PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kari Keskisarja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Perkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Keskisarja
vs
Perkovic

187 cm
28
201 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

183 cm
33
200 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kari Keskisarja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Perkovic!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perkovic is trying hard to land a takedown here. Keskisarja sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Keskisarja throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Perkovic has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

Perkovic gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Keskisarja pushes Perkovic back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Keskisarja trying to stall but Perkovic improves his position.
Perkovic is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Keskisarja gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Perkovic is trying to push Keskisarja away but Keskisarja has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Keskisarja pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Perkovic shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Keskisarja as he avoids it easily.
Kari Keskisarja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Perkovic.
Perkovic with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Keskisarja counter with a right hand.
Perkovic darts in looking for a takedown but Keskisarja gets double underhooks and turns Perkovic into the cage.

Perkovic rushes Keskisarja and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Keskisarja misses with an elbow over the top.

Perkovic lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Perkovic moves into full mount! Keskisarja won't be happy about that!

Perkovic swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Keskisarja is now in Perkovic's guard. A big mistake from Perkovic there, giving up the dominant position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkovic looking to control.
Perkovic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Keskisarja won't allow Perkovic to sweep him here.
Perkovic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Perkovic wants to sweep here but Keskisarja controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Perkovic controls Keskisarja momentarily but Keskisarja frees himself.
Perkovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Keskisarja stops Perkovic from standing up.
Perkovic controlling Keskisarja's posture.
Perkovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Keskisarja has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkovic has his hands on Keskisarja's head, controlling the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Perkovic is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Perkovic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Keskisarja half committed to a counter leg kick.
Perkovic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Keskisarja swivels and escapes.
Perkovic closes the distance looking to clinch
and Keskisarja counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Perkovic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It looked like Keskisarja was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Perkovic.
Keskisarja smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkovic shoots and misses
and Keskisarja counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Perkovic fails to land the takedown.
Keskisarja lands a nice looking body kick.
Perkovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Keskisarja sprawls well. He's pushed Perkovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Keskisarja lands a nice looking kick to the body. Perkovic takes a step back to recover.
Perkovic looks winded!
Perkovic shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Keskisarja sprawls well. Keskisarja wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Perkovic gets slowly back to his feet.
Keskisarja darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Keskisarja closes the distance and pushes Perkovic back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kari Keskisarja dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Perkovic fails to land the takedown.

Perkovic shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Keskisarja is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Keskisarja is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Perkovic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Keskisarja doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Perkovic.

Perkovic is looking for a kimura but Keskisarja is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Perkovic to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkovic passes to side control.
Keskisarja prevents Perkovic from improving position.

Perkovic wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Keskisarja, who protects the arm well.
Keskisarja tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Perkovic goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Keskisarja has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Perkovic but great work by Keskisarja.
Perkovic is trying to improve his position.
Perkovic regains half guard.
Keskisarja prevents Perkovic from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Perkovic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkovic wants to get back to his feet.
Keskisarja not doing much here.
Perkovic holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Perkovic is looking to control Keskisarja's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Perkovic avoid being mounted?
Mikhail Perkovic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Perkovic is not content to let Keskisarja control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Perkovic wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Perkovic ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Perkovic shoots in and drives through. Keskisarja sprawls well.
Keskisarja throws a counter high kick but Perkovic was just alert enough to avoid it.
Keskisarja is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Perkovic can do to turn this around?
Perkovic shoots in but no luck this time.
Kari Keskisarja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Perkovic.
Horrible takedown attempt by Perkovic or perhaps it was just good defense by Keskisarja, which made it look bad.
Perkovic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Keskisarja counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kari Keskisarja is winning the standup battle so far.
Perkovic is breathing heavily.
Perkovic with a poor takedown
and Keskisarja cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Perkovic has taken the fight to the clinch.
Perkovic wants to break free but Keskisarja has control.
Perkovic can't get the takedown.
Keskisarja lands an elbow that stopped Perkovic in his tracks for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kari Keskisarja will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Perkovic takes one to the chin there.
Perkovic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Keskisarja counters with a solid body kick.
Keskisarja scores with a shot to the body.
Keskisarja throws a body kick that misses.
Perkovic stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Keskisarja.
Perkovic has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Keskisarja.
A combination from Keskisarja does no damage.
Perkovic is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Keskisarja connects with a leg kick. Perkovic looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Perkovic gets tackled into the cage by Keskisarja. Keskisarja maintains the clinch.
Keskisarja lands a knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Keskisarja.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Keskisarja lands with a left to the head.
Perkovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Keskisarja works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Keskisarja lands a knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keskisarja lands a hook that snaps the head of Perkovic backwards.
Keskisarja blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kari Keskisarja has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Perkovic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Perkovic takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Perkovic has his takedown stuffed
and Keskisarja counters with a right hand to the body.
Keskisarja dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Keskisarja lands a nice leg kick that just misses Perkovic's sensitive parts.
Keskisarja chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Perkovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Keskisarja connects with a solid leg kick.
Perkovic tries to land a front kick but Keskisarja steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Perkovic closes the distance and pushes Keskisarja back into the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Keskisarja.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keskisarja effectively controlling the action here.
Keskisarja softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Keskisarja can't find room to land a body shot as Perkovic controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Keskisarja.
A knee to the head by Keskisarja.
Keskisarja lands an elbow that stopped Perkovic in his tracks for a moment.
Perkovic is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Keskisarja pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kari Keskisarja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Perkovic.
Keskisarja lands a left hand that snaps the head of Perkovic backwards.
Keskisarja lands with a short shot to the head.
Perkovic trying to control the position but instead, Keskisarja has worked for underhooks and has pushed Perkovic into the cage.
Keskisarja lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Perkovic is rocked!
Keskisarja lands a nice elbow.
Perkovic is still on wobbly legs! Can Keskisarja finish him?
Keskisarja stops a takedown attempt from Perkovic.
Keskisarja landing knees to the head.
Keskisarja creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Perkovic's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Perkovic drops to his knees and Keskisarja pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kari Keskisarja!
A very excited looking Kari Keskisarja made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Mikhail Perkovic had this to say: 'I must review my career... Am I going the right way?'.