PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yaroslav Borkechev (ranked 25496 p4p, 4253 weight class) and Pekka Perkalla (ranked 549 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Borkechev
vs
Perkalla

180 cm
23
155
1 - 4 - 0

170 cm
18
149
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid 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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yaroslav Borkechev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pekka Perkalla!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Perkalla decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Perkalla lands with a punch from half guard.
Borkechev is staying active underneath Perkalla, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Borkechev trying to control from the bottom.
Borkechev moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Borkechev 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.
Perkalla trying to control the position from guard on top but Borkechev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Perkalla cracks Borkechev with a solid left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borkechev has momentary wrist control but Perkalla slips an elbow through the middle.
Borkechev controls Perkalla momentarily but Perkalla frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Perkalla throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Borkechev managing to control the position.
Perkalla has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borkechev controls Perkalla momentarily but Perkalla frees himself.
Perkalla is working Borkechev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Perkalla trying to control the position from guard on top but Borkechev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Perkalla loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Perkalla looking to sit in guard and control but Borkechev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Perkalla is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Borkechev trying to control but Perkalla is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Perkalla controlling the position.

Borkechev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Borkechev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Borkechev trying to control the position from guard on top but Perkalla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Perkalla stuffs the takedown.
Borkechev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Perkalla avoids it really well and circles away.
Borkechev looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Perkalla ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Borkechev moves away.
Perkalla misses with a hook. Borkechev ducked under it nicely.

Perkalla looking to score a takedown here. Borkechev is defending well but Perkalla drives through and ends up in Borkechev's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Perkalla lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Perkalla working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Perkalla engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Perkalla cracks Borkechev with a solid left hand.
Borkechev keeping moving, preventing Perkalla from controlling successfully.
Perkalla scoring with some ground and pound.
Borkechev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Perkalla trying to control the position from guard on top but Borkechev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Perkalla pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Borkechev is keeping the position for now.
Borkechev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Perkalla controls the pace.
Perkalla landing with the ground and pound.
Borkechev keeping full guard, as Perkalla tries to pass.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Perkalla shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Perkalla showed some decent athleticism there.
Borkechev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Borkechev trying to hold on to Perkalla's head to control him but Perkalla postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Borkechev misses with an attempted mid kick.
Perkalla fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Borkechev manages to avoid it.

Borkechev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Borkechev stops a takedown attempt from Perkalla.

Borkechev tightens his grip and picks Perkalla up, before dumping him to the ground. Perkalla manages to land in guard.
Perkalla looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Borkechev trying to control the position from guard on top but Perkalla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Perkalla wants to sweep here but Borkechev controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perkalla controlling Borkechev's posture.
Borkechev trying to control the position from guard on top but Perkalla is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borkechev stopping the sweep attempt from Perkalla.
Borkechev wants to stand but Perkalla has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Perkalla.
Borkechev is working to avoid the ground and pound but Perkalla connects with a decent elbow.
Perkalla cracks Borkechev with a big right hand but Borkechev just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Borkechev is rocked!
Perkalla working the ground and pound from side control.
Oh Borkechev is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Borkechev is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
A big shot lands for Perkalla! That's hurt Borkechev! Will he recover? Perkalla fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Pekka Perkalla!