PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fahad Al Qarni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Peelo Pulkkinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Qarni comes to the cage accompanied by Hells Bells. Peelo Pulkkinen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Al Qarni
vs
Pulkkinen

180 cm
29
187 lbs
18 - 7 - 1

150 cm
27
183 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Fahad Al Qarni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Peelo Pulkkinen!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Al Qarni shoots in but no luck this time.
Pulkkinen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Al Qarni throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pulkkinen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Al Qarni lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Al Qarni bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pulkkinen's head backwards.
Nice defenses there by Al Qarni.
Pulkkinen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Al Qarni dives in and scores a takedown into Pulkkinen's guard.
Al Qarni will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Al Qarni stands and throws Pulkkinen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pulkkinen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Al Qarni tries to move into full mount but can't pass Pulkkinen's legs.
Pulkkinen is looking for a sweep.
Pulkkinen felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Al Qarni tries for a kimura but Pulkkinen is defending well.
Al Qarni wants to control but Pulkkinen is keeping him busy.
Pulkkinen is trying to improve his position.

Al Qarni is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Pulkkinen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Al Qarni tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Al Qarni has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Al Qarni tries to move into full mount but can't pass Pulkkinen's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Al Qarni tries for a kimura but Pulkkinen is defending well.

Al Qarni looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Pulkkinen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Al Qarni wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Al Qarni tries for a kimura but Pulkkinen is defending well.

Al Qarni goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Pulkkinen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Al Qarni but great work by Pulkkinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen just content to control the position.
Pulkkinen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Al Qarni manages to get back to half guard.
Pulkkinen trying to control the pace.
Pulkkinen wants to take a breather but Al Qarni is having none of it.
Al Qarni tries to roll over but Pulkkinen keeps him under control.
Pulkkinen controlling the action here.

Pulkkinen wants to work for an arm triangle but Al Qarni is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Al Qarni is trying to get back to full guard.
Al Qarni is looking to control Pulkkinen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Al Qarni avoid being mounted?
Pulkkinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Al Qarni keeps working.
Pulkkinen moves into full mount! Al Qarni won't be happy about that!
Pulkkinen punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Al Qarni looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Al Qarni tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Peelo Pulkkinen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pulkkinen scores with a shot to the body.
Pulkkinen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Pulkkinen cracks the inside of Al Qarni's front leg.
Pulkkinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pulkkinen scores with a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Pulkkinen.
Al Qarni shoots in but Pulkkinen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A cross from Al Qarni lands.
Pulkkinen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Al Qarni.
Pulkkinen moves forwards but Al Qarni connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Fahad Al Qarni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pulkkinen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pulkkinen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Pulkkinen clinches.
Al Qarni is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Pulkkinen is pressed up against the cage. Al Qarni has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pulkkinen down to the mat. Pulkkinen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A punch lands to the side of Al Qarni 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen throws a low kick but Al Qarni avoids it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Al Qarni. Pulkkinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pulkkinen just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Al Qarni was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook. Al Qarni ducked under it nicely.
Pulkkinen throws a leg kick which misses Al Qarni's front leg but catches the back leg as Al Qarni tries to avoid it.
Pulkkinen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Al Qarni.
Pulkkinen looks to land a left hand but Al Qarni moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Al Qarni does it's job there.
Al Qarni misses with a straight right.
Decent striking displayed by Al Qarni there.
Fahad Al Qarni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Qarni throws a lazy head kick
and Pulkkinen counters with a good low kick that Al Qarni was not able to check.
Al Qarni misses with a takedown attempt

and Pulkkinen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fahad Al Qarni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pulkkinen lands a body shot in the clinch.
Pulkkinen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Al Qarni is trying to drag Pulkkinen to the mat but Pulkkinen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Qarni lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pulkkinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Al Qarni lands an uppercut.
Pulkkinen prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pulkkinen.
Al Qarni misses with some punches.
Al Qarni throws a punch but it's blocked by Pulkkinen.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pulkkinen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Al Qarni.
Pulkkinen scores with a knee to the head.
Al Qarni's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pulkkinen lands a body shot in the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Pulkkinen.
Al Qarni blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Al Qarni blocks a body shot from Pulkkinen.
Al Qarni misses with some punches.
Al Qarni fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Al Qarni swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pulkkinen blocking some punches.
Pulkkinen scores with a shot to the side of Al Qarni's head.

Al Qarni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A swing and a miss from Al Qarni.
Pulkkinen cracks a nice hook into Al Qarni's ribs.
Pulkkinen lands with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pulkkinen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Al Qarni.
Pulkkinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Al Qarni.
Al Qarni on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Pulkkinen. Pulkkinen obviously looking to wear him down.
Al Qarni is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nice uppercut there from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen digs a good body shot into Al Qarni's ribs.
Pulkkinen digs a good hook to Al Qarni's body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Al Qarni goes for a double leg but Pulkkinen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pulkkinen continues to drive forward.
Al Qarni takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Pulkkinen swings for the body but Al Qarni moves out of range.
Al Qarni tests Pulkkinen's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al Qarni misses with a straight right.
Pulkkinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Al Qarni was well out of range. Poor timing from Pulkkinen.
Peelo Pulkkinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Al Qarni avoids the head kick by Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen dodges the punch combination from Al Qarni.
Al Qarni sets himself, and Pulkkinen steps forward looking for the clinch! Al Qarni avoids it this time.
No luck for Al Qarni with that takedown attempt.
Pulkkinen misses with an uppercut.
Pulkkinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Al Qarni misses with a hook
and Pulkkinen counters with a thumping low kick.
Donk. Al Qarni catches Pulkkinen right on the button with a cross.
Pulkkinen slips a jab and a cross from Al Qarni.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pulkkinen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Al Qarni throws an overhand right that lands on Pulkkinen's shoulder, as Pulkkinen tries to avoid the shot.
Al Qarni is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peelo Pulkkinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Al Qarni ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
An inside leg kick from Pulkkinen misses.
Pulkkinen lands with a nice combination. Al Qarni backs away looking to recover.
Good work by Al Qarni as he checks the leg kick.
Pulkkinen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pulkkinen is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Pulkkinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pulkkinen. Al Qarni does a little dance to reset his feet.
A little feinted left hand from Al Qarni on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Al Qarni blocks a jab.
Al Qarni throwing a counter right hand but Pulkkinen manages to avoid it.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Qarni fails to land with a series of punches.
Pulkkinen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Pulkkinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Al Qarni misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the side of Al Qarni's head but Al Qarni sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen scores with a nice right hand.
Pulkkinen avoids the head kick by Al Qarni.
Al Qarni thuds a left hand into Pulkkinen's body.
Pulkkinen defending well as Al Qarni loads up on a big left hand.
Al Qarni misses with a straight left.
Al Qarni looks to land a combination but Pulkkinen avoids it well.
Pulkkinen ducks under a wild hook from Al Qarni.

Al Qarni tries to keep at a distance but Pulkkinen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pulkkinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Al Qarni has a couple of punches blocked by Pulkkinen.
A left hand lands to the body for Pulkkinen.
Al Qarni misses with a hook from the clinch.
Al Qarni swings wildly with an uppercut but Pulkkinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pulkkinen working aggressively here.
Al Qarni misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Al Qarni.
Fahad Al Qarni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen looking to throw knees to the head but Al Qarni is blocking nicely.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen misses with some punches.
I was talking to Al Qarni's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Al Qarni.
A right hook to the body lands for Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen tries a body shot but Al Qarni blocks it.
Pulkkinen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Al Qarni backwards.
Pulkkinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pulkkinen swings wildly with an uppercut but Al Qarni uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pulkkinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pulkkinen scores with a nice hook to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pulkkinen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Al Qarni lands a right hand.
Pulkkinen keeps control of Al Qarni as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Pulkkinen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Al Qarni backwards.
Al Qarni is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pulkkinen is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pulkkinen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pulkkinen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen lands with a short shot to the head.
Al Qarni wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pulkkinen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Al Qarni is defending well for now.
Pulkkinen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Al Qarni softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Pulkkinen misses with some punches.

Al Qarni has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Pulkkinen is trying to keep an underhook but Al Qarni manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Pulkkinen is looking to improve his position.

Al Qarni looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Al Qarni is thwarting Pulkkinen's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Al Qarni is looking for a kimura here.

Al Qarni is working for a submission of some sort.
Pulkkinen is trying to control but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peelo Pulkkinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pulkkinen 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peelo Pulkkinen!
A relieved looking Peelo Pulkkinen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.