PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jyrki Pekkala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Badawi Kulawanea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jyrki Pekkala could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Badawi Kulawanea's chin.

Pekkala
vs
Kulawanea

200 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

182 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jyrki Pekkala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Badawi Kulawanea!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pekkala tries to clinch but Kulawanea is having none of it.
Pekkala fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pekkala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Pekkala pushes Kulawanea up against the cage in a clinch.
Kulawanea wants a takedown but no success here.

Kulawanea tightens his grip and picks Pekkala up, before dumping him to the ground. Pekkala manages to land in guard.
Kulawanea really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pekkala. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kulawanea stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pekkala swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kulawanea throws a strike but Pekkala rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kulawanea is striking but Pekkala is not phased and passes to half guard.
Kulawanea tries to get to full guard but Pekkala has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulawanea wants to get back to full guard but Pekkala has mounted him!
Kulawanea tries to improve his position but instead Pekkala has taken his back!
Kulawanea looking very determined here, making life difficult for Pekkala.
Pekkala is trying to stick to Kulawanea's back but Kulawanea is turning into Pekkala. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Pekkala's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kulawanea.
Kulawanea loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two 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.
Kulawanea trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kulawanea throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kulawanea with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kulawanea throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pekkala works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pekkala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pekkala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pekkala is looking to clinch but Kulawanea is avoiding it.
Pekkala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kulawanea swats away the attempt to clinch by Pekkala.
Pekkala tries to clinch up.
Pekkala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kulawanea swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pekkala stuffs the takedown.
Pekkala tries to clinch there but Kulawanea circles away.

Kulawanea shoots in and bounces Pekkala off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kulawanea missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kulawanea must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kulawanea trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kulawanea stands up over Pekkala, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Pekkala keeping full guard, as Kulawanea tries to pass.
Kulawanea throws a strike but Pekkala rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pekkala preventing the sweep.
Pekkala will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pekkala passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Kulawanea manages to get to full guard.
Pekkala is breathing heavily.
Pekkala wanted to stand there but Kulawanea had control of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kulawanea wants to hit a switch here but Pekkala passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kulawanea there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badawi Kulawanea dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kulawanea feints and as Pekkala raises his hands in defense, Kulawanea changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kulawanea throws and elbow that misses. Pekkala uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kulawanea's guard. Nice move by Pekkala!
Kulawanea trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kulawanea has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Pekkala has passed into side control.
Kulawanea tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Kulawanea looks to move to half guard but instead Pekkala has passed into mount! Damn!
Pekkala prevents Kulawanea from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pekkala is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pekkala tries to clinch but Kulawanea moves out of range.
Pekkala moves in looking to clinch but Kulawanea pushes him off.
Pekkala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pekkala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kulawanea misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jyrki Pekkala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pekkala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pekkala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kulawanea shoots in and drives through. Pekkala sprawls well.
Kulawanea closes the distance and clinches up with Pekkala, looking for a takedown. Kulawanea pushes Pekkala against the cage but Pekkala circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jyrki Pekkala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Badawi Kulawanea.

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.
Kulawanea fails with the takedown.
Pekkala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pekkala tries to clinch but Kulawanea moves out of range.

Kulawanea darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kulawanea looks to land a strike but Pekkala avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Kulawanea keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pekkala's head.
Kulawanea distracts Pekkala with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kulawanea throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulawanea works over Pekkala with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kulawanea prevents Pekkala from getting back to his feet.

Pekkala pushes Kulawanea off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Jyrki Pekkala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kulawanea looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pekkala wants to clinch up but Kulawanea keeps it at a distance.
Pekkala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pekkala stuffs the takedown.
Kulawanea shoots for a double leg takedown but Pekkala sprawls well. He's pushed Kulawanea's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulawanea circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pekkala is looking to clinch but Kulawanea is avoiding it.
Pekkala tries to clinch but Kulawanea moves out of range.
Kulawanea fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pekkala tries to clinch but Kulawanea is having none of it.
Kulawanea avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kulawanea shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pekkala's guard.
Pekkala working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kulawanea.
Kulawanea throws a big right hand that misses.
Kulawanea postures up in Pekkala's guard and throws a big left but Pekkala blocks it.
Kulawanea working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badawi Kulawanea showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Pekkala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kulawanea tries for a takedown but Pekkala sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pekkala doesn't manage to clinch there - Kulawanea circles away.
Pekkala moves in looking to clinch but Kulawanea pushes him off.
Pekkala tries to clinch but Kulawanea is having none of it.
Pekkala moves in looking to clinch but Kulawanea pushes him off.
Pekkala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kulawanea gets a takedown into half guard.
Kulawanea landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulawanea throws a strike but Pekkala avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kulawanea with a nice head shot there.
Badawi Kulawanea has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kulawanea lands a couple of digs.
Pekkala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kulawanea accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Pekkala has his feet on Kulawanea's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Kulawanea looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kulawanea throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kulawanea is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulawanea throwing shots but Pekkala is blocking nicely.
Kulawanea not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kulawanea working Pekkala over with strikes.
Kulawanea throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kulawanea lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kulawanea winds up and cracks Pekkala with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kulawanea not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kulawanea wants to pass to mount but Pekkala is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulawanea looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kulawanea thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kulawanea working over Pekkala with some ground and pound. Pekkala looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kulawanea working the head and body with strikes.
Ground and pound from Kulawanea.
Kulawanea looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kulawanea wants to advance to full mount but Pekkala doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kulawanea lands a couple of elbows.
Kulawanea scoring with some ground and pound.
Kulawanea postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kulawanea works over Pekkala with some ground and pound from guard.
Kulawanea stands and throws Pekkala's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pekkala is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kulawanea connects with a decent elbow.
Pekkala is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kulawanea connects with a decent elbow.
Jyrki Pekkala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Badawi Kulawanea is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pekkala wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Badawi Kulawanea comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kulawanea 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Badawi Kulawanea!