PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Louis Puckett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Branislav Donoval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Louis Puckett has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Puckett
vs
Donoval

222 cm
18
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Louis Puckett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Branislav Donoval!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donoval looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Puckett feinted there with a counter leg kick.

Puckett gets tackled into the cage by Donoval. Donoval maintains the clinch.

Donoval manages to break the clinch.
Donoval shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Puckett as he jumps to the side.

Donoval closes the distance and pushes Puckett back into the cage.
Donoval is working for takedown but Puckett is calmly controlling the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Donoval.
Donoval gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Puckett.
Donoval pushes Puckett back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donoval tries to score a body lock takedown but Puckett shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Louis Puckett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Branislav Donoval.

Donoval breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Donoval moves into the clinch.
Donoval is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A nice right hand lands inside from Donoval.
Donoval lands a left hand that snaps the head of Puckett backwards.

Puckett is rocked!
Donoval stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Oh Puckett is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Donoval throws a knee to the head but misses.
Donoval leaning against his opponent.
Donoval tries to pull guard but Puckett won't allow it.

Donoval manages to pull guard.
Donoval looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Puckett really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Puckett postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Puckett avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Puckett seems to have got his legs back now.
Puckett is working Donoval over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Puckett distracts Donoval with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Puckett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Puckett will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Puckett lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Donoval pulls Puckett in close to his closed guard and prevents Puckett from doing any damage or advancing position.
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!

Puckett thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Donoval can do anything to dispel that myth.
Donoval not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puckett distracts Donoval with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Donoval is trying to keep Puckett in close.
Puckett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Donoval's head.
Puckett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Donoval wants to sweep but no luck.
Puckett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Puckett decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Donoval moves into the clinch successfully.
Puckett jumps guard but Donoval turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Donoval ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Donoval no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Donoval wants to stand but Puckett is controlling the position.

Donoval is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Puckett defends well.
Puckett has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Donoval controls Puckett momentarily but Puckett frees himself.

Puckett is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Puckett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Donoval works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Puckett landing some decent shots from guard.
Puckett 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.

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

Donoval shoots in looking for a takedown. Puckett tries to sprawl out of it but Donoval keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Puckett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Branislav Donoval seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Donoval tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Puckett is looking for a counter combo.

Donoval rushes Puckett and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Puckett tries to score a body lock takedown but Donoval shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Donoval pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Donoval takes the fight into the clinch.

Donoval pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donoval has momentary wrist control but Puckett slips an elbow through the middle.

Donoval is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Donoval tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Puckett postures up and lands a big shot to Donoval's brow.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Puckett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Donoval not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Puckett lands a couple of elbows.
Donoval wants to stand and escape but Puckett is having none of it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Puckett accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Puckett is working Donoval over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Puckett makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Puckett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Donoval works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puckett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Puckett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Donoval's head.
Donoval controls Puckett momentarily but Puckett frees himself.
Puckett makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Donoval wants to stand but Puckett is controlling the position.
Donoval working a defensive guard but Puckett passes into half guard.
Puckett looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Puckett takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Donoval is trying to stand.

Puckett is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Puckett slips a nice elbow through Donoval's hands, connecting with Donoval's forehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donoval has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Puckett is working away from the top position though.
Puckett winds up and cracks Donoval with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Puckett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Donoval's head.

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

Puckett is looking for a kimura but Donoval is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Puckett to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Donoval is looking to improve his position.
Puckett sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Donoval defending well though.
Puckett lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Puckett wants to work for an arm triangle but Donoval is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Donoval trying to control but Puckett postures up.
Donoval keeping control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Puckett is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Donoval has managed to free his arm - good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Puckett dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Puckett stuffs the takedown attempt from Donoval. Donoval gets slowly back to his feet.
Donoval darts in looking for a takedown but Puckett gets double underhooks and turns Donoval into the cage.
Puckett fires out a quick counter leg kick but Donoval just manages to avoid it.

Donoval has Puckett up against the cage in a clinch.
Donoval digs a right hand underneath Puckett's ribcage. Puckett let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Donoval tries to throw a body punch but Puckett avoids it by throwing Donoval back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puckett is working for takedown but Donoval is calmly controlling the position for now.

Donoval breaks the clinch.

Donoval closes the distance and pushes Puckett back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donoval tries for a takedown but Puckett manages to get underhooks.
Louis Puckett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Branislav Donoval.
Donoval gets through Puckett's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Puckett is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Donoval gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Donoval can't get the takedown.
Puckett changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Donoval fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Donoval has taken the fight to the clinch.

Donoval breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puckett blocks a head kick by Donoval.
As Donoval tries to get set, Puckett tries to push him back and clinch up but Donoval manages to avoid the attempt.
Donoval has a takedown stuffed.
Donoval blocks the body kick.

Donoval has taken the fight to the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Donoval.

Donoval pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Donoval rushes Puckett and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Donoval breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Donoval darts in and clinches Puckett up against the cage.
Puckett wants a takedown.
Donoval goes for a takedown attempt but Puckett pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Puckett throws a head kick that misses
and Donoval counters with a one-two to the body.
Donoval throws a head kick that misses.
Puckett shoots in for a double leg but Donoval sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Donoval instigates a clinch.
Donoval misses with a punch to the body.
Donoval has Puckett pushed against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Donoval.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puckett can't get the takedown.
A hook to the body from Donoval.
Puckett has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Donoval avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Donoval has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Donoval changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Puckett fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Donoval rushes Puckett and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Branislav Donoval comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Donoval 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branislav Donoval!
During a confident post fight interview, Branislav Donoval thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.