PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikola Barbalic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekko Persvako (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Barbalic
vs
Persvako

180 cm
22
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
174 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Fightwear

2KMMA Ultimate Nutrition 144 Quality $20 Sale!

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikola Barbalic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekko Persvako!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barbalic misses with a few strikes there.

Persvako fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Barbalic sprawls well initially but Persvako persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Persvako takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Persvako is trying to control the action in half guard but Barbalic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Barbalic tries to get to full guard but Persvako has control of the leg.
Still in half guard, Persvako seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Persvako prevents Barbalic from improving his position.
Persvako wants to pass to mount but Barbalic is defending the position.
Persvako is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barbalic lands a nice shot to the body.
Barbalic fails to land with a series of punches.

Persvako decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Persvako not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Persvako wants to pass the guard but Barbalic is defending well.
Barbalic blocking the ground and pound attempt from Persvako.
Persvako works his foot free and advances to mount.
Persvako with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Barbalic is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Barbalic tries to improve his position but instead Persvako has taken his back!
Barbalic is trying to break free.
Barbalic avoids the strikes from Persvako.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barbalic rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Persvako sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Barbalic is trying to get back to full guard.
Persvako is tying to control. Barbalic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Persvako is controlling the pace.
Persvako tries to pass the half guard into mount. Barbalic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barbalic wants to get back to full guard.
Persvako trying to advance position but Barbalic counters by regaining guard.
Persvako forces his way into half guard.
Barbalic wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Persvako is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Persvako missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Persvako takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Persvako is just content to waste time from the top position. Barbalic takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Barbalic had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Persvako is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Barbalic Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Persvako's back instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barbalic is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Persvako has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Persvako trying to control the action but Barbalic just sinks the hooks in.
Persvako should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Persvako turns into Barbalic and is now in his guard.
Persvako passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Persvako is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Barbalic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Barbalic tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barbalic throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barbalic throws a combination. Persvako tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Persvako shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Persvako has a takedown stuffed.
Barbalic throws a right hand that Persvako ducks under and follows up with a left that Persvako also avoids with ease.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Persvako.
Barbalic is looking for a sweep.
Persvako moves into full mount!
Persvako trying to control but Barbalic is having none of it.
Barbalic really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Persvako throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Barbalic because Persvako loaded up on that one.
Barbalic can't escape the position.
Persvako unloading with bombs!
Barbalic holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Persvako tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Barbalic blocking the ground and pound.
Barbalic is looking to get to half guard.
Persvako is landing with some decent strikes but Barbalic is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Persvako throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Barbalic is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Persvako throws a strike there. Barbalic manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Persvako seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barbalic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Barbalic is looking for a sweep. Persvako is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Persvako has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Barbalic is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Persvako trying to control but Barbalic is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Persvako seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Barbalic is holding on tight.

Persvako working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Barbalic is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Persvako trying to control but Barbalic is having none of it.

Persvako is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Barbalic has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Barbalic!
Persvako is breathing heavily.
Persvako trying to keep a closed guard but Barbalic is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Barbalic tries to free his leg and advance position but Persvako is retaining full guard.
Persvako is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Persvako keeping full guard, as Barbalic tries to pass.
Persvako bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Barbalic's guard.
Persvako trying to control the position from guard on top but Barbalic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Persvako pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Barbalic is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pekko Persvako will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Barbalic gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Persvako must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Persvako avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Persvako drops back, looking for a kneebar! Barbalic looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Barbalic looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Barbalic!
Persvako is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barbalic's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Persvako is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Barbalic pulls his head out easily.
Persvako takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Barbalic is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Persvako doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Barbalic.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Barbalic is working for a kimura but Persvako is defending it quite comfortably.

Barbalic is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Persvako trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Persvako moves into full guard.
Persvako tries to strike from the bottom.

Persvako has his foot on Barbalic's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Barbalic works his way back into a safe position though.

Persvako is looking to sinch up a triangle. Barbalic throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Persvako's body to avoid the submission. Persvako has instead reached around Barbalic's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Persvako arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Pekko Persvako!