PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Knot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arash Bourkadi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Knot
vs
Bourkadi

175 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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, Oliver Knot!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arash Bourkadi!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Knot darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Knot tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Bourkadi.
Knot seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bourkadi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Knot controlling the action here.

Bourkadi is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Knot pulls his head out easily.

Knot is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bourkadi trying to control here.
Knot performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bourkadi throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Bourkadi is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Knot fakes the leg kick and cracks Bourkadi in the body.

Bourkadi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bourkadi looks gassed!
Bourkadi is pulling down on Knot's head. It's preventing any offense from Knot, at least for the moment.
Knot preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knot avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Knot seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Knot trying to control the position from guard on top but Bourkadi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knot lands a couple of elbows.

Bourkadi has his foot on Knot's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knot works his way back into a safe position though.
Knot wants to control from the top but Bourkadi keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Knot is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knot controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Bourkadi working for a triangle but Knot defends it easily.
Knot is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bourkadi trying to keep a closed guard but Knot is proving a slippery customer.
Bourkadi throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Knot wants to control from the top but Bourkadi keeps moving.
Knot lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Knot passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Knot controlling the action here.
Bourkadi manages to get to full guard.

Bourkadi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Knot can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oliver Knot dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Knot closes the distance and clinches.

Knot gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Bourkadi regains guard.

Bourkadi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Knot would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Bourkadi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bourkadi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Bourkadi had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Knot is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Bourkadi Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Knot's back instead.
Bourkadi scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Bourkadi gets his hands free as Knot looks to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bourkadi is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Knot knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Knot for a finish.
Bourkadi has Knot flattened out and is raining down punches.
Knot breaks Bourkadi's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bourkadi looking for a guillotine here but Knot defends easily.
Knot won't allow Bourkadi to sweep him here.

Bourkadi looking for a guillotine here but Knot defends easily.
Knot looking to pass the guard.
Knot has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knot trying to control but Bourkadi is working from the bottom.
Knot passes Bourkadi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Knot is thwarting Bourkadi's attempts to control the position.
Knot works his foot free and advances to mount.
Bourkadi is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knot with shots to the head and body - Bourkadi looks very uncomfortable down there.
Bourkadi is looking to get to half guard.
Bourkadi slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bourkadi manages to get to full guard.
Bourkadi looking to control.
Knot advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourkadi manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Bourkadi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Knot's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Knot's back!

Bourkadi is working on the RNC. He looks like he's got it but Knot won't tap... Oh, he's out! The ref rips Bourkadi off his unconscious opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Arash Bourkadi!