PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Potkukelkka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samurai Jack (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.

Potkukelkka
vs
Jack

170 cm
23
154 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

170 cm
25
156 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Potkukelkka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Samurai Jack!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potkukelkka shoots in for a double leg but Jack sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jack checks a leg kick nicely.
Potkukelkka pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A lazy left from Jack finds it's target.
Jack checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Potkukelkka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jack moves out of range as Potkukelkka throws a body kick.
Potkukelkka swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Jack.
Potkukelkka misses with a body shot.
Jack checks the leg kick.
Potkukelkka thows a body shot but no joy.
Jack moves out of range as Potkukelkka throws a body kick.

Potkukelkka gets tackled into the cage by Jack. Jack maintains the clinch.
Jack tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Potkukelkka's elbow.
Potkukelkka on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jack with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Potkukelkka can't break the clinch.
Jack looking to throw knees to the head but Potkukelkka is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potkukelkka manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A knee to the head by Jack.
Jack missing with knees to the body.
Jack tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Potkukelkka is stalling here.
Potkukelkka is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Jack breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Potkukelkka closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Potkukelkka prevents Jack from escaping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potkukelkka scoring with punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Jack's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Potkukelkka postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
You can see the frustration on Jack's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jack is trying to get back to half guard.
Potkukelkka connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Jack some visible discomfort.
Jack is trying to get back to half guard.
Jack gets back to half guard.
Potkukelkka wants to pass to mount but Jack is defending the position.
Jack has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Potkukelkka is working away from the top position though.
Potkukelkka is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potkukelkka wants to control but Jack is keeping him busy.
Potkukelkka trying to mount his opponent but Jack defends it.
Jack is not content to let Potkukelkka control the position.

Potkukelkka is looking for a kimura but Jack is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Potkukelkka to get the leverage.
Potkukelkka frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Potkukelkka looking to control and managing it successfully.
BOOM! Potkukelkka connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Jack is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Potkukelkka.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jack keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jack tries to hold on but Potkukelkka pushes him away.
Potkukelkka pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jack is desperately trying to improve his position but Potkukelkka has a good base and remains in mount.
Potkukelkka cracks Jack with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jack is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Potkukelkka breaks from Jack's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A nice elbow there by Potkukelkka.

Jack is rocked!
Potkukelkka looking to control and managing it successfully.
Potkukelkka looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Potkukelkka dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Potkukelkka chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jack connects with a high kick.
Decent striking displayed by Potkukelkka there.
A punch lands to the side of Potkukelkka 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Jack scores with a crisp jab that stopped Potkukelkka in his tracks.
Samurai Jack seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Potkukelkka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jack as he jumps to the side.
Jack takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Jack misses with a jab, cross combination.
Potkukelkka throws the kick towards the body but Jack avoids it.
Potkukelkka fails with the takedown.
Potkukelkka takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Potkukelkka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jack circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Potkukelkka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jack is looking to slow Potkukelkka down with leg kicks.
Jack jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack's jab looks to have found its range, popping Potkukelkka under the eye.
Jack throws a push kick but Potkukelkka slaps the foot to one side.
Jack misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jack lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice defenses there by Potkukelkka.
Potkukelkka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jack takes a swing at Potkukelkka's ribcage but misses.
Jack scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Samurai Jack is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jack is looking to clinch.
Jack connects with a nice looking jab.
Nice uppercut there from Jack.
Jack staying out of range there.
Potkukelkka throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Jack counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Jack tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Potkukelkka paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potkukelkka throws a lazy right hand but Jack sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jack lands a nice hook to Potkukelkka's body. Potkukelkka takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Potkukelkka misses with an attempted mid kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Potkukelkka throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Jack counters with a right hand to the body.
Jack fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Potkukelkka checks it well.
Jack tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jack loads up on a big right hand but Potkukelkka slips the punch.
A jab from Jack finds it's way through Potkukelkka's defenses.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Jack.
Potkukelkka fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Jack uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Potkukelkka.
Potkukelkka looks for a takedown but Jack sprawls well.
Jack throws out a loose jab but Potkukelkka uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potkukelkka throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Potkukelkka shoots in looking for a takedown. Jack tries to sprawl out of it but Potkukelkka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jack manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Potkukelkka pivots, looking for a leg kick but Jack is out of range and Potkukelkka settles back down.
Jack scores with a jab to the head.
Potkukelkka cracks the inside of Jack's front leg.
Jack lands a head kick!
An inside leg kick lands from Jack.
Jack bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Potkukelkka takes one to the side of the head.
Jack is looking to clinch.
Jack pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Potkukelkka thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Jack if he has to take too many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jack avoids the body shot from Potkukelkka.
Potkukelkka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jack sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jack avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Jack will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jack misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jack looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Potkukelkka throws a wild body kick that Jack sees coming a mile off.
Jack bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jack throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jack fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Potkukelkka manages to avoid it.
Jack fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Potkukelkka manages to avoid it.
Jack throws a low kick, looking for Potkukelkka's leg but Potkukelkka calmly moves out of range.
Jack pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samurai Jack showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Potkukelkka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Potkukelkka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Potkukelkka fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jack avoids it really well and circles away.
Jack's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Jack duly obliges.
Potkukelkka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jack tries to clinch there but Potkukelkka circles away.
Potkukelkka scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Jack throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jack throws a hook to the side of Potkukelkka's head but Potkukelkka sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fighters circling - Jack throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Potkukelkka throws a shot from downtown. Jack moves away and avoids it.
Jack tries to clinch there but Potkukelkka circles away.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Potkukelkka. Jack shrugs it off though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jack lands a nice looking body kick.
Jack is looking to clinch.
Potkukelkka throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Potkukelkka takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Potkukelkka will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Potkukelkka throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A jab from Jack finds it's way through Potkukelkka's defenses.
Potkukelkka throws a nice inside leg kick.
Jack lands a right hook to the body.
Potkukelkka misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Potkukelkka.
Potkukelkka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jack swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick by Jack misses
and Potkukelkka counters with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potkukelkka throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
letting Jack counter with a right hand.
Jack tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Potkukelkka is able to avoid easily.
Samurai Jack seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Jack.
Jack needs to keep his hands up - Potkukelkka had a free shot at his head there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd cheers as Potkukelkka lands an impressive looking overhand right. Jack doesn't seem phased though.
Potkukelkka fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jack checks it well.
Potkukelkka misses with a body kick.
Potkukelkka avoids the head kick by Jack.
Potkukelkka goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jack moves out of range of the body kick.
Jack with a hook.
Potkukelkka lands a slapping body shot.
A left lands for Jack.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jack throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Jack tries to clinch but Potkukelkka is having none of it.
Jack throws a nice looking combination but Potkukelkka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Potkukelkka slips a jab from Jack.
Jack tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jack lands a leg kick that knocks Potkukelkka off balance momentarily.
Potkukelkka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Good work by Jack as he checks the leg kick.
Jack tried to score with a low kick but Potkukelkka checks it.
Potkukelkka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Potkukelkka motions for Jack to come forward. Potkukelkka throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Jack uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Potkukelkka.
Potkukelkka takes one on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potkukelkka throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Potkukelkka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jack sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Potkukelkka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters circling a little - Potkukelkka finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Potkukelkka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jack but Jack pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jack displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Potkukelkka.
Potkukelkka shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jack sprawls well. Jack wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Potkukelkka gets slowly back to his feet.
Jack moves out of range of the body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Potkukelkka slips a jab and a cross from Jack.
Jack pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Potkukelkka blocks a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Potkukelkka.
I think Potkukelkka 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Samurai Jack!
Samurai Jack decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.