PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kustaa Pohjanala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blackie Lawler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pohjanala comes to the cage accompanied by Scooter - Fire. Lawler has chosen hand on the pump as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Pohjanala
vs
Lawler

168 cm
25
145 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

170 cm
21
140 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

[MMABR] Killer Bee Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kustaa Pohjanala!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blackie Lawler!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Lawler.
Lawler comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lawler takes a swing at Pohjanala's ribcage but misses.
Blackie Lawler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lawler misses with the combination.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch but Lawler is avoiding it.
Lawler bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pohjanala's head backwards.
Pohjanala throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lawler scores with a jab to the body.
Lawler throws a one two combo.
Lawler throws a low kick but Pohjanala avoids it.
Lawler misses with the combination.
Lawler misses with a leg kick
and Pohjanala counters with a good, hard body kick but Lawler shrugs it off.
Lawler scores with a jab to the jaw.
Pohjanala dodges the punch combination from Lawler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Lawler misses.
Lawler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lawler lands a slapping body shot.
Pohjanala dodges the punch combination from Lawler.
Lawler uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pohjanala.
Lawler takes a swing at Pohjanala's ribcage but misses.
Lawler ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pohjanala moves away.
Pohjanala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jab, jab by Lawler - just one landing.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch but Lawler is avoiding it.
Lawler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pohjanala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lawler swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pohjanala walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lawler swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Pohjanala decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Lawler's guard.

Pohjanala thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lawler can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pohjanala trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lawler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pohjanala trying to control but Lawler is working from the bottom.
Pohjanala thows a big elbow that misses.
Lawler wants to hit a switch here but Pohjanala passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Lawler there!
Pohjanala sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala looking to control and managing it successfully.

Pohjanala looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Pohjanala is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lawler can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Pohjanala looking for a guillotine from mount but Lawler is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pohjanala is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Pohjanala jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Lawler manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Pohjanala trying to control the action but Lawler is working from the bottom.
Lawler is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kustaa Pohjanala dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lawler throws a series of punches but Pohjanala moves out of range.
Pohjanala fails to land the takedown.
A shot to the body from Pohjanala misses
and Lawler counters with a left and a right that stings Pohjanala.
Lawler is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pohjanala rather than just go for the knockout.
Pohjanala closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lawler counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kustaa Pohjanala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lawler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pohjanala.
Lawler connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A punch combination from Lawler misses.
Pohjanala takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pohjanala shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lawler pinned against the cage. Lawler gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Lawler jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Pohjanala blocks the leg kick.
Pohjanala slips a jab and a cross from Lawler.
Pohjanala closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lawler counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pohjanala darts in trying to clinch
and Lawler cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pohjanala takes one to the side of the head.
Lawler dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pohjanala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lawler.
Lawler throws a right hand that Pohjanala ducks under and follows up with a left that Pohjanala also avoids with ease.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lawler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Lawler coming out on top.
Pohjanala throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lawler counters with a two punch combo.
Lawler works the jab nicely.
Some wild striking there from Lawler.
Pohjanala closes the distance but Lawler moves to the side
and Lawler counters with a one-two to the body.
Lawler throws a leg kick
and Pohjanala counters with a nice body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lawler lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pohjanala backs up against the cage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lawler.
Lawler throws a leg kick that is checked

and Pohjanala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Pohjanala trying to land knees to the body.
Pohjanala is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lawler is defending well for now.
Pohjanala misses with a knee to the head.
Lawler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pohjanala stalling against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lawler can't break the clinch.
Pohjanala has a couple of punches blocked by Lawler.

Lawler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Blackie Lawler is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lawler's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Lawler duly obliges.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but Lawler moves away
and Lawler counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lawler looks to land a combination but Pohjanala avoids it well.
Lawler throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pohjanala.
A combination from Lawler does no damage.
Pohjanala ducks right into an uppercut from Lawler.
Lawler lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pohjanala misses with a straight right.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but Lawler moves away
and Lawler counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lawler.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but Lawler moves away
and Lawler counters with a series of strikes. Pohjanala will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lawler fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lawler lands a nice shot to the body.
Lawler misses with a series of wild punches.
Lawler is working the combinations to good effect here.
Pohjanala takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lawler cracks Pohjanala with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pohjanala wants to clinch
and Lawler counters with a lovely straight right hand!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lawler misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice shot lands for Lawler.
Lawler misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blackie Lawler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Good work by Pohjanala as he checks the leg kick.
Lawler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lawler lands a jab-cross combination.
Lawler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pohjanala looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Lawler lands with a nice combination. Pohjanala backs away looking to recover.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Lawler counter with a right hand.
A punch combination from Lawler misses.
Lawler lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lawler stuffs the takedown attempt from Pohjanala. Pohjanala gets slowly back to his feet.
Lawler lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Pohjanala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lawler.
Lawler misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pohjanala lands a head kick!
Pohjanala closes the distance but Lawler moves to the side
and Lawler counters with a left and a right that stings Pohjanala.
Lawler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lawler digs a good hook to Pohjanala's body.
Pohjanala takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Pohjanala drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Pohjanala closes the distance but Lawler moves to the side
and Lawler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lawler throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lawler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lawler misses with a series of wild punches.
Pohjanala throws a big shot that misses.
Pohjanala looks to clinch
and Lawler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lawler just misses with a punch to the body.
Pohjanala wants to clinch but Lawler slips to the side
and Lawler counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Pohjanala gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pohjanala tries to score a body lock takedown but Lawler shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pohjanala slows down the pace here.
Pohjanala throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lawler blocks it with crossed arms.
Pohjanala is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lawler is keeping busy.
Pohjanala throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lawler blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler tries to break free but Pohjanala pushes him back against the cage.
Pohjanala taking a breather.
Pohjanala tries to land knees in the clinch but Lawler avoids the damage to the body.
Pohjanala is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Pohjanala tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pohjanala tries to land knees in the clinch but Lawler avoids the damage to the body.
Pohjanala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lawler.
Pohjanala jumps guard but Lawler stands there with Pohjanala around his waist. Pohjanala gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kustaa Pohjanala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lawler is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pohjanala throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Lawler blocks it with crossed arms.
Lawler is trying to force a seperation but Pohjanala has the dominant position.
Pohjanala missing with knees to the body.
Pohjanala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Lawler.
Pohjanala keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lawler's efforts to push away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Pohjanala tries to land knees in the clinch but Lawler avoids the damage to the body.
Lawler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pohjanala missing with knees to the body.
Lawler blocks a body shot from Pohjanala.
Lawler wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pohjanala stalling in the clinch but Lawler improves position.

Lawler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lawler lands a jab to Pohjanala's midsection.
Lawler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lawler throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Pohjanala moves into the clinch.
Pohjanala using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pohjanala trying to land knees to the body.
Pohjanala tries a knee to the head but Lawler blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blackie Lawler really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lawler lands a two punch combo.
Lawler misses with a low kick as Pohjanala jumps back.
Pohjanala tries to clinch
and Lawler counters with a left and a right that stings Pohjanala.
Lawler throws a series of strikes that have Pohjanala backpedaling.
Pohjanala changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lawler tries to avoid it but Pohjanala manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lawler to the ground. Lawler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lawler.
Lawler throws a nice looking combination but Pohjanala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lawler closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Lawler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pohjanala checks a leg kick.
Lawler will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lawler throws a right hand that Pohjanala ducks under and follows up with a left that Pohjanala also avoids with ease.
Pohjanala wants to clinch
and Lawler counters with a three punch combo that has Pohjanala backing up. Pohjanala nods at Lawler to acknowledge the strikes.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler throws a leg kick but Pohjanala moved away.
Pohjanala looks to clinch
letting Lawler counter with a right hand.
Lawler throws a nice looking combination but Pohjanala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lawler misses with a few strikes there.
Lawler moves out of range as Pohjanala strikes.
Lawler throws a right and a left that Pohjanala avoids nicely.
Pohjanala clinches but Lawler breaks the clinch
and Pohjanala takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pohjanala closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lawler counters with a left and a right that stings Pohjanala.
Pohjanala is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Lawler.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala closes the distance but Lawler moves to the side
enabling Lawler to counter with a crisp jab.
Lawler changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Lawler lands with a cross.
Lawler wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Lawler circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lawler counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Pohjanala thinking.
Lawler misses with the combination.
Lawler lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lawler.
Lawler throws a combination that misses

and Pohjanala counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lawler is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawler is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Pohjanala asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Pohjanala tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pohjanala has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Who's going to make the next move?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lawler is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blackie Lawler dominated that fourth 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. This is the final round!

Lawler lands with a nice body punch.
Lawler throws a right and a left that Pohjanala avoids nicely.
Lawler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pohjanala clinches but Lawler breaks the clinch
and Lawler counters with a stiff right hand.
Pohjanala tries to clinch up
and Lawler counters with a stiff right hand.
Lawler throws a series of punches but Pohjanala avoids them all with ease.
Lawler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lawler scores with a shot to the body.
Blackie Lawler seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lawler stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lawler wants it to stay on the feet.
Pohjanala wants to clinch but Lawler slips to the side
enabling Lawler to counter with a crisp jab.
Lawler swinging wilding here.
Lawler scores with a three punch combo!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lawler throws a leg kick
and Pohjanala counters with a nice body kick.
Lawler lands with a nice combination. Pohjanala backs away looking to recover.
Lawler lands a jab to Pohjanala's midsection.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Lawler tries to land a front kick but Pohjanala steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lawler tries to bum rush Pohjanala with a series of wild strikes but Pohjanala uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pohjanala looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Lawler throws a series of strikes that have Pohjanala backpedaling.
Pohjanala looks to clinch
enabling Lawler to counter with a crisp jab.
Lawler throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lawler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lawler throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lawler counters with a straight right hand.
A combination from Lawler does no damage.

Pohjanala clinches up with Lawler and pushes him back against the cage.

Pohjanala drags the fight down to the ground.
Pohjanala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pohjanala being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lawler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lawler content to stall in guard here.

That's four 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.
Pohjanala is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blackie Lawler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lawler has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 46:49
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 46:49
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blackie Lawler! Blackie Lawler retains his bantamweight title!