PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Samu Neva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Puolukka Perse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Neva
vs
Perse

190 cm
22
207 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
18
206 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Samu Neva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Puolukka Perse!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neva is looking to clinch.

Perse tries to keep at a distance but Neva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Perse is trying to break the clinch but Neva has him pressed against the cage.
Perse is trying to force a seperation but Neva has the dominant position.
Neva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Perse's face.

It looks like Puolukka Perse has been cut.
Neva lands a good knee to the midsection. Perse won't want to take too many of those.
Neva is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Perse is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Neva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Perse drops down looking for an ankle pick but Neva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice body kick from Neva.

Neva rushes Perse and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Neva holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Neva manages to break the clinch.
Neva throws a series of strikes that have Perse backpedaling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Neva moves into the clinch.

Neva escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neva fails with an attempt to clinch.

Neva darts in and clinches Perse up against the cage.
Perse is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Neva pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Neva takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Neva lands a good knee to the midsection. Perse won't want to take too many of those.

Neva breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Neva doesn't manage to clinch there - Perse circles away.

Neva darts in and clinches Perse up against the cage.
Neva lands an elbow inside that Perse shrugs off.
Neva putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Perse in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Neva leaning against his opponent.
Neva lands a knee to the head.
Neva connects with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Neva.
Neva lands a knee to the head.

Neva manages to break the clinch.

Neva darts in and clinches Perse up against the cage.
Neva with a knee to the head.
Neva is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perse is trying to break the clinch but Neva is controlling him.
Neva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Perse's efforts to push away.
Neva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Neva landing knees to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Neva.
Neva is struggling to control the position.
Neva prevents a takedown attempt there.
Samu Neva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Puolukka Perse.
Perse takes a knee right on the jaw!
Neva lands an elbow inside.

Neva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Perse misses with a kick to the body.
Neva doesn't manage to clinch there - Perse circles away.
Perse throws a wild body kick that Neva sees coming a mile off.
Neva moves out of range of the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neva closes the distance and pushes Perse back into the cage.
Perse is trying to break the clinch but Neva is controlling him.
Perse tries to pull guard but Neva won't allow it.
Neva comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Neva lands a nice knee to the body.
Neva creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Perse's defenses.
Neva connects with a knee to the head.
Perse wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Neva displaying some good clinch control by pressing Perse up against the cage.
Perse wants a takedown but no success here.
Neva keeps control of Perse as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Neva lands an elbow that stopped Perse in his tracks for a moment.

Neva manages to break the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Neva as Perse shoots in.
Perse tries to close the distance and clinch but Neva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Neva closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Neva throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Perse blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neva keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Perse's efforts to push away.
Perse is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Perse is trying to maintain a safe position but Neva gets an underhook and turns Perse into the cage.
Neva blocking some punches.
Perse drops down looking for an ankle pick but Neva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Neva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Neva moves into the clinch successfully.
Perse being controlled against the cage.
Perse goes for a takedown in the clinch but Neva prevents it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Perse jumps guard but Neva stands there with Perse around his waist. Perse gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Neva breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samu Neva dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Puolukka Perse's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Perse looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Neva is fending him off so far but Perse persists. Nope, Neva circles away and we're back to standing.
Perse keeps the fight on the outside.
Neva throws a head kick that Perse semi-blocks.
Neva tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Perse fails with a takedown attempt.
Neva moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Neva tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Perse paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Perse moves in looking to clinch but Neva pushes him off.
Perse shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Neva but Neva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Samu Neva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Puolukka Perse.
Perse tries to clinch up but Neva circles away and keeps his distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Perse is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perse tries to break free but Neva pushes him back against the cage.
Perse fails to pull guard.
Neva scores with a knee to the head.
Perse trying to stall but Neva improves his position.
Neva lands an elbow inside that Perse shrugs off.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Neva's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Perse avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Perse tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Neva swivels and escapes.
Neva throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Neva closes the distance and clinches.
Perse tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Neva smiles and moves away.

Neva drives through and clinches with Perse against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perse jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Neva walks away with a smile on his face. Perse gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Perse dives in and grabs Neva's left leg, looking for a takedown. Neva pushes down on Perse's head and hops out.

Neva pushes Perse up against the cage in a clinch.
Perse tries to pull guard but Neva won't allow it.
Perse tries to score a body lock takedown but Neva shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Perse wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Neva utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Neva breaks from the clinch.
Samu Neva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Perse misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Neva lands a nice leg kick that just misses Perse's sensitive parts.

Neva closes the distance and pushes Perse back into the cage.
Neva scores with a knee to the head.
Perse jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Neva walks away with a smile on his face. Perse gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Neva lands but Perse takes it in his stride.
Neva tries to clinch there but Perse circles away.
Perse fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Neva tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Perse counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Neva is defending against the submission attempts here by Perse.
Perse seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Neva does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perse is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Neva on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Neva tries to get out of the position.
Perse not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Perse is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Perse.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Perse looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Neva tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samu Neva dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Puolukka Perse's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Neva lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Perse keeps the fight on the outside.
Neva punishes Perse's body with a nice straight punch.
A solid leg kick lands there for Neva.
Neva lands a nice looking kick to the body. Perse takes a step back to recover.

Neva moves into the clinch successfully.
Samu Neva has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Perse stalling in the clinch but Neva improves position.
Neva will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Perse up against the cage.
Neva lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Perse tries to pull guard but Neva holds him up against the cage and eventually Perse drops back down to his feet.
Neva connects with a nasty looking knee right to Perse's face.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Perse has Neva pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Neva manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Neva is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Perse can do to turn this around?

Neva manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neva gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Neva manages to break the clinch.
Perse misses with a takedown attempt - Neva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Samu Neva has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Puolukka Perse.
Neva scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Perse tries to keep at a distance but Neva has taken the fight into the clinch.
Perse tries to pull guard but Neva won't allow it.
Knees in the clinch landing for Neva.
Perse is looking to control Neva's arms but Neva gets an underhook and turns him. Now Perse has his back to the cage.
Perse takes a knee right on the jaw!
Perse drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Neva working Perse over with knees to the body.
Perse jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Neva walks away with a smile on his face. Perse gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perse is trying hard to land a takedown here. Neva sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Samu Neva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Perse walks forward, straight into a front kick from Neva.
Perse tries a head kick but it misses.
Perse shoots for a double leg takedown but Neva sprawls well. He's pushed Perse's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Neva stuffs the takedown attempt from Perse. Perse gets slowly back to his feet.

Neva has closed the distance and engaged Perse in a clinch.
Perse takes a knee to the side of the body.
Perse tries to stall but Neva uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Perse jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Neva walks away with a smile on his face. Perse gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Perse tries for a takedown but Neva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Neva stalks Perse and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Perse's face. Perse staggers backwards, shaken.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Perse is defended easily by Neva.
The fight stays on the outside here - Neva looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neva stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Neva wants it to stay on the feet.
Perse shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Neva sprawls well. Neva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Perse gets slowly back to his feet.
Perse has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Neva.
Perse circles away from the clinch attempt.
Neva wants to clinch up but Perse keeps it at a distance.
Neva is looking to clinch but Perse is avoiding it.
Neva throws a wild body kick that Perse sees coming a mile off.
Neva tries to clinch there but Perse circles away.
Perse looks for a takedown but Neva sprawls well.

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.
Perse tries to score a power double leg takedown but Neva sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Perse somewhat.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Perse crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Neva - the referee stops the clock and Perse gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Neva. Perse manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Samu Neva is winning the standup battle so far.
Neva throws a sloppy head kick and Perse moves out of range easily.
Perse shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Neva defends it nicely.
Perse pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Neva tries to close the distance and clinch but Perse swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Perse shoots in looking for a takedown. Neva tries to sprawl out of it but Perse keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Neva manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Puolukka Perse has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Samu Neva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Neva moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Samu Neva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Neva, 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 30:26
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samu Neva!