PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Pichushkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holy Diver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diver has chosen Holy Diver by Dio as his entrance music. Holy Diver looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Pichushkin
vs
Diver

195 cm
19
180 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

161 cm
26
174 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple 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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Pichushkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Holy Diver!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diver showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pichushkin.

Diver scores with a takedown into Pichushkin's guard.
Diver throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pichushkin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diver.
Diver trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Diver throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pichushkin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diver throwing strikes but missing.

Diver stands and steps away. Pichushkin gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Diver tries for a takedown but Pichushkin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pichushkin throws a hook to the side of Diver's head but Diver sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pichushkin misses with the combination.
No luck for Diver with that takedown attempt.
Diver shoots in for a double leg but Pichushkin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alexander Pichushkin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Holy Diver.
Pichushkin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Pichushkin slaps away a takedown attempt from Diver, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Diver takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Diver takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Diver tries to clinch up.

Diver drives through and clinches with Pichushkin against the cage.
Diver is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pichushkin is defending well.
Diver goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pichushkin prevents it.
Diver looks winded!
Diver is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pichushkin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pichushkin misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin wants to get back to striking at distance but Diver won't allow it.
Diver wants to take the fight to the mat but Pichushkin manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diver blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pichushkin has a couple of punches blocked by Diver.
Pichushkin tries to throw a body punch but Diver avoids it by throwing Pichushkin back against the cage.
Pichushkin prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pichushkin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pichushkin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Diver goes for a takedown attempt but Pichushkin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A left lands for Pichushkin.

Diver changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pichushkin looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Diver throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Pichushkin is trying to buck Diver off.
Pichushkin is not content to let Diver control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diver fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Diver in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Pichushkin pushes Diver away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Diver gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Diver has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Diver working the strikes but Pichushkin uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Diver not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Diver misses with a head shot. Pichushkin uses the momentum to regain guard.
Diver postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diver trying to control but Pichushkin is working from the bottom.
Pichushkin wants to stand and escape but Diver is having none of it.
Diver postures up and lands a big shot to Pichushkin's brow.
Diver wants to control from the top but Pichushkin keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Diver scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Holy Diver dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Diver moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Holy Diver seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pichushkin lands with a good body shot.
Nice uppercut there from Pichushkin.
Nice shot lands for Pichushkin.

Diver fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pichushkin to the ground. Diver is now in Pichushkin's guard.
Diver landing some decent shots from guard.
Pichushkin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Diver passes Pichushkin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Diver is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pichushkin is just riding it out for now. Diver eventually gives up the hold.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Diver in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diver missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pichushkin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Diver.
Diver sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Diver is keen to just control but Pichushkin is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diver throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Diver thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Diver trying to control the pace.

Pichushkin is defending against the submission attempts here by Diver.
Diver trying to control the pace.
Holy Diver has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diver thows a huge punch but Pichushkin dodges it nicely.
Diver landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Diver throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Diver thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pichushkin's head.
Diver thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Diver lands with a punch from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diver wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pichushkin keeps working.
Diver not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pichushkin has hold of Diver's hands but Diver slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pichushkin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Diver throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diver missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Diver is controlling the pace.
Diver not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Holy Diver showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Pichushkin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Diver drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pichushkin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pichushkin wants to stand up but Diver is controlling him.
Diver throwing strikes from guard but Pichushkin blocks nicely.
Diver is in close to Pichushkin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pichushkin is looking to stand up but Diver isn't so interested in that idea.

Diver thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pichushkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Diver is looking to work some ground and pound but Pichushkin has wrist control.
Diver throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pichushkin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Pichushkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pichushkin keeping full guard, as Diver tries to pass.
Pichushkin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Diver.
Alexander Pichushkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diver throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pichushkin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Diver missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Diver throwing strikes from guard but Pichushkin blocks nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Diver slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pichushkin dodges the ground and pound from Diver.
Diver tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Diver.
Diver advances nicely into full mount.
Diver working Pichushkin over with strikes here.
Pichushkin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Diver tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Diver wants to control the pace but Pichushkin is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diver looking to ground and pound but Pichushkin is blocking nicely.

Diver looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Diver thowing shots but they're missing.
The referee warns Pichushkin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Holy Diver is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Diver is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Pichushkin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

And that's the end of the fight!
Holy Diver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Diver 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Holy Diver!
Our winner, Holy Diver, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.