PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Pouta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sulevi Sammalharju (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sulevi Sammalharju has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Pekka Pouta's chin.

Pouta
vs
Sammalharju

175 cm
20
160 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

179 cm
19
169 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Pouta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sulevi Sammalharju!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sammalharju throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Pouta shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Pouta was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Pouta can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sammalharju is looking to escape.
Sammalharju tries to lock up and control but Pouta gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pouta looking to control but Sammalharju is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pouta scoring with strikes but Sammalharju is staying in there.
Pouta is landing with some decent strikes but Sammalharju is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Sammalharju is looking to improve his position but Pouta isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammalharju is squirming around, avoiding Pouta's attempts to control the action.
Pouta raining down shots from the mount!
Pouta prevents Sammalharju from getting the reversal.
Pouta sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Pouta throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Pouta can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sammalharju is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sammalharju avoids a series of strikes thrown by Pouta.
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.
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.
Pouta unloads with some shots from mount but Sammalharju bucks and avoids them well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sammalharju can do anything to dispel that myth.
Pouta punching from mount but Sammalharju doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Pouta looking to finish with strikes here!
Sammalharju is squirming around, avoiding Pouta's attempts to control the action.
Pouta landing punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pouta trying to control but Sammalharju is having none of it.
Pouta thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Sammalharju is squirming around, avoiding Pouta's attempts to control the action.
Pouta is really struggling to control Sammalharju but he's trying to hold on to the position.

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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pouta lands a big elbow.
Pouta tries to control but Sammalharju wriggling away.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Pekka Pouta just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sammalharju fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pouta dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pouta closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pouta lands in his opponent's guard.
Pouta wants to control from the top but Sammalharju keeps moving.
Pouta slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Pouta is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sammalharju is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Pouta wants to control but Sammalharju is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pouta controlling from side mount.
Pouta throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Sammalharju is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Pouta is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Pouta jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sammalharju is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sammalharju and Pouta has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sammalharju avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Pouta.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pouta trying to control the position but Sammalharju is working away.
Sammalharju looking for a sweep but Pouta has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pouta throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Sammalharju blocking the ground and pound.
Pouta content just to control the position here.
Pouta wants to control the action but instead Sammalharju gets a body lock and reverses into Pouta's guard! Nice work!
Sammalharju stops Pouta from standing up.
Sammalharju throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Sammalharju is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pouta is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Sammalharju sitting in guard here, content to control.
Sammalharju trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sammalharju controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sammalharju trying to control the position from guard on top but Pouta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Pouta dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sammalharju throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sammalharju tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pouta was well out of range. Poor timing from Sammalharju.
Sammalharju stuffs the takedown.
Sammalharju misses with a body shot.
Sulevi Sammalharju seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sammalharju throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pouta shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Sammalharju but Sammalharju pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sammalharju lands a right hook to the body.
Sammalharju throws a body punch but Pouta moves out of range.
Sammalharju dodges the punch combination from Pouta.
Pouta takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Pouta tries to clinch up.
Sammalharju lands with a nice body punch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sammalharju connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Sammalharju misses with a body shot.
Nice shot lands for Sammalharju.
Pouta shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pekka Pouta. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sammalharju throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Pouta will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sammalharju cracks a nice hook into Pouta's ribs.
Sammalharju changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pouta takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Sammalharju, as that shot connected.
A shot to de liver by Sammalharju. Beautiful body shot.
Pouta takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Sammalharju punishes Pouta's body with a nice straight punch.
Sammalharju scores with a one two! Pouta had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Pouta is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pouta takes a jab right on the kisser.
Oh Pouta is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pouta takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Pouta on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sammalharju is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pouta rather than just go for the knockout.
Sammalharju cracks Pouta on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Pouta falls backwards against the cage. Sammalharju follows up with more strikes that drop Pouta to his knees. Sammalharju keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Pouta! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sulevi Sammalharju!