PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arvo Pentti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pasko Nusciva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pentti comes to the cage accompanied by Julma-Henri & Syrjäytyneet - Oulu-Helsinki . Nusciva is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Lionel Richie - Hello. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pentti
vs
Nusciva

184 cm
23
197 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

192 cm
22
199 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arvo Pentti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pasko Nusciva!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Pentti. No joy for Nusciva on that attempt.
Nice body kick there by Pentti.
Pentti blocks a head kick by Nusciva.
Nusciva's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pentti connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Nusciva scrambles back to his feet.
Pentti throws a head kick but Nusciva moves out of range.

Nusciva moves into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Pentti fails to land.

Nusciva jumps guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Pentti throwing strikes but missing.

Nusciva looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Pentti has picked Nusciva up and slammed him! Nusciva can't keep hold of the triangle and Pentti manages to pass to side control!
Nusciva tries to buck Pentti off but Pentti is having none of it.

Pentti is trying to get an arm triangle but Nusciva is defending well.
Nusciva wants to get back to his feet but Pentti is dominant here and he's now got Nusciva's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nusciva is keeping busy.
Nusciva trying to control but not successfully.

Nusciva is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
I really don't envy Nusciva right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pentti is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Pentti is not going to allow Nusciva to sit and survive in this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pentti trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Nusciva trying to control the hands but Pentti won't let him.

Pentti working for the choke.
Pentti is hanging on to Nusciva's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pentti doesn't have the hooks in and Nusciva manages to turn into his guard.
Pentti keeping moving, preventing Nusciva from controlling successfully.
Pentti wants to get back to his feet but Nusciva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nusciva throwing strikes but missing.
Nusciva sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pentti's guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nusciva lands a nice short elbow.
Nusciva stops Pentti from getting back to his feet.
Nusciva is keen to just control but Pentti is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nusciva is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pentti doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nusciva.
Pentti is looking to improve his position.
Pentti gets back to full guard.
Pentti avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pentti wants to stand up but Nusciva is controlling him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pentti keeping moving, preventing Nusciva from controlling successfully.
Nusciva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pentti is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pasko Nusciva will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pentti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nusciva with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pentti to score with a decent uppercut.
Pentti avoids the body shot from Nusciva.
Pentti jabs Nusciva to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Nusciva displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pentti throws out the jab.
Pentti throws a sloppy head kick and Nusciva moves out of range easily.
Pentti throws a jab but it's blocked by Nusciva.
Pentti throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nusciva.
Nusciva throws a hook but Pentti avoids it easily.
Pentti misses with a head kick.
A big right from Nusciva misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nusciva is defended easily by Pentti.
Arvo Pentti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nusciva ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Nusciva, right into the meat.
Pentti tries a head kick but it misses.
Pentti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Nusciva paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nusciva fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Pentti as Nusciva shoots in.
Pentti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Pentti with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pentti cracks Nusciva with an open hand slap.
Pentti plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Pentti defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Nusciva.
Arvo Pentti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pasko Nusciva.
Nusciva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pentti tries to avoid it but Nusciva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pentti to the ground. Pentti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Arvo Pentti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pentti takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Pentti is looking to clinch but Nusciva is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nusciva shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Nusciva showed some decent athleticism there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pentti manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Nusciva throws a head kick that misses.
Pentti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pentti moves in looking to clinch but Nusciva pushes him off.
Pentti misses with an uppercut.
Nusciva throws a low kick but it's checked well by Pentti.
Pentti misses with a head kick.
Nusciva fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nusciva takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Pentti misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nusciva throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pentti stuffs the takedown.
Nusciva shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nusciva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pentti sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pentti connects with a crisp jab.
Pentti ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Nusciva uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pentti.
Pentti bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Nusciva's head.
Nusciva closes the distance and clinches up with Pentti, looking for a takedown. Nusciva pushes Pentti against the cage but Pentti circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nusciva is breathing heavily.
Pentti connects with a jab.
Pentti looks to score with a jab to the body but Nusciva is just out of range.
Arvo Pentti is winning the standup battle so far.
Pentti tries to clinch up
and Nusciva counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pentti connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Pentti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nusciva throws a head kick that misses.
Nusciva pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nusciva closes the distance and clinches up with Pentti, looking for a takedown. Nusciva pushes Pentti against the cage but Pentti circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pentti tries to clinch there but Nusciva circles away.
Pentti lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Nice uppercut lands for Pentti. That snapped Nusciva's head back.
Pentti tries to clinch but Nusciva moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pentti clobbers Nusciva with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Nusciva moves out of range as Pentti throws a body kick.
Nusciva avoids the head kick by Pentti.
Pentti looks to land a left hand but Nusciva moved out of range nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arvo Pentti dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nusciva avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pentti misses the jab.
Nusciva misses with an uppercut. Pentti saw that one coming.
Some wild striking there from Pentti.
Nusciva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pentti misses with a head kick.
Pentti lands a head kick. Nusciva smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Nusciva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nusciva dodges the punch combination from Pentti.
Pentti throws a sloppy head kick and Nusciva moves out of range easily.
Nusciva avoids the head kick by Pentti.
Nusciva moves out of range as Pentti throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pentti throws a sloppy head kick
and Nusciva counters with a solid body kick.
Pentti smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pentti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pentti wants to clinch up but Nusciva keeps it at a distance.
Pentti keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nusciva changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pentti tries to avoid it but Nusciva manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pentti to the ground. Pentti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Pentti instigates a clinch.
Pentti prevents the takedown attempt.
Arvo Pentti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pasko Nusciva.
Pentti can't find room to land a body shot as Nusciva controls the action.
Pentti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pentti is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nusciva looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pentti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pentti.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pentti.
Nusciva blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Still in the clinch, Pentti scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nusciva wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pentti lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nusciva being controlled against the cage.
Pentti lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nusciva takes a shot to the head.
Nusciva has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nusciva tries to circle away but Pentti has him pinned against the cage.
Pentti blocking some punches.
Nusciva is trying to drag Pentti to the mat but Pentti just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pentti cracks Nusciva with a nice body shot.
Nusciva being controlled against the cage.
Nusciva wants a takedown but no success here.
Pentti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pentti lands a body punch.
Pentti lands an uppercut.
With the fighters up against the cage, Pentti throws an elbow but misses.
Pentti pressing his opponent against the cage.
Pentti gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pentti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nusciva misses with a wild body shot.
Nusciva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nusciva throws a nice looking combination but Pentti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nusciva takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Pentti lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pentti scores with a sloppy right hand. Nusciva should have avoided that one.
Pentti scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Pentti throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Nusciva.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nusciva swings for the body but Pentti moves out of range.
Pentti throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Nusciva ducks under a wild hook from Pentti.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arvo Pentti showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pentti 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arvo Pentti!
In his post fight interview, Arvo Pentti started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.