PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Stevie Hanselman (ranked 1901 p4p, 1978 weight class) and Pekka Perkalla (ranked 150 p4p, 155 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.

Hanselman
vs
Perkalla

167 cm
20
141
4 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
149
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Stevie Hanselman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pekka Perkalla!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Perkalla misses the target.
Sloppy strikes from Hanselman. Those never looked like landing.
A jab from Perkalla misses.
Perkalla bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Perkalla swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Perkalla throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Perkalla misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hanselman.
Perkalla scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Perkalla misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Perkalla takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Perkalla ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hanselman fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Perkalla on the side of the head.
Hanselman misses with a hook.
Perkalla lands a really nice looking cross but Hanselman seems unphased.
Stevie Hanselman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Perkalla throws a right hand that Hanselman ducks under and follows up with a left that Hanselman also avoids with ease.
Hanselman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Perkalla is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hanselman rather than just go for the knockout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Perkalla tries to move into range but Hanselman moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkalla throws a body shot but no joy.
Perkalla throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hanselman scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hanselman throws a jab when Perkalla was well out of range.
A little jabbing left from Perkalla on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Perkalla slips a jab and a cross from Hanselman.
Hanselman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Perkalla sprawls well. Perkalla wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hanselman gets slowly back to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Hanselman.
A countering left hand to the body from Perkalla misses.
Perkalla digs a good hook to Hanselman's body.
Hanselman on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Pekka Perkalla is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hanselman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hanselman throws an overhand right that lands on Perkalla's shoulder, as Perkalla tries to avoid the shot.
Hanselman misses with an uppercut. Perkalla saw that one coming.
Perkalla looks to score with a jab to the body but Hanselman is just out of range.
Hanselman is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hanselman.
The crowd cheers as Hanselman lands an impressive looking overhand right. Perkalla doesn't seem phased though.
Hanselman throws a jab but it's blocked by Perkalla.

Hanselman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Perkalla works his way to full guard. Good work.
Perkalla has Hanselman pulled in close to control his posture.
Perkalla wants to sweep here but Hanselman controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hanselman is fighting to break Perkalla's control of his arms but Perkalla is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hanselman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Perkalla looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Hanselman clinches up against the cage.
Hanselman effectively controlling the action here.
Hanselman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Hanselman has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Perkalla is trying to keep an underhook but Hanselman manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanselman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Perkalla is working to get back to half guard.
Hanselman looking to finish Perkalla with some ground and pound. This is bad for Perkalla!
Perkalla tries to lock up and control but Hanselman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Perkalla is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Perkalla tries to hold on but Hanselman pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Hanselman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hanselman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hanselman on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Perkalla scores with a hook to the body. Hanselman takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Perkalla stuns Hanselman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Perkalla pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hanselman cracks Perkalla with a good jab.
Perkalla blocks a jab.
Hanselman thows a left - swing and a miss!
Perkalla let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Perkalla ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hanselman moves away.
A little feinted left hand from Hanselman on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perkalla walks into a jab.
Hanselman is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Perkalla misses the shot to the body.
Perkalla steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hanselman.
Hanselman scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Hanselman.
Hanselman lands a jab.
Hanselman throws a big shot that misses.
Perkalla lunges at Hanselman with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hanselman's hand.
Perkalla moves away from the strike by Hanselman.
Hanselman walks into a left hand.
Perkalla has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
A big right from Hanselman misses.
Perkalla tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hanselman was well out of range. Poor timing from Perkalla.
Perkalla moves out of range as Hanselman strikes.
Perkalla appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hanselman clobbers Perkalla with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Hanselman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Perkalla regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hanselman.
We've been hearing that Hanselman has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Perkalla is striking but Hanselman is not phased and passes to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanselman is looking to take a break and control but Perkalla is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Perkalla regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hanselman.
Perkalla preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Perkalla wants to sweep here but Hanselman controlling him for the moment.
Perkalla seems keen to control Hanselman's posture.
Hanselman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Perkalla has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hanselman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hanselman throws a big elbow that misses.
Perkalla can't keep his opponent in guard - Hanselman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Perkalla moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Perkalla is trying to control the position but Hanselman postures up.
Perkalla working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hanselman.
Perkalla is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hanselman throwing strikes from guard but Perkalla blocks nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hanselman shoots in but Perkalla avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Perkalla punishes Hanselman's body with a nice straight punch.
Perkalla takes a swing at Hanselman's ribcage but misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stevie Hanselman dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Perkalla stuffs the takedown attempt from Hanselman. Hanselman gets slowly back to his feet.
Hanselman cracks Perkalla with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hanselman lands with an overhand left.
Perkalla misses with a wild body shot.
Hanselman misses with an uppercut.
Hanselman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Perkalla swings for the body but Hanselman moves out of range.
Hanselman throwing a counter right hand but Perkalla manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanselman lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Perkalla moves out of range as Hanselman strikes.
A nice side step and Perkalla releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hanselman throws a nice looking combination but Perkalla bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Perkalla swings away with a body shot that misses
and Hanselman cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hanselman looks to land a left hand but Perkalla moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanselman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hanselman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Perkalla slips a jab and a cross from Hanselman.
Hanselman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Perkalla counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stevie Hanselman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Perkalla slips under a jab.
Perkalla swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Perkalla tries to bum rush Hanselman with a series of wild strikes but Hanselman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Perkalla gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hanselman.
Hanselman doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hanselman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Perkalla let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Perkalla scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hanselman doesn't seem bothered though.
Perkalla tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hanselman was well out of range. Poor timing from Perkalla.
Hanselman misses with a hook.
A swing and a miss from Hanselman.
A countering left hand to the body from Perkalla misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hanselman.
Hanselman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Perkalla can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanselman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hanselman uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Perkalla.
Perkalla throws a body shot but no joy.
Perkalla moves away from the strike by Hanselman.
Perkalla dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body punch from Perkalla.
Hanselman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Perkalla.
Hanselman walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hanselman swinging wildly here.
Hanselman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Perkalla.
Perkalla swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hanselman lands with a hook. Perkalla tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hanselman avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hanselman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Perkalla.
Stevie Hanselman is winning the standup battle so far.
Hanselman shoots in for a takedown but Perkalla shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hanselman or perhaps it was just good defense by Perkalla, which made it look bad.
Perkalla drops his hands momentarily and Hanselman takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Perkalla slips under a jab.
Perkalla let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Hanselman connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Perkalla connects with a body shot.
Perkalla staying out of range there.
A countering left hand to the body from Perkalla misses.
Hanselman doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Perkalla moves forwards but Hanselman connects with a nice, crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkalla staying out of range there.
The fighters circle momentarily. Perkalla darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
No joy there for Hanselman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Perkalla dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Perkalla tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hanselman was well out of range. Poor timing from Perkalla.
Perkalla takes a swing at Hanselman's ribcage but misses.
Hanselman seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Perkalla slips a straight right by Hanselman.
A nice side step and Perkalla releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hanselman tries to move into range but Perkalla moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hanselman misses with a wild combination.
Perkalla looks to score with a jab to the body but Hanselman is just out of range.
Perkalla swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pekka Perkalla has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stevie Hanselman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Perkalla gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hanselman throws a shot from downtown. Perkalla moves away and avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stevie Hanselman.
Well Hanselman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stevie Hanselman!