PBP Commentary

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

Pukki
vs
McPuggins

179 cm
23
215 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

200 cm
24
220 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Great elbows
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 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joulu Pukki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Flash McPuggins!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Mauricio Rocha and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McPuggins misses with a head kick.
McPuggins lands with a right hand.
McPuggins wants to clinch up but Pukki keeps it at a distance.
A left lands for Pukki.
A big left from Pukki misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Pukki.
McPuggins tries to clinch up.
McPuggins attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McPuggins tries to clinch up.
Flash McPuggins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McPuggins tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Pukki counters with a single leg into guard. McPuggins didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pukki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pukki is looking to work some ground and pound but McPuggins has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki wants to pass the guard but McPuggins is keeping the position.
Pukki 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.
Pukki passes into half guard.

Pukki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Pukki trying to control the action but McPuggins is working from the bottom.
McPuggins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pukki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McPuggins is trying to stand.
McPuggins is staying active underneath Pukki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Pukki is looking to pass McPuggins's guard but actually McPuggins recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki passes McPuggins's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Pukki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pukki uses his free foot to push down on McPuggins's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for McPuggins.
Poor strikes thrown by Pukki there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPuggins is squirming around, avoiding Pukki's attempts to control the action.

Pukki wants to finish this one by submission but McPuggins is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Pukki.
Pukki with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pukki tries to control but McPuggins wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joulu Pukki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A combination from Pukki does no damage.
Pukki avoids the head kick by McPuggins.
Pukki throws a push kick but McPuggins slaps the foot to one side.
Pukki lands a jab to the nose.
McPuggins tries to clinch but Pukki moves away
and Pukki counters with a slapping leg kick.
Pukki thows a body shot but no joy.
Pukki lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

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

Pukki wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McPuggins, who protects the arm well.
Pukki wants to lay and pray for a moment but McPuggins keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McPuggins managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Pukki.
Pukki working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Pukki controls the position from side control.
Pukki trying to control the position but McPuggins is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pukki thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McPuggins is not content to let Pukki control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Pukki throwing shots but missing, from side control.
McPuggins is being controlled here.

Pukki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pukki tries to move to mount but McPuggins blocks the move with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukki wants to control but McPuggins is keeping him busy.
Pukki throws an elbow but McPuggins slips to the side and avoids it well.
Pukki trying to control the action but McPuggins is working from the bottom.
McPuggins takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joulu Pukki dominated that second 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McPuggins wants to clinch up but Pukki keeps it at a distance.
McPuggins throws a looping overhand right but Pukki ducks down to avoid it.
McPuggins wants to clinch up but Pukki keeps it at a distance.
McPuggins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pukki moves away.
McPuggins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pukki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pukki tries to bum rush McPuggins with a series of wild strikes but McPuggins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pukki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McPuggins but McPuggins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McPuggins fails in his attempt to clinch.
McPuggins uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Pukki.
McPuggins closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pukki counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Pukki misses.
Pukki fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
McPuggins is looking to clinch but Pukki is avoiding it.
Pukki misses with a double jab.
McPuggins misses with a head kick.
Pukki just misses with a punch to the body.
McPuggins tries to land a leg kick but Pukki saw it coming and moves away.
Pukki throws a leg kick but McPuggins sees it coming and checks it nicely.
McPuggins wants to clinch up but Pukki keeps it at a distance.
McPuggins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McPuggins tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pukki counters with an outside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McPuggins has managed to clinch.
Pukki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McPuggins just stands there and leans against the cage.
McPuggins throws a knee to the head but misses.
McPuggins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pukki.
McPuggins pushes off an throws an elbow but Pukki leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
McPuggins tries to land knees in the clinch but Pukki avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. McPuggins just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joulu Pukki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pukki jumps guard but McPuggins stands there with Pukki around his waist. Pukki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pukki has McPuggins pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McPuggins manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
McPuggins looking to throw knees to the head but Pukki is blocking nicely.
McPuggins using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pukki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pukki drops down looking for an ankle pick but McPuggins pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McPuggins moves in looking to clinch but Pukki pushes him off.
Joulu Pukki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McPuggins tries to clinch but Pukki is having none of it.
McPuggins tries to clinch but Pukki is having none of it.
Pukki takes a swing at McPuggins's ribcage but misses.
Joulu Pukki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McPuggins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pukki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pukki wants to land a leg kick but McPuggins is out of range.
McPuggins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McPuggins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Flash McPuggins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pukki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. McPuggins looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Flash McPuggins.
I think Pukki has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:27

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