PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Manvel Gamburyan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kustaa Pohjanala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gamburyan comes into the arena with Gamburyan vs. Brown on April 24th blaring out of the sound system. Pohjanala has chosen AC/DC - Hard as a Rock as his entrance music. Manvel Gamburyan had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 146.7lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. This should be a great matchup!

Gamburyan
vs
Pohjanala

165 cm
35
159 lbs
8 - 16 - 0

168 cm
37
157 lbs
26 - 25 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 8 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Manvel Gamburyan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kustaa Pohjanala!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pohjanala closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pohjanala lands in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Gamburyan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Pohjanala throwing strikes but missing.

Gamburyan is looking for a triangle but Pohjanala pushes his legs off easily.

Pohjanala has gone for a leg lock! Gamburyan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pohjanala's guard.
Pohjanala being controlled here, momentarily.
Pohjanala keeping moving, preventing Gamburyan from controlling successfully.
Gamburyan controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gamburyan wants to control from the top but Pohjanala keeps moving.

Manvel Gamburyan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
A jab lands there for Pohjanala.
Pohjanala misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pohjanala throws a body punch but Gamburyan moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Pohjanala misses the target.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Gamburyan.
Gamburyan throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala scores with a nice head shot.
Pohjanala lands a nice hook to Gamburyan's body. Gamburyan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Manvel Gamburyan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gamburyan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gamburyan fails with the takedown
and Pohjanala counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gamburyan uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pohjanala.
Gamburyan misses with a takedown attempt
and Pohjanala counters with a left and a right that stings Gamburyan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manvel Gamburyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pohjanala shoots in but Gamburyan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gamburyan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pohjanala counters with a right hand to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pohjanala dips to his left and cracks Gamburyan with an uppercut!
Pohjanala scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gamburyan doesn't seem bothered though.
Gamburyan has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Pohjanala finds it's way round the side to connect with Gamburyan's head.
Gamburyan throws a right hand that Pohjanala ducks under and follows up with a left that Pohjanala also avoids with ease.
Pohjanala scores with a jab. Gamburyan acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Gamburyan closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pohjanala's guard.
Gamburyan is breathing heavily.
Gamburyan loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala keeping moving, preventing Gamburyan from controlling successfully.
Gamburyan content to stall in guard here.

Pohjanala throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gamburyan postures up in Pohjanala's guard and throws a big left but Pohjanala blocks it.
Pohjanala keeping moving, preventing Gamburyan from controlling successfully.
Gamburyan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pohjanala is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Manvel Gamburyan wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Pohjanala pushes Gamburyan up against the cage in a clinch.

Gamburyan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gamburyan looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gamburyan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Pohjanala circles away.
Gamburyan tries for a takedown but Pohjanala sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gamburyan takes an elbow to the temple.
Pohjanala gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Pohjanala tries to throw a body punch but Gamburyan avoids it by throwing Pohjanala back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pohjanala successfully pulls guard.

Pohjanala looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
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!
Gamburyan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Kustaa Pohjanala will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gamburyan on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Pohjanala checks a leg kick.
Gamburyan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pohjanala.
Gamburyan fails with the takedown
and Pohjanala counters with a nice uppercut.
Gamburyan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Pohjanala as he avoids it easily.
Gamburyan misses with a wild combination.
Gamburyan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Manvel Gamburyan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gamburyan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pohjanala makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but Gamburyan is having none of it.
Manvel Gamburyan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pohjanala takes a swing at Gamburyan's ribcage but misses.
Gamburyan wants to land a leg kick but Pohjanala is out of range.

Gamburyan shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gamburyan was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Manvel Gamburyan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gamburyan throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Pohjanala works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pohjanala trying to control here.
Pohjanala manages to get to full guard.
Gamburyan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Gamburyan trying to control the position from guard on top but Pohjanala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pohjanala is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gamburyan defends well.
Gamburyan trying to control but Pohjanala is working from the bottom.

Pohjanala is looking for a triangle but Gamburyan pushes his legs off easily.
Gamburyan looking to sit in guard and control but Pohjanala gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Gamburyan pulls Pohjanala in close to prevent any damage.
Gamburyan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gamburyan is trying to control the position but Pohjanala postures up.

Gamburyan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pohjanala doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pohjanala manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Gamburyan throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Gamburyan pulls Pohjanala in close to prevent any damage.
Pohjanala trying to control the position from guard on top but Gamburyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pohjanala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pohjanala trying to control but Gamburyan is working from the bottom.

Pohjanala is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamburyan keeping moving, preventing Pohjanala from controlling successfully.
Gamburyan tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Pohjanala got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gamburyan has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pohjanala has managed to get both his arms back between Gamburyan's legs - danger averted.
Gamburyan keeping moving, preventing Pohjanala from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pohjanala sitting in guard here, content to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Kustaa Pohjanala hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Gamburyan thuds a left hand into Pohjanala's body.
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 Manvel Gamburyan will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Gamburyan shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pohjanala but Pohjanala pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pohjanala checks a low kick from Gamburyan.

Gamburyan gets caught napping as Pohjanala dives in and scores a takedown. Gamburyan manages to retain guard.
Pohjanala loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Pohjanala is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Pohjanala advances to half guard.

Pohjanala is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gamburyan trying to hold on to Pohjanala's head to control him but Pohjanala postures up.

Pohjanala is looking for a kimura here.
Pohjanala not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gamburyan is defending against the submission attempts here by Pohjanala.
Pohjanala prevents Gamburyan from improving his position.

Pohjanala is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gamburyan has managed to free his arm - good work.
Gamburyan trying to control here.
Gamburyan is not content to let Pohjanala control the position.

Pohjanala is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gamburyan defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pohjanala is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Gamburyan is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pohjanala pulls his head out easily.

Pohjanala is looking for a kimura but Gamburyan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pohjanala to get the leverage.
Gamburyan trying to control from the bottom.
Gamburyan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pohjanala.

Gamburyan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pohjanala trying to control the action but Gamburyan is working from the bottom.
Gamburyan wants to control but Pohjanala passes into side.

Pohjanala tries for a kimura but Gamburyan is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pohjanala thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gamburyan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pohjanala off and has taken his back!
Pohjanala tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Gamburyan trying to control but Pohjanala is having none of it.
Gamburyan is landing with some decent strikes but Pohjanala is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Gamburyan is trying to take his opponent's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gamburyan looking to ground and pound but Pohjanala is blocking nicely.
Gamburyan controlling the position easily from mount.
Gamburyan scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Gamburyan throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Pohjanala is squirming around, avoiding Gamburyan's attempts to control the action.

Gamburyan is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Pohjanala has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Pohjanala!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pohjanala trying to control the position from guard on top but Gamburyan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kustaa Pohjanala.
I think Pohjanala 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kustaa Pohjanala!