PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Glazkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joulu Pukki (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.

Glazkov
vs
Pukki

188 cm
24
217 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

179 cm
21
215 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aleksandr Glazkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joulu Pukki!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Glazkov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pukki to score with a decent uppercut.
Pukki cracks Glazkov with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Pukki slips a jab from Glazkov.
Glazkov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Glazkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pukki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Glazkov misses with a wild body shot.
Pukki throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Glazkov's waist but Glazkov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pukki off to one side.
Pukki scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Glazkov doesn't seem bothered though.
Pukki missing with a left hand there. Glazkov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pukki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pukki looks to land a right hand but Glazkov moved out of range.
Glazkov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pukki manages to avoid it.
Glazkov wants to clinch up but Pukki keeps it at a distance.

Glazkov darts in and clinches Pukki up against the cage.
Pukki avoids the elbow strike from Glazkov, against the cage.
Pukki blocks an elbow strike.
Glazkov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Glazkov throws an elbow but it misses.
Pukki goes for a takedown attempt but Glazkov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Pukki lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Glazkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pukki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Glazkov tries to clinch but Pukki is having none of it.
Aleksandr Glazkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Glazkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pukki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pukki keeps the fight on the outside.
Glazkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pukki circles away quickly and effectively.
Glazkov misses with the combination.
No luck for Pukki with that takedown attempt.
Aleksandr Glazkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joulu Pukki.
Pukki scores with a three punch combo!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Glazkov enables Pukki to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Glazkov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pukki wants to control from the top but Glazkov keeps moving.
Glazkov wants to get back to his feet but Pukki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukki controlling from the top position.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Glazkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pukki thows a big elbow that misses.
Glazkov is trying to keep Pukki in close.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Glazkov moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Glazkov lands a nice elbow.
Glazkov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Glazkov looking to stall.
Glazkov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Glazkov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Glazkov lands a shoulder strike.
Pukki has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Glazkov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Glazkov misses with an elbow over the top.
Glazkov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Glazkov.
Pukki fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Pukki is working for takedown but Glazkov is calmly controlling the position for now.
With the fighters up against the cage, Glazkov throws an elbow but misses.
Glazkov lands with a short shot to the head.
Glazkov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Glazkov misses with an elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Glazkov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pukki's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pukki is working for takedown but Glazkov is calmly controlling the position for now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Glazkov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pukki blocks an uppercut.
Pukki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Glazkov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pukki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Glazkov has managed to clinch.
Glazkov wants to get back to striking at distance but Pukki won't allow it.
Pukki tries for a takedown. No joy.
Glazkov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pukki dodges an elbow strike from Glazkov.
Glazkov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Glazkov misses with an elbow over the top.
Pukki blocks the elbow strike.
Glazkov misses with the head strike.

Pukki pulls guard effortlessly.
Glazkov stopping the sweep attempt from Pukki.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joulu Pukki will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Glazkov wants to clinch.

Glazkov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Pukki won't allow Glazkov to sweep him here.
Pukki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Glazkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Pukki trying to control but Glazkov is working from the bottom.
Pukki is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joulu Pukki.
Glazkov wants to clinch up but Pukki keeps it at a distance.
Aleksandr Glazkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Glazkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pukki shoots in for a takedown but Glazkov shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Glazkov doesn't manage to clinch there - Pukki circles away.
Glazkov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pukki fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pukki throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Glazkov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pukki.
Glazkov moves in looking to clinch but Pukki pushes him off.
Glazkov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pukki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pukki has a takedown stuffed.
Glazkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pukki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Glazkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pukki scoring well with a low kick there.

Glazkov has managed to clinch.
Glazkov misses with an elbow strike.
Glazkov throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Joulu Pukki has been cut.
Glazkov looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Glazkov breaks from the clinch.
Glazkov moves in looking to clinch but Pukki pushes him off.
Pukki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Glazkov's calf.
Pukki loads up on a big right hand but Glazkov slips the punch.
Pukki tries to bum rush Glazkov with a series of wild strikes but Glazkov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Glazkov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Glazkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pukki fails to land the takedown.
Aleksandr Glazkov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joulu Pukki.
The fight stays on the outside here - Glazkov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pukki fails to land the takedown.
Glazkov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pukki is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four 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.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pukki. Glazkov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pukki swats away the attempt to clinch by Glazkov.
Some wild striking there from Pukki.
Glazkov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pukki.

Glazkov rushes Pukki and presses him up against the cage.
Glazkov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Pukki blocking some punches.
Glazkov prevents the takedown attempt.
Pukki is trying to drag Glazkov to the mat but Glazkov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
With the fighters up against the cage, Glazkov throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pukki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Glazkov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Glazkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pukki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joulu Pukki will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Joulu Pukki's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pukki misses with an uppercut.
Glazkov tries to clinch but Pukki moves out of range.
Glazkov tries to clinch up but Pukki circles away and keeps his distance.

Pukki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Glazkov's guard.
Glazkov wants to stand up but Pukki is controlling him.
Pukki trying to control but Glazkov is working from the bottom.
Pukki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Glazkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pukki trying to control but Glazkov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joulu Pukki.
Glazkov moves in looking to clinch but Pukki pushes him off.

Glazkov closes the distance and pushes Pukki back into the cage.
Glazkov misses with an elbow over the top.
Pukki has Glazkov pressed against the cage, preventing Glazkov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Pukki gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Pukki wants to control from the top but Glazkov keeps moving.
Pukki is looking to work some ground and pound but Glazkov has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Glazkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pukki content to stall in guard here.
Pukki thows a big elbow that misses.
Glazkov wants to stand and escape but Pukki is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pukki working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Pukki moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Pukki works to advance to full mount. Glazkov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Pukki trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joulu Pukki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Glazkov can't escape the position.
Aleksandr Glazkov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pukki working the ground and pound effectively.
Pukki trying to control but Glazkov is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pukki controlling his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joulu Pukki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pukki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joulu Pukki!