PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damien Byrkjelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ken Sawakita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Byrkjelo comes to the cage accompanied by Skindred, no body. Ken Sawakita has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Damien Byrkjelo's chin.

Byrkjelo
vs
Sawakita

198 cm
18
259 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Damien Byrkjelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ken Sawakita!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sawakita has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Byrkjelo.
Byrkjelo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sawakita's waist but Sawakita gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Byrkjelo off to one side.
A big left from Sawakita misses.
Sawakita lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Sawakita tries to keep at a distance but Byrkjelo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sawakita drops down looking for an ankle pick but Byrkjelo pulls his leg out and moves away.
Byrkjelo misses with a takedown
and Sawakita counters with a lovely straight right hand!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sawakita defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Byrkjelo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damien Byrkjelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Byrkjelo looks to clinch
and Sawakita counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sawakita lands a nice hook to Byrkjelo's body. Byrkjelo takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Byrkjelo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Byrkjelo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sawakita is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sawakita wants the takedown. Byrkjelo is fighting it off but Sawakita persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Byrkjelo's guard against the cage.
Sawakita postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Byrkjelo striking off his back but it's not causing Sawakita any problems.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byrkjelo keeping moving, preventing Sawakita from controlling successfully.
Sawakita must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Byrkjelo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Byrkjelo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sawakita's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Sawakita stopping the sweep attempt from Byrkjelo.
Sawakita landing with the ground and pound.
Sawakita wants to control from the top but Byrkjelo keeps moving.
Sawakita wants to pass the guard but Byrkjelo is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sawakita avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Byrkjelo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sawakita gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Byrkjelo trying to control the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sawakita wants to pass the guard but Byrkjelo is keeping the position.

Sawakita gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Byrkjelo tries to close the distance and clinch but Sawakita swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sawakita misses with a hook.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Byrkjelo is defended easily by Sawakita.
Byrkjelo misses with a takedown
and Sawakita counters with a nice body shot.
Byrkjelo is breathing heavily.
Sawakita lands the left hand.
Sawakita lands an overhand right.
Sawakita cracks Byrkjelo with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sawakita misses with a series of wild punches.
Good exchange - Sawakita coming out on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sawakita connects with a crisp jab.
Sawakita keeps the fight on the outside.
Sawakita jabs Byrkjelo to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Byrkjelo gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Byrkjelo is rocked!
Sawakita dances in with a quick combination. Byrkjelo is being worked over with jabs and crosses. Oooh, a right straight from Sawakita snaps Byrkjelo's head back. Byrkjelo stumbles backwards against the cage. Sawakita steps forward and delivers a right cross that connects with Byrkjelo's jaw, simultaneously knocking him out and sending his mouthpiece into the crowd! There's a worthy souvenir for the fans. This one is over folks. Byrkjelo just didn't come prepared.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Ken Sawakita!