PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darren Escoba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Punahilkka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Punahilkka is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Mäihä Show feat. Punahilkka. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Escoba
vs
Punahilkka

180 cm
19
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
20
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 2

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue 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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Darren Escoba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 2, fighting out of London, Pekka Punahilkka!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Donald Grub and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Escoba misses with the combination.
Escoba lands a right hook to the body.
Escoba swats away the attempt to clinch by Punahilkka.
Escoba throws a right and a left that Punahilkka avoids nicely.
Escoba digs a good body shot into Punahilkka's ribs.
Escoba misses with a double jab.
Punahilkka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Escoba is fending him off so far but Punahilkka persists. Nope, Escoba circles away and we're back to standing.
Escoba misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Punahilkka.
Punahilkka drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Punahilkka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Escoba.
Escoba misses with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Punahilkka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Escoba connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Punahilkka momentarily.
A jab from Escoba does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Escoba stuns Punahilkka with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Punahilkka tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Escoba was well out of range. Poor timing from Punahilkka.
Escoba misses with a body shot.
Escoba lands a jab to Punahilkka's midsection.
Escoba throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Escoba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Escoba misses with a double jab.
Escoba cracks a nice hook into Punahilkka's ribs.
Escoba throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Punahilkka.

Punahilkka closes the distance and pushes Escoba back into the cage.
Escoba can't get the takedown.
Punahilkka dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Escoba wants a takedown but no success here.

Punahilkka jumps guard.
Escoba throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Punahilkka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punahilkka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Escoba wants to stand but Punahilkka is controlling his posture from full guard.
Escoba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Punahilkka wants to sweep here but Escoba controlling him for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Punahilkka wants to clinch.
Punahilkka is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punahilkka clinches up against the cage.
Punahilkka tries a knee to the head but Escoba blocks it.
Escoba managing to block the knees to the body from Punahilkka.
The referee is keeping an eye on Punahilkka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Escoba has clasped his hands together around Punahilkka's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Escoba misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Punahilkka tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Escoba wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Punahilkka is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Escoba looks up at the clock and then as Punahilkka takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Escoba smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Punahilkka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Punahilkka on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Punahilkka tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escoba lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Punahilkka down.
Sloppy strikes there by Escoba.
Escoba fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Punahilkka throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Escoba connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Punahilkka some visible discomfort.

Escoba decides to stand up, so the ref orders Punahilkka to his feet.
Escoba misses with a jab, cross combination.
Escoba looks to throw the jab but Punahilkka is out of range.
Darren Escoba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Punahilkka dodges the punch combination from Escoba.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Escoba fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Punahilkka manages to avoid it.

Punahilkka moves into the clinch successfully.
Escoba goes for a takedown attempt but Punahilkka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Escoba dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Punahilkka is looking to clinch but Escoba is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Punahilkka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Escoba throws a sloppy body shot

and Punahilkka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Escoba is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Punahilkka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Punahilkka trying to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Punahilkka.
Escoba has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Punahilkka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Punahilkka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Escoba lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Punahilkka effectively controlling the action here.
Escoba can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Escoba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Escoba can't get the takedown.
The referee is keeping an eye on Punahilkka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Escoba tries for a takedown. No joy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Escoba tightens his grip and picks Punahilkka up, before dumping him to the ground. Punahilkka manages to land in guard.
Punahilkka pulls Escoba in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punahilkka wants to sweep but no luck.
Punahilkka is trying to control the position but Escoba postures up.
Escoba won't allow Punahilkka to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Punahilkka is on top in guard.
Punahilkka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Escoba trying to control the position.
Escoba wants to stand and escape but Punahilkka is having none of it.
Escoba keeping moving, preventing Punahilkka from controlling successfully.
Escoba on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Escoba tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Punahilkka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Escoba is keeping the position for now.
Escoba wants to sweep but no luck.
Escoba is trying to keep Punahilkka in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Escoba keeps the fight on the outside.
Escoba misses with a wild body shot.
Escoba swats away the attempt to clinch by Punahilkka.
Punahilkka tries to clinch up but Escoba circles away and keeps his distance.

Punahilkka clinches up with Escoba and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escoba has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Punahilkka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Punahilkka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Escoba has had enough of the clinch but Punahilkka keeps him there for the moment.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Punahilkka.
Escoba drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Escoba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Escoba goes for a takedown attempt but Punahilkka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Punahilkka fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Escoba.

Punahilkka fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Escoba sprawls well initially but Punahilkka persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Punahilkka stalling.

Punahilkka is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Escoba defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punahilkka thows a huge punch but Escoba dodges it nicely.
Punahilkka missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Punahilkka wants to control but Escoba is keeping him busy.
Punahilkka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Escoba defending well though.
Punahilkka wants to control but Escoba is keeping him busy.
Punahilkka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Escoba's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Escoba displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Punahilkka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Escoba drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Escoba wants a takedown but no success here.
Punahilkka prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darren Escoba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body punch from Punahilkka.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Punahilkka takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Punahilkka receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Escoba is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Come on Punahilkka - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Punahilkka is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Escoba can't fight it off and eventually Punahilkka manages to take the fight to the floor. Escoba looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Escoba wants to sweep here but Punahilkka controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punahilkka trying to control the position from guard on top but Escoba is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Punahilkka distracts Escoba with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Escoba is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Punahilkka is controlling him.
Punahilkka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Escoba is keeping the position for now.
Escoba keeping moving, preventing Punahilkka from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Escoba controls Punahilkka momentarily but Punahilkka frees himself.
Punahilkka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Punahilkka darts in and clinches Escoba up against the cage.
Punahilkka presses Escoba against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Punahilkka just leaning against Escoba, taking a breather.
Escoba is trying to drag Punahilkka to the mat but Punahilkka just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The referee is keeping an eye on Punahilkka - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Escoba wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Punahilkka has him pressed against the cage.
Punahilkka prevents Escoba from breaking the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Escoba tries for a takedown. No joy.
Escoba looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Escoba is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Punahilkka taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Punahilkka lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Escoba or not.
Escoba working hard to break the clinch.
Escoba tries for a takedown. No joy.
Escoba wants a takedown.
Nice elbow from Punahilkka.

It looks like Darren Escoba has been cut.
A short right from Punahilkka.
Punahilkka is leaning against Escoba and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Punahilkka has Escoba pressed against the cage.
Escoba tries to break the clinch but Punahilkka is controlling the position.
Punahilkka lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Punahilkka is pressed up against the cage. Escoba has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Punahilkka down to the mat. Punahilkka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Escoba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Punahilkka.
Punahilkka tries to clinch but Escoba is having none of it.
Punahilkka tries to bum rush Escoba with a series of wild strikes but Escoba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Escoba throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Punahilkka counters with a good low kick that Escoba was not able to check.

Punahilkka instigates a clinch.

Punahilkka gets control of Escoba's arms and successfully pulls guard. Punahilkka will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Punahilkka tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Punahilkka is trying to keep Escoba in close.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Punahilkka is on top in guard.
Punahilkka content to stall in guard here.
Escoba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Punahilkka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Punahilkka has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Punahilkka!