PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kustaa Pohjanala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Essien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pohjanala comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - Hard as a Rock. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pohjanala
vs
Essien

168 cm
32
157 lbs
21 - 18 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kustaa Pohjanala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xavier Essien!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pohjanala scores with a jab to the jaw.
Essien gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pohjanala counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pohjanala connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Essien's hands.
Pohjanala lands a nice hook to Essien's body. Essien takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Pohjanala changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Decent striking displayed by Pohjanala there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Essien tries for a takedown but Pohjanala circles away easily
and Pohjanala counters with an inside leg kick.
Pohjanala throws a hook to the side of Essien's head but Essien sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Essien has his takedown stuffed

and Pohjanala moves into the clinch.
Kustaa Pohjanala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Essien.
Pohjanala lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Stalling in the clinch from Pohjanala.
Pohjanala utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Essien takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Pohjanala on the inside.
Pohjanala gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Essien.
Pohjanala comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pohjanala.
Pohjanala lands a good knee to the midsection. Essien won't want to take too many of those.
Essien looks gassed!
Pohjanala just leaning against Essien, taking a breather.
Pohjanala gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Pohjanala lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Essien is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Pohjanala fails to land.
Essien is still on wobbly legs! Can Pohjanala finish him?
Pohjanala with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Pohjanala with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pohjanala misses with a knee strike.
Pohjanala pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pohjanala pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Pohjanala misses with a knee strike.
Pohjanala misses with a knee to the head.
Pohjanala misses with some punches.
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!
Pohjanala throws a knee to the head but misses.
Essien dodges an elbow strike from Pohjanala.
Pohjanala tries to land a knee to the head but Essien blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Essien.
Pohjanala misses with a short punch on the inside.
Essien blocks an elbow strike from Pohjanala.
Pohjanala throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pohjanala misses with an elbow strike.
Pohjanala tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Essien blocks an uppercut.
Pohjanala misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pohjanala.
Pohjanala with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pohjanala tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Pohjanala swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pohjanala misses with a knee to the head.
Essien blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pohjanala throws an elbow but it misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Pohjanala throws an elbow but misses.
Pohjanala has a couple of punches blocked by Essien.
Pohjanala misses with some punches.

Pohjanala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Pohjanala misses.
Essien blocks a head kick by Pohjanala.
Pohjanala throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pohjanala tries a head kick but it misses.
Essien blocks a head kick by Pohjanala.
Pohjanala throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pohjanala throws a head kick that misses.
Pohjanala misses with a straight right.
Essien tries for a takedown but Pohjanala circles away easily
and Pohjanala counters with a massive hook, right on the button! He's out cold! Damn, that was naaaaaasty! Hopefully he'll be OK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Kustaa Pohjanala!