PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kustaa Pohjanala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Vo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kustaa Pohjanala has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pohjanala
vs
Vo

168 cm
23
142 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
23
135 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Poison Apparel

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 - 3 - 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 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, David Vo!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Pohjanala on the side of the head.
Pohjanala dodges the punch combination from Vo.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch but Vo is avoiding it.
Vo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Vo lands a slapping body shot.
Vo throws a one two combo.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch.
Vo swinging wilding here.

Pohjanala pushes Vo up against the cage in a clinch.
Vo managing to block the knees to the body from Pohjanala.
Pohjanala trying to land knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Vo has hold of one of Pohjanala's legs. Pohjanala is fighting the takedown attempt but Vo gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Pohjanala working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vo trying to move into half guard but instead Pohjanala has managed to sweep!

Pohjanala thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pohjanala stopping the sweep attempt from Vo.
Pohjanala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Pohjanala drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pohjanala jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pohjanala trying to control the position from guard on top but Vo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pohjanala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vo is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice shot lands for Vo.
Vo throws a right and a left that Pohjanala avoids nicely.

Pohjanala darts in and clinches Vo up against the cage.
Pohjanala pressing his opponent against the cage.

Pohjanala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vo jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Pohjanala has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Jab, jab by Vo - just one landing.
Pohjanala slips a jab and a cross from Vo.
Pohjanala misses with a head kick.
David Vo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Vo does no damage.
Some wild striking there from Vo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vo throws a series of punches but Pohjanala avoids them all with ease.
Vo misses with a wild combination.
Pohjanala misses with a head kick.
Vo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pohjanala throws a head kick but Vo moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Vo.
Pohjanala moves in looking to clinch but Vo pushes him off.
Vo stalks Pohjanala and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Pohjanala's face. Pohjanala staggers backwards, shaken.
Vo swats away the attempt to clinch by Pohjanala.
Vo lands a nice looking body shot.
Pohjanala is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Pohjanala tries to clinch but Vo moves out of range.
Vo sizes up Pohjanala with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Vo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Pohjanala moves in looking to clinch but Vo pushes him off.
A right-left combo lands from Vo.
Vo stuns Pohjanala with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Vo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Vo misses with a few strikes there.
Vo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Pohjanala on the side of the head.
Pohjanala fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vo lands a jab-cross combination.
Vo circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Vo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Vo swinging wilding here.
Vo misses with a two punch combination.
Vo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pohjanala.
Pohjanala feints and then cracks Vo's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Vo down.
No joy there for Vo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vo misses with a two punch combination.
Vo lands with a nice body punch.

Pohjanala drives through and clinches with Vo against the cage.

Pohjanala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nice shot lands for Vo.
Pohjanala shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Vo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vo fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pohjanala fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kustaa Pohjanala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pohjanala wants to clinch up but Vo keeps it at a distance.
Vo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pohjanala fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pohjanala gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Vo is working the combinations to good effect here.

Pohjanala closes the distance and clinches.
Pohjanala with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Vo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pohjanala prevents it.
Vo takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two 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 lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vo being controlled against the cage.
Vo avoiding damage as Pohjanala throws knees to the body.
Come on Pohjanala - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pohjanala tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Vo avoiding damage as Pohjanala throws knees to the body.
Vo tries to pull guard but Pohjanala won't allow it.
Vo managing to block the knees to the body from Pohjanala.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Vo managing to block the knees to the body from Pohjanala.
Pohjanala lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Pohjanala is pressed up against the cage. Vo 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 David Vo.
Vo throws a right and a left that Pohjanala avoids nicely.
Vo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vo fails to land with a series of punches.
Vo keeps the fight on the outside.
Vo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Nice body punch from Vo.
Pohjanala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vo tries to bum rush Pohjanala with a series of wild strikes but Pohjanala uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vo connects with a crisp jab.
Pohjanala showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vo.
Pohjanala tries to clinch there but Vo circles away.
Pohjanala throws a low kick but Vo avoids it.
Vo misses with a double jab.
Pohjanala misses with a body shot.

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 has Vo up against the cage in a clinch.
Pohjanala pressing his opponent against the cage.
Vo tries to pull guard but Pohjanala won't allow it.
Pohjanala landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pohjanala misses with an elbow over the top.
Pohjanala trying to land knees to the body.
Pohjanala with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vo avoiding damage as Pohjanala throws knees to the body.
Pohjanala stalling against the cage.
Pohjanala tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Vo avoiding damage as Pohjanala throws knees to the body.
Vo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vo tries to pull guard but Pohjanala holds him up against the cage and eventually Vo drops back down to his feet.
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 Kustaa Pohjanala 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vo throws a nice looking combination but Pohjanala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch.
Vo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pohjanala tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Vo misses.
Vo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Vo keeps the fight on the outside.
Vo swats away the attempt to clinch by Pohjanala.
Pohjanala looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Vo throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vo tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pohjanala tries to clinch up.
Pohjanala doesn't manage to clinch there - Vo circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vo misses with a few strikes there.
Vo cracks a nice hook into Pohjanala's ribs.
Vo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vo keeps the fight on the outside.
Pohjanala has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Vo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vo fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch but Vo is avoiding it.
David Vo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch but Vo is avoiding it.
Pohjanala misses with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Vo blocks the body kick.
Good work by Vo as he checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vo looks to land a combination. Pohjanala sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
A leg kick checked by Vo.
Vo keeps the fight on the outside.
Vo looks to throw the jab but Pohjanala is out of range.
Pohjanala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pohjanala takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Pohjanala walks into a stiff left hand from Vo.
Vo lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Pohjanala is looking to clinch.
Vo throws a nice looking combination but Pohjanala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pohjanala takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Pohjanala tries to clinch up.
Pohjanala moves in looking to clinch but Vo pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pohjanala is looking to clinch but Vo is avoiding it.
Vo throws a right and a left that Pohjanala avoids nicely.
Pohjanala dodges the punch combination from Vo.
Pohjanala tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Pohjanala closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pohjanala lands an elbow inside.
Vo jumps guard but Pohjanala stands there with Vo around his waist. Vo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vo tries to pull guard but Pohjanala won't allow it.
Vo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kustaa Pohjanala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Vo.
Pohjanala throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pohjanala trying to land knees to the body.
Pohjanala crunches a lovely knee into Vo's ribcage.
Vo letting Pohjanala take a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pohjanala using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Pohjanala is pressed up against the cage. Vo 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.
Vo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A left and a right from Vo both land. Nice combination.
Vo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pohjanala walks into a stiff left hand from Vo.
Vo scores with a three punch combo!
Pohjanala tries to clinch there but Vo circles away.
Good exchange - Vo coming out on top.
Pohjanala throws a leg kick which misses Vo's front leg but catches the back leg as Vo tries to avoid it.
Vo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pohjanala takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Vo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Vo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vo 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Vo!