PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kustaa Pohjanala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack BlackBelt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Pohjanala
vs
BlackBelt

168 cm
22
142 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

160 cm
19
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jack BlackBelt!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pohjanala clinches.
Pohjanala lands a nice knee to the body.
Pohjanala is pressed up against the cage. BlackBelt has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pohjanala down to the mat. Pohjanala avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
BlackBelt shoots in but no luck this time.
Pohjanala throws a quick head kick that skims the top of BlackBelt's head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pohjanala looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pohjanala cracks the inside of BlackBelt's front leg.

Pohjanala has BlackBelt up against the cage in a clinch.
Pohjanala lands a knee to the head.

Pohjanala breaks the clinch.
BlackBelt swats away the attempt to clinch by Pohjanala.
Pohjanala connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but BlackBelt moves out of range.
Pohjanala throws a one two combo.
BlackBelt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pohjanala tries to clinch there but BlackBelt circles away.
Pohjanala tries to clinch there but BlackBelt circles away.
BlackBelt keeps the fight on the outside.

Pohjanala clinches.
Pohjanala content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Pohjanala lands a nice knee to the body.
BlackBelt is working for takedown but Pohjanala is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kustaa Pohjanala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack BlackBelt.
BlackBelt can't get the takedown.
Pohjanala landing knees to the body.
BlackBelt can't get the takedown.
BlackBelt looks gassed!
BlackBelt tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Pohjanala just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Pohjanala.
BlackBelt has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pohjanala is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pohjanala lands a knee to the body.

Pohjanala manages to break the clinch.
BlackBelt takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
BlackBelt on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Pohjanala. Pohjanala obviously looking to wear him down.

BlackBelt drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BlackBelt advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

BlackBelt jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Pohjanala is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Pohjanala and BlackBelt has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
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!

BlackBelt tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no BlackBelt has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
BlackBelt 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.

BlackBelt is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pohjanala knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Pohjanala manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BlackBelt gets back to full guard.
Pohjanala wants to control from the top but BlackBelt keeps moving.
Pohjanala stays in close to BlackBelt's body and controls the position.
Pohjanala trying to control the position from guard on top but BlackBelt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
BlackBelt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

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 won't allow BlackBelt to sweep him here.
Pohjanala tries to free his leg and advance position but BlackBelt is retaining full guard.
BlackBelt wants to sweep but no luck.
Pohjanala wants to pass the guard but BlackBelt is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

BlackBelt closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - BlackBelt lands in his opponent's guard.
BlackBelt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Pohjanala holds on and takes a little breather.
BlackBelt trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pohjanala's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kustaa Pohjanala 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.

Pohjanala lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pohjanala throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Pohjanala takes the fight into the clinch.
Pohjanala unloads a knee to the mid-section. BlackBelt lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
BlackBelt is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Pohjanala pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Pohjanala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
BlackBelt takes a kick to the side of the head.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch but BlackBelt is avoiding it.
BlackBelt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch but BlackBelt is avoiding it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pohjanala tries to close the distance and clinch but BlackBelt swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pohjanala scores with a nice body kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Pohjanala manages to break the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pohjanala.
Pohjanala tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but BlackBelt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pohjanala tries to clinch there but BlackBelt circles away.
BlackBelt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
BlackBelt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pohjanala wants to clinch up but BlackBelt keeps it at a distance.
Kustaa Pohjanala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pohjanala is looking to slow BlackBelt down with leg kicks.
BlackBelt circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pohjanala closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pohjanala's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Pohjanala gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Pohjanala prevents the takedown attempt.
Pohjanala landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pohjanala landing knees to the body.
Pohjanala is pressed up against the cage. BlackBelt has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pohjanala down to the mat. Pohjanala avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kustaa Pohjanala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack BlackBelt.
Good leg kick by Pohjanala there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Pohjanala moves into the clinch.
BlackBelt has Pohjanala pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pohjanala manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pohjanala with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pohjanala prevents a takedown attempt there.
BlackBelt has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pohjanala is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Pohjanala tries to break the clinch but BlackBelt is controlling the position.
BlackBelt is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Pohjanala lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

BlackBelt has Pohjanala pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. BlackBelt pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Pohjanala tumbling to the mat - BlackBelt dives into Pohjanala's guard.
BlackBelt trying to control but Pohjanala is working from the bottom.
Pohjanala looking for a sweep. Not yet Pohjanala, not yet.
Pohjanala is working hard here to advance position.
BlackBelt stands and throws Pohjanala's legs to the side, diving into side control.

BlackBelt is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Pohjanala looks calm but he's in trouble here. BlackBelt gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Pohjanala is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! BlackBelt lets go of the hold and Pohjanala can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jack BlackBelt!