PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Columbus Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muikea Hulkku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Clay
vs
Hulkku

218 cm
21
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

192 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Columbus Clay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Muikea Hulkku!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Clay fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Clay takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hulkku.
Clay scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hulkku is defended easily by Clay.
Good exchange - Clay coming out on top.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hulkku.
Columbus Clay has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Muikea Hulkku.

Hulkku clinches.
Hulkku tries to break the clinch but Clay is controlling the position.
Clay really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hulkku has had enough of the clinch but Clay keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hulkku tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hulkku swings wildly with an uppercut but Clay uses good head movement to avoid it.
Clay is trying to break free.
Clay is struggling to control the position.
Clay fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hulkku breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hulkku lands a high kick!

Clay is rocked!

It looks like Columbus Clay has been cut.
Clay will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Oh Clay is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Clay throws a head kick that misses.
Hulkku rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Clay moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hulkku.
Clay seems to have got his legs back now.
Hulkku wants to clinch

and Clay moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hulkku jumps guard but Clay stands there with Hulkku around his waist. Hulkku gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Clay has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hulkku regains guard immediately.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Clay postures up.
Hulkku tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Clay trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Clay wants to get up but he can't break Hulkku's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hulkku tries to strike from the bottom.

Clay thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Clay tries to free his leg and advance position but Hulkku is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hulkku scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Hulkku fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Clay, pushing him back against the cage.
Hulkku is looking for a takedown.
Hulkku lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Clay jumps into guard, dragging Hulkku to the mat.

Hulkku drops back, looking for a kneebar! Clay looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Clay looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Clay!
Clay controls the position from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hulkku tries to bench press Clay off him but Clay keeps the position.

Clay tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hulkku sneaks back into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hulkku is not content to let Clay control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Muikea Hulkku will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Columbus Clay's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hulkku will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Clay looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hulkku!
Hulkku gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hulkku pushes Clay off looking to stand but Clay dives back in and keeps control.
Hulkku is looking for a sweep. Clay is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Clay is controlling the pace.
Hulkku trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hulkku is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Clay passes to full mount!
Clay scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hulkku is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Clay looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clay looking to control but Hulkku is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clay goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hulkku turns into him and now he's in Clay's guard.
Hulkku trying to control the position from guard on top but Clay is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hulkku looking to sit in guard and control but Clay gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Clay has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hulkku is proving hard to escape from.
Clay will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay trying to control the position from guard on top but Hulkku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clay preventing the sweep.

Hulkku working for a triangle but Clay defends it easily.
Clay trying to control but Hulkku is working from the bottom.
Clay is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Columbus Clay.
Hulkku tries for a takedown but Clay circles away easily

and Clay counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hulkku's guard now.
Hulkku is breathing heavily.
Hulkku is striking from the bottom but Clay uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Hulkku trying to control but Clay postures up.

Hulkku looking for a kimura from the bottom but Clay passes into side control!
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Clay wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hulkku keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Columbus Clay dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Columbus Clay's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Hulkku shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Clay pinned against the cage. Clay gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hulkku tries to clinch but Clay is having none of it.
Hulkku tries to clinch but Clay is having none of it.
Hulkku misses with a wild combination.

Clay rushes Hulkku and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Clay turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Clay manages to end up in side control.
Columbus Clay overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hulkku can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hulkku wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hulkku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hulkku bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Columbus Clay is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hulkku tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Clay counters by moving into the clinch.

Hulkku manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Clay is stalling in the full guard.
Clay chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hulkku wants to sweep here but Clay controlling him for the moment.
Clay sitting in guard here, content to control.
Clay wanted to stand there but Hulkku had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Columbus Clay.
Hulkku tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Clay defends well and Hulkku ends up having to push Clay into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hulkku gets control of Clay's arms and successfully pulls guard. Hulkku will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Clay content to stall in guard here.
Clay won't allow Hulkku to sweep him here.
Hulkku trying to keep a closed guard but Clay is proving a slippery customer.
Clay is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Columbus Clay.

Clay 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.
Hulkku not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Clay controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Clay wants to control from the top but Hulkku keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Columbus Clay.
Hulkku tries to clinch there but Clay circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Columbus Clay showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Clay 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Columbus Clay!