PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Herbert Chavez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Rekola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Chavez
vs
Rekola

175 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

179 cm
25
149 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Herbert Chavez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Rekola!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rekola shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Chavez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rekola preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rekola seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rekola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chavez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chavez pulls Rekola in close to prevent any damage.
Rekola has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Rekola throwing strikes from guard but Chavez blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chavez 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.
Rekola not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekola throws a big elbow that misses.
Rekola with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rekola lands a couple of digs.
Rekola looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Rekola sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Chavez's guard.
Rekola tries to stand and escape but Chavez is controlling the position.

Rekola is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rekola is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chavez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rekola.
Rekola is looking to take a break and control but Chavez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rekola passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Chavez!
Rekola trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chavez is in a horrible position here. Rekola smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rekola sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Rekola controlling from the full mount.
Rekola working Chavez over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rekola controlling his opponent.
Rekola manages to capitalize on a mistake by Chavez to take his back!
Rekola is looking to control Chavez but Chavez is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Rekola avoiding Chavez 's attempts to control his hands.
Rekola controlling the position well here. Chavez rolled but Rekola kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Chavez covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A bit of a pause in the action here. Rekola controlling the positon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liam Rekola dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rekola drives through with a takedown into Chavez's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Rekola is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rekola trying to control the position from guard on top but Chavez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chavez wants to hit a switch here but Rekola passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Chavez there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rekola controlling from the full mount.
Rekola's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekola tries to control but Chavez wriggling away.
Chavez tries to hold on but Rekola pushes him away.
Rekola wants to take Chavez's back here but Chavez is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Chavez blocking the ground and pound.

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.
Rekola controlling his opponent.
Rekola landing shots from mount.
Chavez is looking to improve his position but Rekola isn't that keen on the idea.
Rekola looking to control but Chavez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Rekola avoids the attempt from Chavez to control.
Rekola lands a nice shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rekola wants to finish this one by submission but Chavez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rekola.
Chavez wants to hold on but Rekola pushes him away.
Chavez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Rekola tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Rekola has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chavez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Chavez is squirming around, avoiding Rekola's attempts to control the action.
Chavez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rekola in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Chavez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rekola on the ground.
Chavez is working to get back to half guard.
Rekola looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

Chavez is rocked!
Rekola postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Chavez in real trouble here! The ref calls for Chavez to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Liam Rekola!