PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wilber Nielsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Pudburry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Nielsen
vs
Pudburry

173 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wilber Nielsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Pudburry!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pudburry shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Pudburry was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nielsen is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Pudburry is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Pudburry controlling his opponent.
Nielsen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pudburry won't let Nielsen get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Nielsen is working to get back to half guard.

Pudburry looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pudburry controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pudburry gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Nice sprawl there from Pudburry as Nielsen shoots in.

Nielsen gets caught napping as Pudburry dives in and scores a takedown. Nielsen manages to retain guard.
Nielsen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pudburry on the ground.
Nielsen is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Pudburry dives into side control.
Pudburry controlling from side mount.

Pudburry working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Pudburry decides to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Pudburry, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nielsen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Pudburry dives in and scores a takedown into Nielsen's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Nielsen manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nielsen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Nielsen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nielsen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Pudburry breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Pudburry gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nielsen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Pudburry wants to improve his position but instead Nielsen has moved into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen throwing shots but Pudburry is blocking nicely.
Pudburry keeping hold of Nielsen's head, controlling as best he can.
Pudburry has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Nielsen is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Nielsen blocks the strikes from Pudburry.
Pudburry is trying is best to control the position here.
Pudburry works his way to full guard. Good work.

Pudburry is looking for a triangle but Nielsen pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pudburry working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nielsen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Pudburry dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nielsen gets caught flat footed, as Pudburry shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nielsen working a defensive guard but Pudburry passes into half guard.
Nielsen wants to get back to his feet.
Nielsen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nice strikes from Pudburry there.
Mike Pudburry has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nielsen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Pudburry decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Pudburry moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pudburry turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Pudburry manages to end up in side control.
Pudburry controlling from side mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nielsen explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Pudburry closes the distance and clinches.
Pudburry prevents a body shot from Nielsen.
Nielsen is trying to break free.
Nielsen tries to break free but Pudburry pushes him back against the cage.

Pudburry wants the takedown. Nielsen is fighting it off but Pudburry persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Nielsen's guard against the cage.
Pudburry prevents Nielsen from getting back to his feet.
Pudburry is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Nielsen wants to stand and escape but Pudburry is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pudburry engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Pudburry working some strikes from top position.
Pudburry is pushing down on Nielsen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nielsen is fighting to maintain full guard but Pudburry has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pudburry content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Nielsen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pudburry performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nielsen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nielsen pushes Pudburry off looking to stand but Pudburry dives back in and keeps control.
Pudburry is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pudburry leaves Nielsen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nielsen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pudburry can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Pudburry bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Pudburry working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pudburry looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Nielsen is avoiding damage well.
Pudburry in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pudburry happy to just control the position for now.
Nielsen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Pudburry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Nielsen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nielsen fails with the takedown
and Pudburry counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Pudburry lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Wilber Nielsen has been cut.
Wilber Nielsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pudburry closes the distance and clinches.

Pudburry has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Nielsen regains guard immediately.
Nielsen is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Pudburry dives into side control.

Nielsen struggling a bit here.

Pudburry is trying to get an arm triangle but Nielsen is defending well.

Pudburry stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pudburry stuffs the takedown attempt from Nielsen. Nielsen gets slowly back to his feet.
Pudburry tries to counter with a clinch but Nielsen shakes him off and moves away.

Nielsen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Pudburry throws Nielsen to one side and escapes!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Pudburry feints and as Nielsen raises his hands in defense, Pudburry changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pudburry slips nicely into half guard.
Pudburry with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pudburry decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Pudburry lands with a kick to the ribs.

Pudburry has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pudburry has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pudburry's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nielsen tries for a takedown but Pudburry sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilber Nielsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Pudburry gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Nielsen tries to break free but Pudburry pushes him back against the cage.

Pudburry manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Pudburry pushes Nielsen off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nielsen gets tackled into the cage by Pudburry. Pudburry maintains the clinch.

Pudburry breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nielsen looks for a takedown but Pudburry sprawls well.

Pudburry bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Nielsen bucks up and tries to throw Pudburry off but instead Pudburry has got his back!
Pudburry is riding his opponent, not letting Nielsen buck him off.
Pudburry missing with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nielsen trying to get back to his feet but Pudburry is in full control for now.
Nielsen is taking damage to the body and head.
Pudburry keeps control of the position easily here as Nielsen tries to buck him off.

Pudburry is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Nielsen is defending well though. Pudburry let's go of the attempt for now.
Pudburry just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Pudburry comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pudburry has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Pudburry!