PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Verinen Puukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Puukko
vs
Johnson

175 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
176 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Verinen Puukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sammy Johnson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson works Puukko's body with a nice hook.

Puukko scores a takedown into full mount!
Johnson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Johnson really wants to buck Puukko off and get back to his feet.
Johnson is trying to escape the mount but Puukko keeps good control and instead manages to take Johnson's back.

Puukko has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.

Puukko looking for the RNC.
Johnson breaks Puukko's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Johnson stands up from Puukko's guard - Johnson perhaps looking for a knockout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Puukko.
Puukko is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Johnson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Puukko is rocked!
Johnson thuds his right hand into Puukko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Oh Puukko is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Johnson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Puukko's head backwards.
Puukko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Johnson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson misses with a double jab.
Puukko fails with the takedown.
Johnson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Puukko seems to have got his legs back now.
Puukko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Johnson's waist but Johnson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Puukko off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Verinen Puukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Puukko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
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!
Johnson wants to stand and escape but Puukko is having none of it.
Johnson has momentary wrist control but Puukko slips an elbow through the middle.
Puukko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Johnson's head.
Puukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Puukko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puukko looking to pass the guard.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Puukko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Puukko works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Johnson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Puukko scores with a couple of nice shots.
Puukko wants to pass to mount but Johnson is defending the position.
Johnson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Puukko.

Puukko is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Puukko trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puukko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Johnson keeps working.
Puukko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Johnson sizes up Puukko with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Puukko steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Johnson. That one must have hurt.
Nice uppercut there from Johnson.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Puukko doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Puukko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Puukko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Puukko gets a takedown into half guard.
Puukko is just content to waste time from the top position. Johnson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Johnson wants to stand but Puukko is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puukko wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Puukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Johnson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Puukko from controlling successfully.

Puukko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Puukko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Johnson tries to avoid it but Puukko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Johnson to the ground. Johnson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Johnson's corner calls for a 1-2. Johnson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Danga de danga de dang - Johnson scores with a four punch combination!
Johnson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Puukko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Johnson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Sammy Johnson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Puukko checks a leg kick.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Puukko.
Puukko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Johnson 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.

Puukko shoots in and drives through. Johnson sprawls well.
Johnson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Puukko's calf.
Puukko on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Puukko shoots in for a double leg but Johnson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Puukko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Puukko takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Puukko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Johnson throws a head kick but Puukko moves out of range.
Puukko shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Verinen Puukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson tries a head kick but it misses.
Johnson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Puukko tries for a takedown but Johnson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Verinen Puukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Puukko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Johnson as he avoids it easily.
Puukko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Sammy Johnson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Puukko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Johnson, pushing him back against the ropes.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Johnson is breathing heavily.
Puukko shoots in but no luck this time.

Puukko clinches.

Johnson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Puukko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Johnson thows a body shot but no joy.
Johnson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Puukko moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Puukko looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Johnson!

Puukko looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
You get the feeling that Johnson really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Puukko has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Johnson's face.
Johnson throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Johnson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Johnson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Johnson wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to de liver by Johnson. Beautiful body shot.
Puukko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sammy Johnson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson scores with a decent looking hook.
Puukko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Puukko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Puukko trying to pass the guard but Johnson defending well.

Johnson pushes Puukko off and gets back to his feet.
Puukko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Johnson swivels and escapes.
Johnson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Puukko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Puukko chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Johnson can pounce on him.
Johnson misses with a few strikes there.
Johnson throws a head kick but Puukko moves out of range.
Puukko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Johnson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Puukko looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Puukko takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Puukko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Verinen Puukko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Puukko passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Johnson!
Johnson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Puukko is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Johnson has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Puukko wants to control the pace but Johnson is squirming around nicely.
Johnson has given up his back here.

Johnson showing good submission defense here.
Puukko not allowing Johnson to control his hands.
Johnson is trying to stand back up.
Johnson trying to control but not successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson breaks Puukko's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Puukko keeping moving, preventing Johnson from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Puukko fails with a takedown attempt.
Puukko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Johnson tries to bum rush Puukko with a series of wild strikes but Puukko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
No luck for Puukko with that takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Johnson misses.
Johnson looks to land a combination. Puukko sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Johnson throws a head kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Puukko clinches up against the ropes.
Puukko prevents Johnson from breaking the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Puukko.
Puukko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Puukko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Johnson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Puukko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Johnson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Johnson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson misses with a wild combination.
Horrible takedown by Puukko or perhaps it was just good defense by Johnson which made him look bad.
Johnson scores with a head kick.
Johnson misses with a head kick.
Puukko shoots in for a takedown but Johnson shows good takedown defense.
Johnson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Puukko fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Verinen Puukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Puukko scores with a nice strike.
Johnson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Puukko clinches with his opponent.
Puukko jumps guard but Johnson stands there with Puukko around his waist. Puukko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Puukko pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Johnson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Johnson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson prevents the takedown attempt.
Puukko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Johnson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Puukko bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Puukko tries for a kimura but Johnson is defending well.
Johnson tries to bench press Puukko off him but Puukko keeps the position.
Puukko tries to advance to mount but Johnson denies him.
Johnson is trying to buck Puukko off.
Johnson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Johnson gets back to full guard.
Puukko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Johnson wants to get back to his feet but Puukko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Puukko throws and elbow that misses. Johnson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Puukko's guard. Nice move by Johnson!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Johnson stopping the sweep attempt from Puukko.
Johnson advances position into side control!
Johnson gets to mount! Puukko was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Johnson trying to control but Puukko is having none of it.
Johnson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Puukko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Puukko gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puukko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Puukko.
Puukko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Johnson wants to stand but Puukko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Puukko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Johnson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Puukko has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Johnson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Puukko.
Johnson grinds an elbow into Puukko's temple.
You can see the frustration on Puukko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Johnson stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Puukko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Puukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Johnson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Johnson connects with a high kick.
Puukko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Johnson but Johnson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Puukko tries to clinch but Johnson is having none of it.

Puukko shoots in and bounces Johnson off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.
Puukko stops Johnson from standing up.
Verinen Puukko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Puukko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Johnson wriggles free and stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sammy Johnson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Johnson 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sammy Johnson!