PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jarkko Hakulinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Pouta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hakulinen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Last of the Mohicans Theme. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hakulinen
vs
Pouta

183 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
195 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jarkko Hakulinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pekka Pouta!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pouta closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pouta lands in his opponent's guard.

Hakulinen looking for a guillotine here but Pouta defends easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hakulinen is on top in guard.
Pouta is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hakulinen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hakulinen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hakulinen stands and throws Pouta's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pouta is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Hakulinen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hakulinen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hakulinen works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Pouta throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Pouta tries to improve position but can't.
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.
Hakulinen cracks Pouta with a big right hand but Pouta just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Hakulinen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pouta knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hakulinen is looking to take a break and control but Pouta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pouta sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pouta wants to get back to full guard.
Pouta misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Hakulinen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Pouta is just riding it out for now. Hakulinen eventually gives up the hold.

Hakulinen is working for a submission of some sort.

Hakulinen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Pouta is staying active underneath Hakulinen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hakulinen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hakulinen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Hakulinen working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Pouta turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Hakulinen off and cradles Pouta's limp body as Hakulinen celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Jarkko Hakulinen!