PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tauno Potku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert Mules (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Potku
vs
Mules

185 cm
24
201 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

183 cm
21
192 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Potku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Robert Mules!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mules drops Potku with a beautiful combination! Potku stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Mules is looking for the KO!

It looks like Tauno Potku has been cut.
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!
Mules connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Potku is rocked!
Potku uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mules.
Oh Potku is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Mules swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Potku shoots in for a takedown but Mules shows good takedown defense.
Potku seems to have got his legs back now.
Mules rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Potku moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Robert Mules seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mules slaps away a takedown attempt from Potku, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Potku shoots for a double leg takedown but Mules sprawls well. He's pushed Potku's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tauno Potku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Potku fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Potku uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Mules.
Mules throws a jab but it's blocked by Potku.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Potku. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Mules looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku slips under a jab.
Mules loads up on a big right hand but Potku slips the punch.
Mules throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Potku.
Mules misses with an uppercut. Potku saw that one coming.

Mules tries to keep at a distance but Potku has taken the fight into the clinch.
Potku is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mules gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mules is pressed up against the cage. Potku has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Mules down to the mat. Mules avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mules looks to land a combination but Potku avoids it well.
Potku avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Potku ducks under a wild hook from Mules.

Potku closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mules to the mat! Mules manages to get full guard.
Mules tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku postures up in Mules's guard and throws a big left but Mules blocks it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Potku throws and elbow that misses. Mules uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Potku's guard. Nice move by Mules!

Mules stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Robert Mules is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Potku avoids a punch combination nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Mules misses the target.
Mules misses with a straight right.
Mules missing with a left hand there. Potku was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Mules tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Potku was well out of range. Poor timing from Mules.

Potku closes the distance and clinches.
Mules displaying some good clinch control by pressing Potku up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku taking a breather.
Mules lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mules wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Mules escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mules throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mules might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Mules looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Potku ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Potku shoots in for a takedown but Mules shows good takedown defense.
Mules jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mules looks to land a right hand but Potku moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mules misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Potku.
Mules throws a right and a left that both miss.

Potku feints and as Mules raises his hands in defense, Potku changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mules 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.
Potku works over Mules with some ground and pound from guard.
Potku passes into half guard.
Potku looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Potku is keen to just control but Mules is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Mules dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tauno Potku's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Potku moves out of range of the strikes.
Mules swings for the body but Potku moves out of range.
A jab from Mules misses.
Mules connects with a single shot there.
Mules misses with a straight right.
Potku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mules lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Potku circles away quickly and effectively.
Mules tries to bum rush Potku with a series of wild strikes but Potku uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mules misses with the combination.

Potku is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mules's half guard.
Mules is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku is keen to just control but Mules is a slippery customer.
Mules is trying to stand back up but Potku is controlling him
Potku thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mules's head.
Potku throwing shots but Mules is blocking nicely.
Potku throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mules is not content to let Potku control the position.
Potku is really struggling to control Mules but he's trying to hold on to the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
No joy there for Mules, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Potku defending well as Mules loads up on a big left hand.
Potku avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mules misses with an uppercut.
Mules misses with a wild combination.
Mules will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Potku has managed to clinch.
Potku prevents Mules from breaking the clinch.
Potku is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mules gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Potku drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mules gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Potku tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tauno Potku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mules breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Potku avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big left from Mules misses.
Mules looks to score with a jab to the body but Potku is just out of range.
Mules throws a body punch but Potku moves out of range.
Mules misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Potku.

Potku closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Potku working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Potku lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Potku is looking to take a break and control but Mules is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
An elbow from Potku crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potku throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Potku tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Potku has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Mules is looking to get back to his feet here but Potku is keeping cool and he's managed to take Mules's back.
Mules looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Potku connects with a big shot to the side of Mules's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Potku trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mules wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Potku dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tauno Potku's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mules misses with a straight right.
Mules throws an overhand right that lands on Potku's shoulder, as Potku tries to avoid the shot.
Mules displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Potku.
Mules scores with a body shot.
A big left from Mules misses.
Mules stuffs the takedown attempt from Potku. Potku gets slowly back to his feet.
Mules misses with a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Potku has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Mules finds it's way round the side to connect with Potku's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mules.
Mules tries to bum rush Potku with a series of wild strikes but Potku uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mules throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mules rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Potku moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mules waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Potku.
Potku shoots in but Mules avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tauno Potku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Potku slips a straight right by Mules.
Mules swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Potku changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mules tries to avoid it but Potku manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mules to the ground. Mules escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Mules gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Potku to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mules works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mules manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mules looking to control but Potku is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mules prevents Potku from getting the reversal.
Mules looking to control but Potku is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Potku is trying to escape the mount.
Mules sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Potku bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Potku stops Mules from standing up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Potku accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mules wants to sweep but no luck.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mules can do anything to dispel that myth.
Mules looking to control.
Potku wants to pass the guard but Mules is keeping the position.
Potku is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mules can't keep his opponent in guard - Potku advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Mules comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mules 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Mules!