PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eero Jukola (ranked 1459 p4p, 1631 weight class) and Tommy Walcott (ranked 161 p4p, 180 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jukola
vs
Walcott

165 cm
33
148
20 - 10 - 0

170 cm
40
144
34 - 25 - 3

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

HELLBENT

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 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eero Jukola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 25 - 3, fighting out of Montreal, Tommy Walcott!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Bruno Hogan and Ben Hemmingworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Jukola throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Walcott throws out a counter right but Jukola avoids it with no problem.
Walcott misses with an uppercut
and Walcott takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jukola swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Jukola takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A slapping leg kick lands for Jukola.
Jukola swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Walcott drops his hands momentarily and Jukola takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Jukola turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Eero Jukola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jukola moves away from the strike by Walcott.
A quick step to the side and Jukola tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jukola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Jukola misses with the body kick
and Walcott counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jukola slips a straight right by Walcott.
Jukola appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Walcott uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jukola.
Walcott lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Jukola misses with a body punch
enabling Walcott to counter with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jukola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Walcott was well out of range. Poor timing from Jukola.

Walcott has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
I was talking to Jukola's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Jukola lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Walcott backwards.
Walcott tries to work over Jukola's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Walcott blocks a body shot from Jukola.
Jukola lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Walcott gets underhooks to prevent Jukola's takedown attempt.
Walcott tries to work over Jukola's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Walcott.
Jukola doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Walcott misses with a punch on the inside.
Jukola blocking some punches.
A hook to the body from Walcott.
Walcott blocks a body shot from Jukola.
Walcott tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Walcott lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jukola backwards.
Jukola content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Walcott throws a punch but it's blocked by Jukola.
Walcott throws a punch but it's blocked by Jukola.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jukola works on Walcott's body with a couple of short punches.
Jukola misses with a short punch on the inside.
Walcott misses with a short punch on the inside.
Walcott misses with some punches.
Walcott digs a right hand underneath Jukola's ribcage. Jukola let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Walcott lands a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Walcott doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Walcott works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Walcott misses with a punch on the inside.
Walcott scores with a nice hook to the head.
Walcott tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jukola's elbow.
Walcott lands an uppercut.
Good body shot from Jukola.
Walcott stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Walcott throws a head punch that misses.
Walcott blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Walcott lands an uppercut.
Jukola misses with a body punch.
Walcott scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walcott lands a body shot.
Walcott has a couple of punches blocked by Jukola.
Walcott has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Jukola seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Walcott can turn it around.
Walcott misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Walcott lands with a short shot to the head.
Walcott lands a left hand that snaps the head of Jukola backwards.
Jukola misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Jukola misses with a punch on the inside.
Walcott lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jukola backwards.
Walcott lands a left hand that snaps the head of Jukola backwards.
Jukola taking a breather.
Jukola struggles to land a body shot inside as Walcott controls his hands.
Walcott misses with a body punch.
Jukola stalling.
Walcott tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jukola lands with a short shot to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jukola.
Walcott blocks an uppercut.
Walcott doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jukola lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walcott doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Walcott prevents a body shot from Jukola.

Jukola pulls guard successfully.
Jukola trying to control the position.
Jukola pulls Walcott in close to his closed guard and prevents Walcott from doing any damage or advancing position.
Jukola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Walcott looking to sit in guard and control but Jukola gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jukola is stalling in the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Walcott dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jukola throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Walcott cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jukola lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jukola fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Walcott on the side of the head.
Walcott misses the jab.
Jukola lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Walcott at a distance.
Jukola tries to land a front kick but Walcott steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Jukola misses with a body punch
and Walcott counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jukola cracks Walcott with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Eero Jukola is winning the standup battle so far.
Jukola throws a hook to the side of Walcott's head but Walcott sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Jukola finds it's way through Walcott's defenses.
Jukola wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good standup being displayed there by Jukola as he connects with a hook.
Walcott throws a body punch but Jukola moves out of range.
Walcott ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola throws out a leg kick but Walcott moves out of range and Jukola only half commits.
Jukola does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Walcott let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Walcott misses with a straight right.
Walcott lands a jab to Jukola's midsection.

Walcott fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jukola, pushing him back against the cage.
Walcott working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Walcott pushes Jukola back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Walcott misses with a short punch on the inside.
A right hand to the body from Walcott.
Walcott tries to work over Jukola's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jukola goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jukola goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Jukola lands a nice shot to the body.
Walcott blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jukola misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Jukola scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Walcott creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Jukola fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jukola lands with a right to the head.
Walcott misses with a body punch.
Jukola throws a head punch that misses.
Walcott misses with a hook to the ribs.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jukola.
Walcott swings wildly with an uppercut but Jukola uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jukola lands with a light punch inside.
Jukola misses with the head strike.
A short left from Jukola.
Walcott tries to throw a body punch but Jukola avoids it by throwing Walcott back against the cage.
Jukola prevents a body shot from Walcott.
Jukola's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Walcott blocks an uppercut.
Walcott struggles to land a body shot inside as Jukola controls his hands.
Jukola misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walcott manages to break the clinch.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Jukola.
Tommy Walcott is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jukola throws a low kick, looking for Walcott's leg but Walcott calmly moves out of range.
Jukola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jukola throws a shot from downtown. Walcott moves away and avoids it.
Jukola throws a solid leg kick but Walcott takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Jukola.
Walcott scores with a nice strike.
Jukola feints and then cracks Walcott's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Walcott down.
Jukola tries a low kick but Walcott avoids it.
Jukola fails with a takedown attempt.
A lazy body kick from Jukola
letting Walcott counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walcott connects with an inside leg kick.
Walcott fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jukola tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Walcott swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jukola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Walcott was well out of range. Poor timing from Jukola.
Walcott misses with an uppercut.
A big right from Jukola misses.
Walcott misses with a right hand
and Jukola makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Walcott really felt that one!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Walcott misses with a straight right.
Walcott throws the left hand but Jukola avoids the punch easily.
Jukola throwing a counter right hand but Walcott manages to avoid it.
Jukola keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jukola swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Jukola throws a body kick that misses
and Walcott counters with a stiff right hand.
Walcott cracks Jukola with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Walcott ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jukola moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Eero Jukola will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jukola throws a leg kick
and Walcott counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Walcott misses with a wild body shot.
Jukola throws an overhand right that lands on Walcott's shoulder, as Walcott tries to avoid the shot.
Walcott keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jukola misses with a left hand
and Walcott counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Walcott displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jukola throws out the jab.
Walcott swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Jukola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Walcott manages to avoid it.
Jukola misses with a wild body shot.
Walcott lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A bone on bone clash there as Walcott blocks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jukola misses with a body shot.
Jukola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Walcott manages to avoid it.
Jukola misses with a left hand
and Walcott counters with a nice uppercut.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Jukola, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola looks to land a right hand but Walcott moved out of range.
A little jabbing left from Walcott on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A shot to the body from Jukola misses
and Walcott counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jukola throws a leg kick but Walcott sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Walcott throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jukola.
A nice inside leg kick there by Jukola. That's going to slow Walcott down.
Walcott works Jukola's body with a nice hook.
Jukola takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Jukola throws a leg kick
and Walcott counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jukola slips a straight right by Walcott.
Jukola is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Walcott just misses with a punch to the body.
Jukola is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Jukola misses with a hook
and Walcott counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jukola misses with a low kick as Walcott jumps back.
Walcott uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jukola.
Jukola takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Walcott throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Walcott checks a leg kick.
Jukola throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jukola cracks Walcott with a right hand to the side of the head.
Walcott takes a swing at Jukola's ribcage but misses.
Jukola connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Walcott wants to clinch up but Jukola keeps it at a distance.
Jukola misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Jukola misses the target.
Walcott was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jukola feints and then cracks Walcott's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Walcott down.

Walcott closes the distance and clinches.
Walcott working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Walcott stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Tommy Walcott seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Walcott blocking some punches.
Jukola blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Jukola scores with a nice short uppercut.
Walcott throws a head punch that misses.
Walcott lands a body punch.
Walcott fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Walcott misses with a hook to the ribs.
Jukola misses with a hook from the clinch.
Walcott doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jukola lands a right hand that snaps the head of Walcott backwards.
Walcott swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Walcott misses with a hook to the ribs.
Walcott tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jukola's elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jukola lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Walcott misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jukola taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Walcott misses with a punch on the inside.
Jukola gets through Walcott's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Walcott misses with a short punch on the inside.
Jukola scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jukola tries a body shot but Walcott blocks it.
Walcott blocks an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Walcott.
Jukola displaying some good clinch control by pressing Walcott up against the cage.
Jukola lands a nice uppercut.
Jukola fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jukola blocks an uppercut.
Jukola can't find room to land a body shot as Walcott controls the action.

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 Eero Jukola.
I think Jukola has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tommy Walcott!
Our winner, Tommy Walcott, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.