PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stacey Malouf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Puukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Malouf
vs
Puukko

184 cm
21
168 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

:: Happy Pills ::

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stacey Malouf!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Puukko!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Malouf drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Puukko looking for a sweep. Not yet Puukko, not yet.
Malouf controls from within his opponent's guard.
Malouf with a flurry of punches that miss.
Malouf wants to pass the guard but Puukko is keeping the position.
Puukko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Malouf looking to pass the guard.

Malouf drops back looking for a leg! Puukko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Puukko manages to kick Malouf off! Malouf jumps back into Puukko's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Puukko leaves Malouf with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malouf looks to land a combination but Puukko avoids it well.
A right-left combo lands from Malouf.
Puukko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Malouf counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Malouf preventing the sweep.

Malouf drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Puukko dives on top into guard.
Malouf is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Puukko passes Malouf's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Malouf trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malouf tries to roll over but Puukko keeps him under control.
Puukko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Malouf is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Puukko pulls his head out easily.
Malouf is breathing heavily.
Puukko not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Puukko wants to work for an arm triangle but Malouf is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Puukko postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Malouf to stand up.
Puukko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Malouf shoots in and drives through. Puukko sprawls well.
Puukko tries to work over Malouf's front leg with a kick but Malouf checks it.
Good work by Malouf as he checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Malouf is defended easily by Puukko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stacey Malouf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Puukko is looking to score with low kicks.
Puukko misses with a double jab.
Puukko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Malouf scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Puukko can't do much from the bottom here.

Malouf is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Puukko has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puukko tries to bench press Malouf off him but Malouf keeps the position.
Puukko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Malouf working away.
Malouf is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Puukko's shoulder. That is not cool.

Malouf thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

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

Puukko forces Malouf back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice uppercut there from Puukko.

It looks like Stacey Malouf has been cut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Malouf is defended easily by Puukko.
Puukko looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Puukko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Malouf scores with a punch to the head.
Puukko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Puukko looks to land a combination but Malouf avoids it well.

Puukko gets caught flat footed, as Malouf shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puukko trying to control the position.
Malouf stopping the sweep attempt from Puukko.
Puukko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Puukko wants to control the position but Malouf says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Puukko is trying to get back to full guard.
Malouf trying to control from half guard but Puukko is working away.
Puukko wants to control but Malouf passes into side.

Malouf wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Puukko, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Puukko struggling a bit here.
Puukko is looking to reverse the position.
Puukko is trying to control Malouf's posture but Malouf avoids it.
Puukko tries to bench press Malouf off him but Malouf keeps the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Malouf moves in looking to clinch but Puukko pushes him off.
Puukko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Tauno Puukko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Malouf scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malouf seems to be working for a kimura but Puukko defends the submission attempt.
Puukko is looking to improve his position.
Malouf is trying to control the action in half guard but Puukko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Puukko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Puukko.
Puukko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Puukko with the ground and pound from mount.

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.
Puukko lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Puukko swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Malouf is now in Puukko's guard. A big mistake from Puukko there, giving up the dominant position!
Puukko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Malouf slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Malouf preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Stacey Malouf will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Stacey Malouf's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Malouf shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Puukko's guard.
Stacey Malouf overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Malouf pushing down on Puukko's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Puukko manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Malouf looking to pass the guard.
Malouf in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Malouf trying to control the position from guard on top but Puukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Puukko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Malouf.
Puukko tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Puukko pushes Malouf off and scrambles back to his feet.
Stacey Malouf is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Puukko works over Malouf's head and body with a nice combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puukko moves out of range as Malouf strikes.

Malouf drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Puukko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Puukko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Malouf is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Puukko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Puukko is trying to control the position but Malouf postures up.
Puukko pulls Malouf in close to his closed guard and prevents Malouf from doing any damage or advancing position.
Puukko 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puukko trying to control the position.
Malouf tries to free his leg and advance position but Puukko is retaining full guard.
Malouf stopping the sweep attempt from Puukko.
Puukko pulls Malouf in close to prevent any damage.
Puukko wants to get back to his feet but Malouf passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malouf wants to work for an arm triangle but Puukko is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Puukko is trying to get back to full guard.
Puukko trying to control from the bottom.
Puukko is looking to improve his position.
Malouf wants to advance to full mount but Puukko doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Malouf's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Puukko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malouf is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Malouf working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Puukko 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Puukko throws a leg kick which misses Malouf's front leg but catches the back leg as Malouf tries to avoid it.
Malouf misses with an attempted mid kick.
Malouf closes the distance and clinches up with Puukko, looking for a takedown. Malouf pushes Puukko against the cage but Puukko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Malouf circles away from the clinch attempt.
Puukko throws a right and a left that both miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Stacey Malouf did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Stacey Malouf's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Puukko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Malouf cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Malouf lands with a nice body punch.

Malouf closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Malouf lands in his opponent's guard.
Puukko wants to sweep here but Malouf controlling him for the moment.
Malouf passes Puukko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Puukko is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puukko is in trouble now - Malouf has advanced to mount!

Puukko has left one of his arms exposed and Malouf doesn't need a second invitation. He's isolated it and locked on a tight armbar. Puukko screams and taps out, obviously in a lot of pain. Hopefully there isn't permanent damage to that arm.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:30 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Stacey Malouf!
Stacey Malouf retains his welterweight title!