pyry Perkele dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Perkele fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Saari fails with the takedown

and Perkele counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Perkele.
Perkele trying to control but Saari is working from the bottom.

Perkele stands and steps away. Saari gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Saari gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saari has momentary wrist control but Perkele slips an elbow through the middle.

Perkele decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Perkele is trying to trip Saari. He has hold of a leg but Saari is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Perkele persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Perkele controls from within his opponent's guard.
Perkele trying to control but Saari is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Pyry Perkele wasn't active enough on the ground.
Perkele lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pekka Eric Saari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Perkele misses with a body shot.

Perkele forces Saari back against the cage and clinches.

Perkele turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Perkele manages to end up in side control.
Perkele trying to control the action but Saari is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Perkele is trying to ground and pound but Saari uses the momentary lack of control by Perkele to regain half guard.
Perkele is trying to control the action in half guard but Saari is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele trying to control from Saari's half guard. Saari has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Perkele throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Saari works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Perkele thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Perkele must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Perkele postures up in Saari's guard and throws a big left but Saari blocks it.
Saari looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Perkele passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Saari is pushing Perkele's head away, looking to escape. Perkele manages to hold on to the position though.
Perkele has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari is trying to get back to half guard.

Perkele working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Saari wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Perkele trying to control the action but Saari is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Saari wants to control but Perkele postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pyry Perkele 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!

Perkele pushes Saari up against the cage in a clinch.
Saari takes an elbow to the forehead.
Saari takes a shot to the head.
Perkele scores a nice knee to the body.
Perkele manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Perkele lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Perkele controlling the action here.

Perkele stands up from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Perkele pushes Saari up against the cage in a clinch.
Saari is trying to break free.
Perkele is struggling to control the position.

Perkele is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Saari can't fight it off and eventually Perkele manages to take the fight to the floor. Saari looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Perkele drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Perkele jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saari not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Saari keeping moving, preventing Perkele from controlling successfully.
Saari wants to control but Perkele passes easily into half guard.

Perkele seems to be looking for submissions.
Perkele trying to pass the guard but Saari defending well.
Perkele sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Saari defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele misses with a head shot. Saari uses the momentum to regain guard.
Perkele throws a strike but Saari rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Saari lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Saari pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Perkele is keeping the position for now.
Saari wants to stand but Perkele is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saari trying to control but Perkele is working from the bottom.
Pyry Perkele has got the better of the ground game so far.
Perkele pulls Saari in close to his closed guard and prevents Saari from doing any damage or advancing position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perkele manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

And that's the end of the fight!
Pyry Perkele comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Perkele 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pyry Perkele!
Pyry Perkele bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.