PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Pikkarainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Nate (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pikkarainen comes into the arena with Apocalyptica - Path blaring out of the sound system. Pekka Pikkarainen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pikkarainen
vs
Nate

160 cm
20
149 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
147 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Outkast Clothing Line
Outkast Clothing Line

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pikkarainen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Nate!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pikkarainen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pikkarainen slips under a jab from Nate.
Pikkarainen misses with a series of wild punches.
Nate misses with a two punch combination.
Pikkarainen shoots in for a takedown but Nate shows good takedown defense.

Nate closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nate lands in his opponent's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nate is pushing down on Pikkarainen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pikkarainen is fighting to maintain full guard but Nate has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nate trying to control the action but Pikkarainen is working from the bottom.
Pikkarainen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pikkarainen tries to get out of the position.
Pikkarainen trying to hold on to Nate's head to control him but Nate postures up.
Nate trying to control the action but Pikkarainen is working from the bottom.
Pikkarainen trying to hold on to Nate's head to control him but Nate postures up.
Nate stalling away here and it's allowed Pikkarainen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Nate stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pikkarainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nate pushing down on Pikkarainen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pikkarainen is refusing to be controlled, as Nate sits in half guard.

Nate 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.
Pikkarainen wants to control but Nate is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pikkarainen wants to get back to full guard.

Pikkarainen looking for submissions off his back.

Pikkarainen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Nate pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen is looking for a sweep. Nate is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nate thows a huge punch but Pikkarainen dodges it nicely.
Nate seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pikkarainen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Pikkarainen is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nate tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Pikkarainen.
Nate trying to control from half guard but Pikkarainen is working away.

Pikkarainen looking for submissions off his back.
Nate controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen trying to control but Nate postures up.
Pikkarainen manages to get to full guard.
Pikkarainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pikkarainen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nate manages to get himself to full guard.
Nate is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pikkarainen is controlling him.
Pikkarainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nate is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nate wants to stand but Pikkarainen is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen wants to control from the top but Nate keeps moving.
Nate is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pikkarainen is controlling him.
Nate looks gassed!
Pikkarainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nate works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pikkarainen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pikkarainen looking to pass the guard.
Pikkarainen working some strikes from top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nate wants to stand and escape but Pikkarainen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Liam Nate will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pikkarainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pikkarainen stops Nate from standing up.
Nate keeping moving, preventing Pikkarainen from controlling successfully.
Pikkarainen connects with a couple of short punches.
Pekka Pikkarainen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nate wants to stand but Pikkarainen is controlling the position.

Pikkarainen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pikkarainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nate works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nate is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Pikkarainen is controlling him.

Pikkarainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pikkarainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Nate is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Nate is looking to stand up but Pikkarainen isn't so interested in that idea.
Nate is breathing heavily.
Nate keeping moving, preventing Pikkarainen from controlling successfully.
Pikkarainen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Pikkarainen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pekka Pikkarainen.
Pikkarainen shoots in but no luck this time.

Pikkarainen scores with a takedown into Nate's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pikkarainen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pikkarainen advances to half guard.
Pikkarainen prevents Nate from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nate is defending against the submission attempts here by Pikkarainen.
Nate wants to stand back up but Pikkarainen manages to pass into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Pikkarainen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pikkarainen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nate pushes Pikkarainen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pikkarainen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Pikkarainen in side control lands a decent elbow.

Pikkarainen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pikkarainen is trying to get an arm triangle but Nate is defending well.
Nate bucks up and tries to throw Pikkarainen off but instead Pikkarainen has got his back!

Pikkarainen working for the choke.
Nate is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Pikkarainen is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Nate knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Nate for a finish.
Nate trying to get back to his feet but Pikkarainen is in full control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nate staying busy and making it hard for Pikkarainen to control.
Nate trying to get back to his feet but Pikkarainen is in full control for now.
Nate looking very determined here, making life difficult for Pikkarainen.
Nate has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Pikkarainen has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
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!
Pikkarainen loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Nate hold on?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pikkarainen tries to get the hooks in deep but Nate pushed the leg off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pikkarainen dominated that second round.
That's time! Pikkarainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pikkarainen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pikkarainen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Nate throws a right and a left that Pikkarainen avoids nicely.

Nate decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Pikkarainen wants to get back to full guard.

Nate is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pikkarainen defends it well.
Nate performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Pikkarainen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pikkarainen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pikkarainen.

Nate decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pikkarainen, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen fails with a takedown attempt.
Nate takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pikkarainen fails to land with a series of punches.
Nate shoots in for a double leg but Pikkarainen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pikkarainen throws a series of punches but Nate moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Nate or perhaps it was just good defense by Pikkarainen which made him look bad.
Pikkarainen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Pikkarainen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nate is trying to escape back to his feet but Pikkarainen uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Nate is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Pikkarainen has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Pikkarainen is looking to take a break and control but Nate is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nate is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Pikkarainen asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen slows the pace down.
Pikkarainen in side control lands a decent elbow.

Nate sneaks out the side door and pushes Pikkarainen away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
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!
Pikkarainen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pikkarainen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nate swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nate.
Pekka Pikkarainen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Liam Nate.
Nate slips a straight right by Pikkarainen.
Pikkarainen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nate defends it nicely.

Pikkarainen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nate's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen wants to control from the top but Nate keeps moving.
Pikkarainen is stalling in the full guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Nate is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Pekka Pikkarainen.
Nate lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pikkarainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pikkarainen won't allow Nate to get back to his feet.
Pikkarainen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nate wants to get back to his feet but Pikkarainen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pikkarainen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pikkarainen won't allow Nate to get back to his feet.
Nate wants to get back to his feet but Pikkarainen passes into half guard.

Pikkarainen 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nate is staying active underneath Pikkarainen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Pikkarainen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pikkarainen 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Pikkarainen!
Pekka Pikkarainen is the new featherweight champion!
An out of breath and clearly excited Pekka Pikkarainen thanked Outkast Clothing Line for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).