PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Taisto Perälä (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Moe Lester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Perälä
vs
Lester

182 cm
29
175 lbs
26 - 10 - 0

180 cm
26
164 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

Bullet Proof System
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Taisto Perälä!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Moe Lester!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perälä throws a right hand that misses
and Lester counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Perälä throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lester on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Perälä. Perälä obviously looking to wear him down.
Perälä jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lester feints and then cracks Perälä's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Perälä down.
Lester chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Perälä can pounce on him.
Perälä swings widly with a right hand
enabling Lester to counter with a crisp jab.
Perälä moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Perälä wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Perälä ducks under a wild hook from Lester.
Lester takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Perälä cracks Lester with a right hand to the side of the head.
Lester just misses with a punch to the body.
Perälä quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Lester takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Perälä looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lester on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lester will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perälä scores with a shot to the body.
Perälä takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Lester scores with a nice strike.

It looks like Taisto Perälä has been cut.
Lester looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Lester ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lester is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Perälä with a body shot.
Good work by Perälä as he checks the leg kick.
Perälä scores with a leg kick.
Perälä keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lester tries to move into range but Perälä moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

It looks like Moe Lester has been cut.
Lester stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Perälä.
Perälä throws out a powerful jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lester. Perälä does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lester waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Perälä.
Moe Lester is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Perälä misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perälä takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Lester is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Perälä.
Lester throws a leg kick which misses Perälä's front leg but catches the back leg as Perälä tries to avoid it.
That kick from Perälä tenderised Lester's leg. Lester is trying to keep his angry face on.
Perälä thows a leg kick but Lester checks it
and Lester counters with a straight right hand.
Lester has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
That kick from Perälä tenderised Lester's leg. Lester is trying to keep his angry face on.
Perälä throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Lester has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Perälä finds it's way round the side to connect with Lester's head.
Lester looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Perälä misses with a wild body shot.
Lester throws out a counter right but Perälä avoids it with no problem.
Perälä moves out of range of the strikes.
Lester scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Perälä on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Perälä.
Nice body kick there by Perälä.
Perälä misses the shot to the body.
Lester connects with a jab.
Lester avoids a kick to the body.
A cross from Lester lands.
Lester slips under a jab from Perälä.
Perälä paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Perälä.
A nice inside leg kick there by Perälä. That's going to slow Lester down.
Perälä moves out of range as Lester strikes.
Perälä appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Perälä misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lester.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lester! But no joy.
Perälä dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lester. That did some damage!
Lester is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Perälä had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Perälä jabs Lester to the body, keeping him at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lester misses with a low kick.
Lester swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lester jabs Perälä to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Perälä fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lester has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lester misses with a left hand

and Perälä counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Perälä's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lester wants to get back to his feet but Perälä is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Perälä engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perälä pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lester is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Perälä dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Perälä fails with the takedown
letting Lester counter with a right hand.
Perälä lands with a good body shot.
Lester throws a lazy right hand but Perälä sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Lester's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Lester misses with an uppercut.
Perälä throws a chopping leg kick but Lester manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Perälä scores with a hook to the body. Lester takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Perälä cracks Lester with an open hand slap.
Lester moves out of range of the leg kick from Perälä.
Lester has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lester there as he acknowledges the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lester cracks Perälä with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Perälä throws a jab when Lester was well out of range.
The fighters circling - Lester throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Perälä half committed to a counter leg kick.
Perälä throws a leg kick
and Lester counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lester tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Perälä was well out of range. Poor timing from Lester.
Perälä checks a leg kick.
Lester keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Perälä.
Perälä connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Lester momentarily.
Lester misses the shot to the body.
Lester throws a lazy uppercut

so Perälä counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Perälä won't allow Lester to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lester is wriggling around but Perälä manages to pass to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Perälä is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Lester is looking to escape.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Perälä is trying to work for a kimura but Lester is defending well.
Lester is staying active underneath Perälä, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perälä is stalling here. Lester is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Perälä seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Lester has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Lester stands up.
Lester moves out of range of the body kick from Perälä.
Lester on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Perälä gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lester lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Perälä takes one on the button.
Lester throws the kick towards the body but Perälä avoids it.
Perälä checks a low kick from Lester.
Lester goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Perälä throws a leg kick
and Lester cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Perälä wants to slow Lester down by chopping away at his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lester fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Perälä is out of range.
Lester walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Lester loads up on a big right hand but Perälä slips the punch.
Lester throws a leg kick

and Perälä counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Perälä.

Lester manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Perälä misses the shot to the body.
Lester throws a leg kick which misses Perälä's front leg but catches the back leg as Perälä tries to avoid it.
Perälä ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lester moves away.
Lester catches Perälä with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Lester throws a nice inside leg kick.
Perälä walks into a jab.
Lester goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Moe Lester showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Lester gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Perälä.
Lester thuds his right hand into Perälä's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Perälä looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Lester is wriggling around but Perälä manages to pass to half guard.

Lester pushes Perälä off looking to stand but Perälä dives back in and keeps control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perälä is taking a breather. Lester says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lester makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Perälä swings widly with a right hand
and Perälä takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A thudding body kick lands there by Perälä!
Lester throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Perälä sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Perälä keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lester.
Perälä is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lester loads up on a big right hand but Perälä slips the punch.
Moe Lester seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Perälä lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Perälä throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lester sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lester scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Perälä has managed to clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lester misses with a hook from the clinch.
Perälä lands a hook to the side of the head.
Perälä makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Perälä gets through Lester's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Perälä.
Perälä is trying to pull guard but Lester has him pressed against the cage.
Lester lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Perälä blocks a body shot from Lester.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Perälä creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Perälä creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A right hand to the body from Perälä.
Lester lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Perälä or not.
Lester has a couple of punches blocked by Perälä.
Lester blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Perälä tries to throw a body punch but Lester avoids it by throwing Perälä back against the cage.
Lester lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perälä tries to work over Lester's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lester misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lester lands a hook that snaps the head of Perälä backwards.
Perälä tries a body shot but Lester blocks it.
Perälä goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Perälä's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lester waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Perälä.
Lester throws a jab but it's blocked by Perälä.
Perälä feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Lester feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Peräläs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Decent striking displayed by Perälä there.
Perälä throws a lazy uppercut
and Lester counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lester lands with a hook. Perälä tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Lester misses with an uppercut.
Perälä misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lester.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Perälä, right into the meat.
Lester feints and then cracks Perälä's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Perälä down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lester throws a jab when Perälä was well out of range.
Lester throws out a powerful jab.
The fighters circling - Lester throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Perälä feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Lester displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Perälä throws out the jab.
Lester pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Taisto Perälä seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lester throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Perälä lands with an overhand left.
Lester misses with a wild body shot.
Perälä drops down looking for a counter takedown but Lester sprawls and moves away.
Perälä moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Lester loads up on a big right hand but Perälä slips the punch.
Perälä looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Perälä throws a front kick aimed at Lester's knee but Lester avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Moe Lester just about did enough to take it.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Perälä's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Perälä wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Perälä misses with a low kick.
Perälä cracks Lester with a right hand to the side of the head.

Perälä gets a clinch.
Perälä fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lester fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Lester's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Perälä swings wildly with an uppercut but Lester uses good head movement to avoid it.
Perälä misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lester tries to circle away but Perälä has him pinned against the cage.
Taisto Perälä has scored more points in the clinch so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lester misses with the head strike.
Lester misses with a punch on the inside.
Lester blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Lester's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lester misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Perälä.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perälä looks to land a body kick but Lester moved away.
Perälä throws a right hand that misses
and Lester makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lester misses with a looping right.
Perälä blocks a low kick nicely.
Lester throws a hook but Perälä blocks it.
Lester uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Perälä.
Lester throws a looping overhand right but Perälä ducks down to avoid it.
Lester misses with an uppercut.
Lester misses with a hook
and Perälä counters with a nice body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Perälä. That snapped Lester's head back.
Lester is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Lester swings for the body but Perälä moves out of range.

Perälä clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perälä blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lester misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Perälä blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lester prevents a body shot from Perälä.
Lester being controlled against the cage.
Lester can't find room to land a body shot as Perälä controls the action.
Perälä tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lester's elbow.
Perälä wants to stall.
Lester misses with a body punch.
Lester digs a right hand into Perälä's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Perälä's gas tank.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lester working aggressively here.
Lester throws a punch but it's blocked by Perälä.
Perälä throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Lesters head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Perälä misses with a punch on the inside.
Perälä struggles to land a body shot inside as Lester controls his hands.
Perälä tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lester's elbow.
Perälä swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Perälä tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Perälä.
Perälä lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Perälä lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Lester backwards.
Perälä lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lester lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Perälä lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lester misses with the head strike.
Perälä pushes Lester back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lester misses with a punch on the inside.
Lester is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lester.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perälä lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lester throws a head punch that misses.
Perälä blocks a body shot from Lester.
Perälä misses with some punches.
Perälä working aggressively here.
Perälä lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Perälä throws a head punch that misses.
Perälä tries a body shot but Lester blocks it.
Perälä lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Perälä is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Lester is keeping busy.
Lester misses with a hook to the ribs.
Perälä working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Perälä scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lester.
Perälä misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lester works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taisto Perälä had his way with Moe Lester in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Perälä throws a body punch but Lester moves out of range.
Nice straight punches there by Lester. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Lester.
Lester slips a straight right by Perälä.
Lester scores with a leg kick.
Lester tries to work over Perälä's front leg with a kick but Perälä checks it.
Perälä ducks under a wild hook from Lester.
Perälä tried to counter with a leg kick but Lester avoided it.
Lester throws an overhand right that lands on Perälä's shoulder, as Perälä tries to avoid the shot.
Perälä catches Lester with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Perälä swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perälä gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lester misses with a hook
and Perälä counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Perälä feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lester's calf.
Perälä takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lester uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Perälä.
Perälä keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Perälä looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Lester lands a jab to Perälä's midsection.
Perälä throws a hook but Lester avoids it easily.
Lester throws an ugly left hook that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Lester uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Perälä.
Lester tries to score with a low kick but Perälä moves his leg out of the way.
Lester lands a glancing blow to the side of Perälä's head.
Lester throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Perälä counter with a right hand.
Perälä throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lester tries a quick counter leg kick but Perälä is wise to it.
Lester moves out of range as Perälä strikes.
Lester only half commits to the counter leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Perälä.
Perälä feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lester's calf.
Lester misses the shot to the body.
Perälä connects with a jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Perälä with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Perälä lands with a nice body punch.
Perälä avoids the body shot from Lester.
Perälä goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Perälä thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lester thows a left - swing and a miss!
Perälä takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Perälä shoots for a takedown but Lester saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perälä slips under a jab from Lester.
Perälä cracks a nice hook into Lester's ribs.
Perälä fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lester checks it well.
A chopping leg kick lands by Perälä.
Lester just misses with a punch to the body.
Perälä avoids the body shot from Lester.
Lester throws a hook to the side of Perälä's head but Perälä sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Good exchange - Lester coming out on top.
Lester throws a big shot that misses.
Lester lands an overhand right.
Perälä misses with a combination
enabling Lester to counter with a crisp jab.
Perälä throws a leg kick which misses Lester's front leg but catches the back leg as Lester tries to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lester fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lester connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Perälä's hands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Perälä takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Lester takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lester misses with an uppercut.
Perälä ducks under a wild hook from Lester.
Lester throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Perälä throws a leg kick that misses.
Perälä takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Perälä misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lester.
Lester steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Perälä scores with a jab. Lester acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Perälä on the wrong end of a nice jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Moe Lester.
I think Lester 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 48:48
Judge James Glass scores the fight 47:48
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a majority draw!