PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Muuli Potku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stephen Hawking (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Potku might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Bad Meets Evil - Fast Lane. Hawking has chosen One Winged Angel by The Black Mages as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Potku
vs
Hawking

174 cm
30
155 lbs
16 - 10 - 1

175 cm
40
153 lbs
36 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Perkele!

BeastMode

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Muuli Potku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen Hawking!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potku throws a quick inside leg kick.
Potku has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Potku lands with a nice combination. Hawking backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Stephen Hawking has been cut.
Potku misses with a leg kick

and Hawking counters by clinching up.
Potku gets underhooks to prevent Hawking's takedown attempt.
A short body shot lands from Hawking as the two fighters clinch.
Hawking blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Potku goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Potku misses with a short punch on the inside.

Hawking turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Potku is trying to control Hawking's posture but Hawking avoids it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Potku tries to bench press Hawking off him but Hawking keeps the position.
The strikes coming from Hawking are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Potku sneaks back into half guard.
Hawking not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hawking prevents Potku from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Potku has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hawking is working away from the top position though.
Potku wants to improve his position but Hawking is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hawking missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Potku is trying to get back to full guard.
Potku is working hard here to advance position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hawking connects with a nice short shot to Potku's temple.
Hawking looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Potku is trying to control but can't.
Hawking looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hawking lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hawking working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Potku regains full guard. Nicely done.
Potku trying to control the position.
Potku is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hawking is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Muuli Potku.
Potku throws a leg kick
and Hawking counters with a stiff right hand.
Potku throws a leg kick but Hawking checks it.
Potku throws a sloppy head kick and Hawking moves out of range easily.
Muuli Potku seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body kick from Potku.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku throws a head kick that misses
letting Hawking counter with a right hand.
Potku thows a leg kick but Hawking checks it

and Hawking counters with a shoot takedown. Potku fights it but they end up in guard.
Hawking postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hawking working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hawking looking to pass the guard.
Hawking passes Potku's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Potku is looking for a sweep. Hawking is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hawking connects with a nice short shot to Potku's temple.
Potku is doing well to control the position and prevent Hawking from advancing to side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Potku is trying to get back to full guard.
Hawking not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking is pressing down on Potku's thigh, looking to free his foot. Potku is holding on for now.
Potku is looking for a sweep. Hawking is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Potku is looking to control Hawking's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Potku avoid being mounted?
Hawking missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Potku is looking for a sweep. Hawking is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hawking not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hawking has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hawking tries to pass to full mount but Potku defends it.
Potku slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Potku is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Potku is trying to control the position but Hawking postures up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hawking in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Stephen Hawking will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Stephen Hawking'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.

Potku misses with a leg kick
and Hawking counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Potku swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Potku throws a right and a left that Hawking avoids nicely.
Hawking slips a straight right by Potku.
Potku throws a leg kick
and Hawking connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Potku misses with a body shot

and Hawking moves into the clinch.
Hawking is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Potku pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hawking has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Potku after a bit of a struggle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short uppercut from Hawking.
Nice body punch from Potku - that landed with a thud.
Hawking is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Potku gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Muuli Potku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stephen Hawking.
Hawking is working Potku over against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Potku blocks an uppercut.
Potku working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Potku doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hawking.
A short body shot lands from Potku as the two fighters clinch.
Potku is pressed up against the cage. Hawking has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Potku down to the mat. Potku avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Potku throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Some bone on bone action there as Hawking checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
An inside leg kick lands from Potku.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku scores with a hook to the body. Hawking takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Potku tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hawking was well out of range. Poor timing from Potku.
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!
A head kick from Potku lands but Hawking takes it in his stride.
Hawking checks the leg kick nicely there.
Potku tries to score with a low kick but Hawking moves his leg out of the way.
Hawking has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hawking there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawking blocks a head kick by Potku.
Potku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hawking.
A clash of legs there as Hawking blocks the low kick.
Potku lands a jab.
Potku tries to score with a low kick but Hawking moves his leg out of the way.
A big right from Potku misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potku throws a right hand that misses

and Hawking counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Potku!
Potku tries to buck Hawking off but Hawking is having none of it.
Hawking scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Potku to see if he's OK.
Hawking lands a nice forearm strike.
Potku dodges the ground and pound from Hawking.
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!
Potku tries to buck Hawking off but Hawking is having none of it.
Potku sneaks back into half guard.
Hawking lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Potku keeping hold of Hawking's head, controlling as best he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hawking winds up and cracks Potku with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muuli Potku dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Stephen Hawking's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Potku throws a front kick that sends Hawking stumbling back into the cage.
Potku lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hawking will feel that in the morning.
Potku lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Potku misses with a body shot

and Hawking counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Potku is trying to control the position but Hawking postures up.
Potku is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hawking throwing strikes from guard but Potku blocks nicely.
Hawking postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hawking postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hawking landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawking trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hawking missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Potku pulls Hawking in close to his closed guard and prevents Hawking from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hawking landing some decent shots from guard.
Potku not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Potku preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Potku trying to keep a closed guard but Hawking is proving a slippery customer.
Hawking looking to pass the guard.
Potku looking to control.
Hawking landing with the ground and pound.
Hawking is fighting to break Potku's control of his arms but Potku is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Stephen Hawking has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Muuli Potku wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Potku throws a leg kick but Hawking sees it coming and moves out of range.
Potku thows a body shot but no joy.
Potku fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hawking has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Potku throws a predictable looking body shot

and Hawking decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Potku's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Potku holds on and takes a little breather.
Potku preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawking throwing strikes from guard but Potku blocks nicely.
Potku is trying to keep Hawking in close.
Hawking pushing down on Potku's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Potku wants to control but Hawking is keeping busy.
Potku is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Hawking landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hawking lands a nice short elbow.
Hawking takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Potku makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Potku.
Hawking tries to free his leg and advance position but Potku is retaining full guard.
Potku working a defensive guard here.
Hawking looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawking keeps trying to improve his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hawking cracks Potku with a solid left hand.
Potku is pulling down on Hawking's head. It's preventing any offense from Hawking, at least for the moment.
Hawking with a nice head shot there.
Hawking pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Potku is keeping the position for now.
Potku is trying to hold Hawking in close to prevent damage but Hawking has managed to pass into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Potku is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Hawking.
Potku blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hawking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Hawking comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hawking has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Stephen Hawking!
Stephen Hawking looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I am the best lookin, smartest and baddest man on this planet !!! NO ONE CAN DEFEAT ME !!! '.