PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Mendes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Pikkarainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pekka Pikkarainen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mendes
vs
Pikkarainen

182 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
163 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Mendes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pikkarainen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pikkarainen stuffs the takedown attempt from Mendes. Mendes gets slowly back to his feet.
Pikkarainen looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Pikkarainen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pikkarainen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nice sprawl there from Pikkarainen as Mendes shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Mendes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pikkarainen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Mendes has taken the fight to the clinch.

Mendes successfully pulls guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pikkarainen wants to stand but Mendes is controlling his posture from full guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mendes holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mendes is on top in guard.
Pikkarainen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mendes controls the pace.

Michael Mendes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Mendes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Mendes stands up from half guard.

Mendes drives through and clinches with Pikkarainen against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen is trying to break the clinch but Mendes has him pressed against the cage.
Pikkarainen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Mendes jumps guard.
Mendes is adopting a defensive guard.
Mendes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Pikkarainen's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mendes throwing strikes from guard but Pikkarainen blocks nicely.
Mendes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Pikkarainen being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pikkarainen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mendes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Pikkarainen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mendes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mendes is pushing down on Pikkarainen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pikkarainen is fighting to maintain full guard but Mendes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Mendes working over Pikkarainen with some ground and pound. Pikkarainen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mendes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Pikkarainen for as long as he can get away with.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Mendes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Mendes shoots in for a takedown but Pikkarainen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Mendes clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Mendes dominated that round.
That's time! Mendes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mendes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Mendes stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Mendes instigates a clinch.

Pikkarainen is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mendes is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Pikkarainen to the mat. Pikkarainen regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Mendes controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mendes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Pikkarainen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mendes controls the pace.
Pikkarainen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Michael Mendes.
Mendes throws a sloppy head kick and Pikkarainen moves out of range easily.
Mendes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pikkarainen sprawls well. Pikkarainen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mendes gets slowly back to his feet.
Pikkarainen checks a leg kick.

Mendes dives in and scores a takedown into Pikkarainen's guard.

Mendes gets to his feet. Pikkarainen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Mendes jabs at Pikkarainen's body.
Mendes throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Mendes shoots in looking for a takedown. Pikkarainen tries to sprawl out of it but Mendes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pikkarainen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Mendes moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mendes drags the fight down to the ground.

Pikkarainen has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Mendes to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Pikkarainen is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Mendes pulls down on the head and he's put Pikkarainen to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Michael Mendes!