PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Perkalla (ranked 1585 p4p, 3158 weight class) and Piotr Astasius (ranked 134 p4p, 226 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Perkalla
vs
Astasius

170 cm
20
149
6 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
155
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pekka Perkalla!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Piotr Astasius!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perkalla looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Astasius is fending him off so far but Perkalla persists. Nope, Astasius circles away and we're back to standing.
Pekka Perkalla seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Perkalla.
Astasius tries to clinch up but Perkalla circles away and keeps his distance.
Astasius defending well as Perkalla loads up on a big left hand.
Astasius closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Perkalla throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Astasius.
Astasius throws a hook to the side of Perkalla's head but Perkalla sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Astasius throws a right and a left that Perkalla avoids nicely.
Astasius throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Perkalla sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Perkalla shoots in and bounces Astasius off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Perkalla cracks Astasius with a solid left hand.
Astasius wants to control but Perkalla passes easily into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Perkalla working over Astasius with some ground and pound. Astasius looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkalla is controlling the pace.
Perkalla drops an elbow to the side of Astasius's head.
Perkalla looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Astasius with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Perkalla blocks the strikes from Astasius.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Perkalla is thwarting Astasius's attempts to control the position.
Perkalla is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Perkalla lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla winds up and cracks Astasius with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Well, if Perkalla is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Astasius has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Perkalla is working away from the top position though.
Perkalla has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Perkalla lands strikes from half guard.
Perkalla is thwarting Astasius's attempts to control the position.
Astasius wants to get back to full guard but Perkalla has mounted him!
Astasius is squirming around, avoiding Perkalla's attempts to control the action.
Astasius really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Perkalla. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla with the ground and pound from mount.
Astasius is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Astasius really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Astasius is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Perkalla landing punches.
Astasius working to try and regain half guard.
Perkalla controlling his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Astasius is bucking up trying to escape but Perkalla cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla controlling from the full mount.
Perkalla unloading with bombs!
Astasius tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Perkalla lands a big shot there that rocks Astasius but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Astasius is bucking up trying to escape but Perkalla cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Perkalla pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Perkalla scoring with strikes but Astasius is staying in there.
Perkalla landing shots from mount.
Astasius is desperately trying to improve his position but Perkalla has a good base and remains in mount.
Perkalla landing strikes from the mount.
We've been hearing that Perkalla has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Perkalla raining down hammerfists from mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Perkalla dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Astasius misses with a body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Perkalla misses the target.
Astasius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Perkalla.

Perkalla shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Astasius manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Perkalla looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Astasius wants to control but Perkalla passes easily into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perkalla winds up and cracks Astasius with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Perkalla in particular looking to stall.
Perkalla blocks the strikes from Astasius.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkalla controlling the action here.
Perkalla is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Astasius is trying to maintain the position but Perkalla is very close to passing his half guard.
Astasius trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Perkalla manages to pass to mount!
Astasius is looking to improve his position but Perkalla isn't that keen on the idea.
Astasius sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astasius is trying to control but can't.
Astasius taking some punishment here, with Perkalla in his half guard.
Astasius misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Astasius is trying to get back to full guard.
Perkalla works his foot free and advances to mount.
Astasius is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla controlling the position easily from mount.
Astasius tries to hold on but Perkalla pushes him away.
Perkalla working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Perkalla controlling from the full mount.
Perkalla postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Astasius looks a forlorn figure.
Astasius tries to hold on but Perkalla postures up.
Perkalla pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Perkalla is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Astasius can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Astasius tries to hold on but Perkalla pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Perkalla.
Astasius tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Perkalla postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Astasius looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Astasius is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Perkalla landing shots from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Perkalla has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Astasius's face.
Perkalla scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Perkalla dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Astasius moves into the clinch.
Astasius misses with a hook from the clinch.
Astasius struggles to land a body shot inside as Perkalla controls his hands.

Perkalla breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Astasius has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Perkalla is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Astasius gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Perkalla to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Astasius working a defensive guard but Perkalla passes into half guard.
Perkalla wants to lay and pray for a moment but Astasius keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice strikes from Perkalla there.
Astasius wants to control but Perkalla is keeping busy.
Perkalla is nestled in close to Astasius, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Perkalla.
Perkalla is taking a breather. Astasius 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.
Astasius is trying to maintain the position but Perkalla is very close to passing his half guard.
Still in half guard, Perkalla seems content to control.
Perkalla working Astasius over with strikes.
Perkalla stalling.
Perkalla lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Astasius really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Perkalla looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Astasius wants to control but Perkalla is having none of it.
Pekka Perkalla overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Perkalla is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Astasius can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Perkalla lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Astasius is trying desperately to improve position.
Astasius tries to hold on but Perkalla pushes him away.
Perkalla lands a couple of good shots and Astasius has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Perkalla scores with punches to the body.
Perkalla lands with a hammerfist to the side of Astasius's head.
Astasius is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Perkalla throwing damaging strikes from the back! Astasius could be in trouble here!
Perkalla controls the position.
Perkalla scores with punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla softening up his opponent with strikes here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Perkalla gets his hands free as Astasius looks to control.
Perkalla lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Astasius.
Perkalla has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Astasius's body.
Astasius tries to roll but Perkalla sticks to his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Perkalla clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Perkalla closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Perkalla lands in his opponent's guard.
Astasius tries to strike from the bottom.
Perkalla looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Perkalla seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Astasius for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Astasius is striking from the bottom but Perkalla uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Astasius is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Perkalla scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkalla working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Perkalla winds up and cracks Astasius with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Perkalla winds up and cracks Astasius with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Astasius wants to control but Perkalla is keeping busy.
Perkalla working Astasius over with strikes.
Astasius flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Perkalla is looking to advance position but Astasius won't allow it.
Astasius tries to get to full guard but Perkalla has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Perkalla slips a nice elbow through Astasius's hands, connecting with Astasius's forehead.
Perkalla is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Perkalla is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Perkalla is nestled in close to Astasius, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla is thwarting Astasius's attempts to control the position.
Astasius has hold of Perkalla's hands but Perkalla slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Perkalla working Astasius over with strikes.
Perkalla not doing much here.
Perkalla continues to stall.
Astasius trying to control but Perkalla postures up.
Perkalla keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
More hug and hope from Perkalla.
Perkalla blocks the strikes from Astasius.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Perkalla is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Perkalla is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Perkalla seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Astasius is trying to maintain the position but Perkalla is very close to passing his half guard.
Perkalla blocks the strikes from Astasius.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Perkalla had his way with Piotr Astasius in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Astasius as Perkalla shoots in.
It seemed like Astasius was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Astasius keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Astasius misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Astasius throws a good cross that connects.
A combination from Astasius does no damage.
Perkalla misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pekka Perkalla. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Perkalla or perhaps it was just good defense by Astasius, which made it look bad.

Perkalla drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Perkalla working the ground and pound.
Perkalla cracks Astasius with a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astasius tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Perkalla wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Perkalla working the ground and pound from side control.
Astasius is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Perkalla's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Astasius wants to improve his position but Perkalla is controlling well.
Perkalla drops an elbow to the side of Astasius's head.
Perkalla looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Perkalla is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Perkalla drops an elbow to the side of Astasius's head.
Pekka Perkalla is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Perkalla's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Astasius wants to get back to full guard.
Perkalla seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Astasius just misses with a punch to the body.
Astasius misses with a double jab.
Perkalla works the jab nicely.

Perkalla darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Piotr Astasius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Astasius is looking to control Perkalla's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Astasius avoid being mounted?
Perkalla slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Astasius looks like he's trying to stand up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Perkalla showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Perkalla, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 50:42
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 50:42
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 50:42

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Perkalla!
Pekka Perkalla retains his featherweight title!
A victorious Pekka Perkalla thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.