PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joulu Pukki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrus Laane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laane has chosen Sans Pression - Numero 1 as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pukki
vs
Laane

179 cm
37
215 lbs
32 - 17 - 0

193 cm
31
218 lbs
12 - 26 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 32 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joulu Pukki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andrus Laane!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Laane. Those never looked like landing.
Pukki looks for a takedown but Laane sprawls well.
Pukki gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Laane counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Laane displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Pukki.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joulu Pukki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pukki has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Laane after a bit of a struggle.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Laane just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pukki's brow.
Pukki wants a takedown.
Laane manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Pukki dodges an elbow strike from Laane.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laane manages to break the clinch.
Laane slaps away a takedown attempt from Pukki, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laane forces Pukki back against the cage and clinches.
Pukki wants a takedown but no success here.
Laane is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Laane misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laane pressing his opponent against the cage.
A knee to the head by Laane.
Laane utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Laane breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pukki shoots in for a double leg but Laane sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pukki shoots in and drives through. Laane sprawls well.
Pukki misses with a takedown
and Laane counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laane keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pukki is breathing heavily.

Pukki tries to keep at a distance but Laane has taken the fight into the clinch.
Laane tries to land knees in the clinch but Pukki avoids the damage to the body.
Laane can't break the clinch.

Pukki is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Laane can't fight it off and eventually Pukki manages to take the fight to the floor. Laane looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Laane is looking to stand up but Pukki isn't so interested in that idea.
Laane trying to keep a closed guard but Pukki is proving a slippery customer.
Pukki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laane is keeping the position for now.
Laane 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.
Laane looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pukki is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laane pulls Pukki in close to prevent any damage.
Pukki postures up.
Pukki being controlled here momentarily.
Pukki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laane is keeping the position for now.
Pukki controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Laane takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pukki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Laane fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Laane gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Laane told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Laane wants to get back to his feet but Pukki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Laane is adopting a defensive guard.
Pukki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Laane's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laane is looking to improve his position.
Pukki passes the guard and advances to mount!
Laane flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrus Laane dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pukki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pukki fails with the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pukki.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joulu Pukki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pukki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pukki fails with a takedown attempt.
Laane looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sloppy strikes from Laane. Those never looked like landing.
Laane explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Pukki shoots in looking for a takedown but Laane manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pukki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pukki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Laane sprawls well. Laane wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pukki gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laane lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pukki circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Laane feints a jab promting Pukki to slip. Laane then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Pukki slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Pukki closes the distance and clinches up with Laane, looking for a takedown. Pukki pushes Laane against the cage but Laane circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Andrus Laane is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laane throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Pukki.
Laane stuffs the takedown attempt from Pukki. Pukki gets slowly back to his feet.
Laane throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pukki shoots for a double leg takedown but Laane sprawls well. He's pushed Pukki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Laane throws a right and a left that Pukki avoids nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Laane.
Laane throws a series of punches but Pukki moves out of range.
Laane throws a combination. Pukki tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Pukki fails with the takedown

and Laane holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pukki takes a shot to the head.
Laane is trying to break free.
Laane is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Pukki lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pukki blocks a body shot from Laane.
Pukki prevents a body shot from Laane.
Laane throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pukki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Andrus Laane seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Laane pressing his opponent against the cage.
Pukki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Laane is defending well.
Laane using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Pukki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Pukki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laane with a knee to the head.

Laane escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pukki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Laane as he avoids it easily.
Pukki shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Laane sprawls well. Laane wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Pukki gets slowly back to his feet.
Laane throws a series of punches but Pukki avoids them all with ease.
Andrus Laane seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laane lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pukki backs up against the cage.
Laane scores with a jab to the jaw.
Laane misses with a double jab

and Pukki counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pukki prevents Laane from standing back up.
Laane wants to improve his position but Pukki is controlling well.

Pukki is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Laane trying to control but Pukki postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Pukki is keen to just control but Laane is a slippery customer.
Laane is trying to maintain the position but Pukki is very close to passing his half guard.
Pukki is looking to take a break and control but Laane is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Laane trying to control from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Laane holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pukki is trying hard to land a takedown here. Laane sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrus Laane 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! This is the final round!

Laane moves into the clinch.
Pukki is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Laane pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Laane pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laane is looking to land body kicks.
Pukki shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laane as he jumps to the side.
Pukki fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joulu Pukki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laane lands with a nice body kick.
Pukki avoids the body shot from Laane.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pukki.
Pukki with a poor takedown
and Laane counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Laane moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Laane throws a knee to the head but misses.
Laane with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Laane looking to throw knees to the head but Pukki is blocking nicely.
Laane has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki lands a left hand that snaps the head of Laane backwards.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Laane misses with a punch on the inside.
Laane comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Laane wants to stall.
Laane working hard to break the clinch.
Pukki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Pukki tightens his grip and picks Laane up, before dumping him to the ground. Laane manages to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukki trying to control but Laane is working from the bottom.
Laane wants to sweep here but Pukki controlling him for the moment.
Pukki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Laane keeping moving, preventing Pukki from controlling successfully.
Pukki might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Laane is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pukki won't allow Laane to sweep him here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laane is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A solid leg kick lands there for Laane.
Pukki has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Pukki shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laane pinned against the cage. Laane gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Andrus Laane is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Pukki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pukki shoots in looking for a takedown but Laane manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pukki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pukki shoots for a takedown but Laane saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Laane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Laane fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Joulu Pukki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Pukki is defended easily by Laane.
Pukki throws out a leg kick but Laane moves out of range and Pukki only half commits.
Laane throws a right and a left that both miss.
Pukki shoots in looking for a takedown but Laane manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pukki's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pukki doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pukki takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Joulu Pukki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laane lands a two punch combo.
Laane misses with a wild combination.
No joy there for Laane, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Laane will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Laane with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Pukki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Laane's half guard.
Andrus Laane is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Laane manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrus Laane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Laane winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrus Laane!
Andrus Laane was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.