PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Petteri Pyykkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tobias Johansson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tobias Johansson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pyykkonen
vs
Johansson

198 cm
22
245 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
23
265 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Petteri Pyykkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tobias Johansson!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pyykkonen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Pyykkonen throwing strikes but missing.
Pyykkonen landing with the ground and pound.
Johansson keeping full guard, as Pyykkonen tries to pass.
Johansson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pyykkonen is in close to Johansson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pyykkonen wants to stand but Johansson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pyykkonen won't allow Johansson to sweep him here.
Pyykkonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pyykkonen landing with the ground and pound.
Pyykkonen landing with the ground and pound.
Johansson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johansson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pyykkonen cracks Johansson with a solid left hand.
Johansson trying to strike off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johansson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Johansson striking from the bottom.
Pyykkonen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johansson's head.
Pyykkonen lands a couple of digs.
Pyykkonen landing some decent shots from guard.

Pyykkonen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Johansson throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Pyykkonen scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pyykkonen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Pyykkonen won't allow Johansson to sweep him here.
Pyykkonen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Johansson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Johansson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pyykkonen is one step ahead there.
Pyykkonen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pyykkonen landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pyykkonen is one step ahead there.
Pyykkonen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johansson's head.
Pyykkonen lands a couple of digs.
Pyykkonen landing with the ground and pound.

Pyykkonen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Johansson, up you get!
No luck for Pyykkonen with that takedown attempt.
Johansson wants to clinch.
Johansson looks gassed!
Pyykkonen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pyykkonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pyykkonen tries for a takedown but Johansson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A nice combination there by Pyykkonen.
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!

Johansson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pyykkonen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petteri Pyykkonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pyykkonen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Johansson.
Pyykkonen lands a hook that snaps the head of Johansson backwards.

Johansson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Johansson manages to end up in side control.
Pyykkonen sneaks back into half guard.
Pyykkonen manages to get to full guard.
Pyykkonen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johansson is trying to get back to full guard.
Pyykkonen is trying to control the action in half guard but Johansson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Johansson is trying to get back to full guard.
Pyykkonen working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pyykkonen scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pyykkonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johansson keeps working.
Johansson wants to improve his position but Pyykkonen is controlling well.
Pyykkonen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Johansson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Pyykkonen scores a takedown into full mount!
Pyykkonen unloading with bombs!
Pyykkonen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pyykkonen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Johansson is looking to improve his position but Pyykkonen isn't that keen on the idea.
Pyykkonen landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petteri Pyykkonen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pyykkonen gets a takedown into half guard.
Pyykkonen drops an elbow to the side of Johansson's head.
Pyykkonen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ground and pound from Pyykkonen.
Johansson gets back to full guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Johansson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Johansson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Johansson blocks Pyykkonen's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Pyykkonen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Pyykkonen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pyykkonen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Johansson lands a couple of digs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pyykkonen throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Pyykkonen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Johansson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Pyykkonen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Johansson's back instead.
Johansson covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Pyykkonen loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Johansson hold on?
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johansson covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Johansson breaks Pyykkonen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Johansson cracks Pyykkonen with a solid left hand.
Pyykkonen striking from his own guard.

Pyykkonen is looking for a triangle but Johansson pushes his legs off easily.
Petteri Pyykkonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Johansson scoring with some ground and pound.
Pyykkonen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pyykkonen striking off his back but it's not causing Johansson any problems.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pyykkonen is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson keeping full guard, as Pyykkonen tries to pass.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Pyykkonen from controlling successfully.
Pyykkonen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pyykkonen tries to free his leg and advance position but Johansson is retaining full guard.
Pyykkonen trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Johansson wants to sweep here but Pyykkonen controlling him for the moment.
Pyykkonen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Pyykkonen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johansson tries to avoid it but Pyykkonen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johansson to the ground. Johansson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Petteri Pyykkonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Johansson misses with a wild combination.
Pyykkonen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pyykkonen misses with a takedown attempt - Johansson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petteri Pyykkonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johansson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Johansson working some strikes from top position.
Johansson prevents Pyykkonen from getting back to his feet.
Johansson is in close to Pyykkonen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Johansson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Pyykkonen trying to control the position.
Pyykkonen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Johansson's guard.
Pyykkonen trying to control but Johansson is working from the bottom.
Pyykkonen wants to pass the guard but Johansson is keeping the position.
Pyykkonen landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pyykkonen working some strikes from top position.
Pyykkonen wants to control from the top but Johansson keeps moving.
Pyykkonen throwing strikes from guard but Johansson blocks nicely.
Johansson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johansson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pyykkonen wants to control but Johansson is keeping busy.
Pyykkonen gets back to full guard.
Johansson with a flurry of punches that miss.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pyykkonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
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 Petteri Pyykkonen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Pyykkonen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Johansson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Johansson showed some decent athleticism there.
Pyykkonen is trying to get back to full guard.
Pyykkonen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Pyykkonen is trying to control but can't.
Johansson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Johansson is thwarting Pyykkonen's attempts to control the position.
Pyykkonen wants to improve his position but Johansson is controlling well.
Johansson works his way into full mount!
Pyykkonen is in a horrible position here. Johansson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pyykkonen tries to lock up and control but Johansson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pyykkonen is trying to escape the mount.
Pyykkonen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Johansson lands a big elbow.
Johansson prevents Pyykkonen from getting the reversal.
Johansson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Pyykkonen tries to hold on but Johansson pushes him away.
Johansson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Pyykkonen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johansson working over Pyykkonen with some ground and pound. Pyykkonen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pyykkonen tries to roll over but Johansson keeps him under control.
Pyykkonen missing with punches from the bottom.
Pyykkonen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Pyykkonen is looking to control Johansson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pyykkonen avoid being mounted?
Pyykkonen missing with punches from the bottom.
Pyykkonen trying to control from the bottom.
Pyykkonen wants to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Johansson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Johansson is looking to clinch but Pyykkonen is avoiding it.
Pyykkonen tries to clinch up but Johansson circles away and keeps his distance.
Tobias Johansson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pyykkonen shoots in looking for a takedown. Johansson tries to sprawl out of it but Pyykkonen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Johansson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Pyykkonen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johansson but Johansson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petteri Pyykkonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johansson shoots and misses

and Pyykkonen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pyykkonen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Johansson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tobias Johansson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pyykkonen has Johansson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Johansson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johansson prevents Pyykkonen from breaking the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Johansson.
Johansson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pyykkonen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pyykkonen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A left and a right from Pyykkonen both land. Nice combination.
Johansson misses with a double jab.

Pyykkonen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Johansson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Johansson wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johansson has momentary wrist control but Pyykkonen slips an elbow through the middle.
Pyykkonen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Johansson's head.
Pyykkonen postures up in Johansson's guard and throws a big left but Johansson blocks it.
Pyykkonen throws a big right hand that misses.
Johansson keeping moving, preventing Pyykkonen from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Johansson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Pyykkonen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Johansson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pyykkonen manages to get himself to full guard.
Pyykkonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Johansson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pyykkonen's head.
Johansson landing some decent shots from guard.
Johansson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Johansson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Petteri Pyykkonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pyykkonen wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Petteri Pyykkonen.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pyykkonen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petteri Pyykkonen!