PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Georgi Todorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Pikkarainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Pikkarainen's choice of entrance music: Apocalyptica - Path. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Pekka Pikkarainen was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Todorov
vs
Pikkarainen

166 cm
26
153 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

160 cm
20
149 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Outkast Clothing Line

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Georgi Todorov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pikkarainen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pikkarainen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Todorov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Todorov takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Nice defenses there by Todorov.
A big right from Todorov misses.
Pikkarainen misses with a looping right.
Pikkarainen connects with a body shot that sends Todorov's belly button to the back.
Todorov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Pikkarainen.
Todorov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Todorov staying out of range there.
Pikkarainen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Todorov.
Pikkarainen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pikkarainen wants it to stay on the feet.
Pikkarainen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Todorov circles away quickly and effectively.
Todorov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pikkarainen moves away.
Pikkarainen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Todorov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pikkarainen is out of range.
Pikkarainen takes a swing at Todorov's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Todorov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pikkarainen tries to bum rush Todorov with a series of wild strikes but Todorov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Todorov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pikkarainen sprawls well initially but Todorov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pikkarainen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Todorov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Todorov's back!
Todorov wants to control his opponent's hands but Pikkarainen gets his hands free.
Todorov looking very determined here, making life difficult for Pikkarainen.
Todorov just trying to survive but Pikkarainen is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pikkarainen slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Todorov is keeping busy.
Todorov is trying to break free.
Pikkarainen is trying to stick to Todorov's back but Todorov is turning into Pikkarainen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Pikkarainen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Todorov.
Todorov trying to control the position from guard on top but Pikkarainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen is trying to keep Todorov in close.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Todorov stopping the sweep attempt from Pikkarainen.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Pekka Pikkarainen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Pikkarainen has his takedown stuffed

and Todorov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Todorov.
Todorov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pikkarainen's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Todorov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Todorov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Todorov lands a nice short elbow.
Todorov slips a nice elbow through Pikkarainen's hands, connecting with Pikkarainen's forehead.
Todorov trying to control the action but Pikkarainen is working from the bottom.
Pikkarainen wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todorov winds up and cracks Pikkarainen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Todorov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Todorov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Todorov trying to control the action but Pikkarainen is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pikkarainen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pikkarainen is trying to control but can't.

Georgi Todorov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Todorov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Todorov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Pikkarainen down.
Pikkarainen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pikkarainen is looking to take a break and control but Todorov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Todorov tries to kick Pikkarainen off but Pikkarainen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Pikkarainen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Todorov is trying to stand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Todorov wants to get back to full guard.
Pikkarainen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Todorov defending well though.
Todorov is looking for a sweep. Pikkarainen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgi Todorov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A cross from Todorov lands.
Todorov just misses with a punch to the body.
Pikkarainen lands a two punch combo.
Some wild striking there from Todorov.
Pikkarainen misses with a wild combination.
Pikkarainen cracks Todorov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Pikkarainen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pikkarainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A combination from Pikkarainen does no damage.
Pikkarainen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Todorov's waist but Todorov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pikkarainen off to one side.
Todorov looks for the body kick but Pikkarainen saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pikkarainen throws a combination. Todorov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Todorov avoids the body shot from Pikkarainen.
Pikkarainen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pikkarainen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pikkarainen thows a body shot but no joy.
Todorov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Todorov dodges the punch combination from Pikkarainen.
Nice takedown defense from Pikkarainen. No joy for Todorov on that attempt.
A left lands for Pikkarainen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pikkarainen. Todorov does a little dance to reset his feet.
No joy there for Pikkarainen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen fails to land with a series of punches.
A swing and a miss from Pikkarainen.
Pikkarainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Todorov.
Todorov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Todorov misses with a body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Todorov. That's going to slow Pikkarainen down.
Pekka Pikkarainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Todorov tries to land a leg kick but Pikkarainen saw it coming and moves away.
Pikkarainen throws a looping overhand right but Todorov ducks down to avoid it.
Pikkarainen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pikkarainen thows a body shot but no joy.

Todorov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pikkarainen's guard.

Pikkarainen has his foot on Todorov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Todorov works his way back into a safe position though.
Todorov stopping the sweep attempt from Pikkarainen.
Pikkarainen is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Todorov wants to pass the guard but Pikkarainen is keeping the position.
Todorov chips away with some ground and pound.

Pikkarainen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Todorov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Todorov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Todorov landing some decent shots from guard.
Todorov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Pikkarainen keeping moving, preventing Todorov from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todorov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pikkarainen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Todorov passes Pikkarainen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Todorov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Todorov lands strikes from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pikkarainen wants to control but Todorov is keeping busy.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Georgi Todorov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Todorov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Pikkarainen trying to control but Todorov postures up.
Todorov trying to control the action but Pikkarainen is working from the bottom.

Pikkarainen is defending against the submission attempts here by Todorov.
Pikkarainen is staying active underneath Todorov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pikkarainen trying to control but Todorov postures up.
Pikkarainen is looking for a sweep. Todorov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Todorov working over Pikkarainen with some ground and pound. Pikkarainen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Todorov trying to control from half guard but Pikkarainen is working away.
Todorov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pikkarainen's head.
Pikkarainen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pikkarainen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Pikkarainen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Todorov.
Pikkarainen is looking for a sweep. Todorov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pikkarainen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Todorov is trying to control. Pikkarainen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Todorov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pikkarainen's head.

Pikkarainen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pekka Pikkarainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Todorov controlling the action here.
Todorov slips a nice elbow through Pikkarainen's hands, connecting with Pikkarainen's forehead.
Todorov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Todorov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Pikkarainen tries to get to full guard but Todorov has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Todorov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Todorov working over Pikkarainen with some ground and pound. Pikkarainen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen wants to control but Todorov is keeping busy.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Todorov lands a nice short elbow.
Todorov trying to control the pace.
Pikkarainen tries to kick Todorov off in order to stand up. Todorov Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Todorov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Pikkarainen can't do much from the bottom here.
Pikkarainen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pikkarainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Todorov cracks Pikkarainen with a big right hand but Pikkarainen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Todorov cracks Pikkarainen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Todorov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Todorov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Pikkarainen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Pikkarainen is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Todorov landing strikes.
Pikkarainen is still in real trouble! Can Todorov finish him?
Todorov in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Pikkarainen looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Todorov turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Georgi Todorov!
A very excited looking Georgi Todorov rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.