PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wayne Ballantine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekko Persvako (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Persvako is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: In Flames - Crawl through knives. Pekko Persvako has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ballantine
vs
Persvako

178 cm
21
181 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
181 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Crippler's Corner
Convicted Trap House

FinnFighters Nutrition

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 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wayne Ballantine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekko Persvako!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Persvako takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ballantine keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Persvako shoots in looking for a takedown. Ballantine tries to sprawl out of it but Persvako keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ballantine manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ballantine throws out a loose jab but Persvako uses good head movement to avoid it.
Persvako looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ballantine is fending him off so far but Persvako persists. Nope, Ballantine circles away and we're back to standing.
Persvako throws an overhand right that lands on Ballantine's shoulder, as Ballantine tries to avoid the shot.
Ballantine lands a lovely overhand right.
Ballantine staying out of range there.
A slow jab from Ballantine misses its intended target.
Persvako lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ballantine throws a lazy right hand but Persvako sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ballantine throws a jab but it's blocked by Persvako.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Persvako shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wayne Ballantine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pekko Persvako.
Persvako fails with the takedown.
Persvako drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wayne Ballantine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ballantine takes a swing at Persvako's ribcage but misses.
Persvako takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Persvako throws a nice looking combination but Ballantine bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ballantine swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Ballantine misses.
Ballantine throws a big shot that misses.
Persvako lands a nice hook to Ballantine's body. Ballantine takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Persvako tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ballantine swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Persvako slips a jab from Ballantine.
Ballantine is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
A big right from Ballantine misses.
Persvako moves away from the strike by Ballantine.
The fighters circling - Ballantine throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ballantine stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ballantine wants it to stay on the feet.
Persvako thuds his right hand into Ballantine's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Persvako throws an overhand right that lands on Ballantine's shoulder, as Ballantine tries to avoid the shot.
Persvako swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pekko Persvako seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Persvako is defended easily by Ballantine.
Persvako throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persvako slips a straight right by Ballantine.
A big left from Persvako misses.
Persvako throws a lazy right hand but Ballantine sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ballantine throws a looping overhand right but Persvako ducks down to avoid it.
Persvako closes the distance and clinches up with Ballantine, looking for a takedown. Persvako pushes Ballantine against the cage but Ballantine circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A slow jab from Ballantine misses its intended target.
Persvako pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ballantine defending well as Persvako loads up on a big left hand.
Persvako misses with a body shot
and Ballantine counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Pekko Persvako has been cut.
Ballantine throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Persvako.
Ballantine tries to clinch but Persvako moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A big left from Ballantine misses.
Ballantine looks to throw the jab but Persvako is out of range.
Persvako with a poor takedown
and Ballantine counters with a nice body shot.
Ballantine jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Persvako misses with an uppercut. Ballantine saw that one coming.
Ballantine tries to clinch up.
Ballantine misses with a straight left.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ballantine throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Persvako defending well as Ballantine loads up on a big left hand.
Persvako thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Ballantine dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pekko Persvako's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Persvako throws a jab when Ballantine was well out of range.
Persvako misses with a shot to the body
letting Ballantine counter with a right hand.
Ballantine throws a hook but Persvako avoids it easily.
Ballantine scores with a punch to the head.
Ballantine misses with a straight left.
Persvako moves out of range of the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Persvako.
Persvako ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Persvako is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Ballantine misses with a looping left.
Ballantine misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ballantine scores with a decent looking hook.
Wayne Ballantine is winning the standup battle so far.

Ballantine lands a left and a right that send Persvako crashing to the mat, dazed. Ballantine thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Persvako might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Ballantine has got the better of the exchanges.
A swing and a miss from Ballantine.
Ballantine works the jab nicely.
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!
Ballantine thows a left - swing and a miss!
Persvako ducks under a wild hook from Ballantine.
Persvako misses the body punch
and Ballantine counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Persvako.
Ballantine connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ballantine swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Persvako.
Persvako throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ballantine stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Persvako is trying desperately to land a takedown but Ballantine is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Persvako.
Persvako throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ballantine.

Persvako darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ballantine avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Persvako.
Ballantine gets back to full guard.
Persvako working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ballantine's head.
Persvako wants to control from the top but Ballantine keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persvako loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ballantine controlling the position.
Ballantine keeping full guard, as Persvako tries to pass.
Ballantine is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Persvako postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ballantine seems keen to control Persvako's posture.
Persvako stopping the sweep attempt from Ballantine.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ballantine keeping moving, preventing Persvako from controlling successfully.
Persvako is looking to work some ground and pound but Ballantine has wrist control.
Ballantine looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Persvako throws and elbow that misses. Ballantine uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Persvako's guard. Nice move by Ballantine!
Ballantine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Ballantine dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pekko Persvako's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ballantine thows a body shot but no joy.
Ballantine stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Persvako throws a lazy right hand but Ballantine sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ballantine lands the left hand.
Ballantine misses with an uppercut. Persvako saw that one coming.
Ballantine misses with an uppercut. Persvako saw that one coming.
Ballantine staying out of range there.
Ballantine looks to land a combination but Persvako avoids it well.
A slow jab from Ballantine misses its intended target.
A big right from Ballantine misses.
Persvako misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ballantine counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ballantine gets a clinch.
Ballantine lands a hook that snaps the head of Persvako backwards.
Ballantine's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Ballantine has a couple of punches blocked by Persvako.
Ballantine misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ballantine pushes Persvako back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ballantine lands a nice shot to the body.
Persvako takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Persvako is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ballantine gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Ballantine on the inside.
Ballantine is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Persvako can do to turn this around?
Ballantine lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Ballantine scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ballantine lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ballantine.

Ballantine pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Persvako keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine connects with a crisp jab.
A big right from Ballantine misses.
Ballantine throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Persvako sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ballantine loads up on a big right hand but Persvako slips the punch.
Ballantine misses with a hook.
Ballantine throws a hook to the side of Persvako's head but Persvako sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ballantine moves out of range of the strikes.
Ballantine uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Persvako.
A big right from Ballantine misses.
Ballantine avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Persvako works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persvako drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Persvako misses with a takedown
and Ballantine counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Persvako uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ballantine.
Persvako shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Persvako shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Persvako takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wayne Ballantine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pekko Persvako.
Ballantine throws a lazy right hand but Persvako sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ballantine misses with an uppercut. Persvako saw that one coming.
Ballantine misses with a straight left.
Pekko Persvako has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ballantine misses with a hook. Persvako ducked under it nicely.
Ballantine jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jab by Ballantine.
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!
Persvako misses with a takedown
and Persvako takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ballantine keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wayne Ballantine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Persvako throws a hook to the side of Ballantine's head but Ballantine sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ballantine jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ballantine lands with a hook. Persvako tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Persvako has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Ballantine staying out of range there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wayne Ballantine showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ballantine, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wayne Ballantine!