PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luis Carlos Linhares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Touko Pouko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Touko Pouko has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Carlos Linhares
vs
Pouko

171 cm
41
146 lbs
32 - 15 - 1

165 cm
30
142 lbs
12 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Luis Carlos Linhares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Touko Pouko!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Leandro Rodrigues and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Linhares throws a sloppy head kick

so Pouko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Linhares keeping moving, preventing Pouko from controlling successfully.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pouko working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

Linhares is looking for a triangle but Pouko pushes his legs off easily.
Pouko preventing the sweep.
Pouko working some strikes from top position.
We've been hearing good reports from Linhares's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Pouko sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pouko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pouko controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Linhares has his foot on Pouko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pouko works his way back into a safe position though.

Linhares looking for a guillotine here but Pouko defends easily.
Pouko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Linhares's guard.
Pouko works his way into full mount!
Linhares can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pouko controlling from the full mount.
Pouko landing strikes from the mount and Linhares is in trouble!
Pouko prevents Linhares from getting the reversal.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pouko unloading with bombs!
Linhares tries to hold on but Pouko pushes him away.
Pouko with a couple of short strikes.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Linhares is squirming around, avoiding Pouko's attempts to control the action.
Linhares tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pouko working the ground and pound effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pouko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Pouko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Pouko breaks from Linhares's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Linhares is in a horrible position here. Pouko smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Linhares tries to hold on but Pouko postures up.
Pouko prevents Linhares from getting the reversal.
Pouko looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linhares tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Linhares regains half guard.
Pouko wants to take a breather but Linhares is having none of it.
Linhares is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Linhares is refusing to be controlled, as Pouko sits in half guard.
Linhares is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pouko's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pouko's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Touko Pouko dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pouko lands a body shot.
Pouko cracks Linhares with an open hand slap.
Pouko avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Linhares scores with a shot to the body.
Linhares scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Linhares looks to throw a body kick

and Pouko counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Linhares!
Pouko scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Linhares to see if he's OK.
Linhares is looking to regain half guard here but Pouko keeps moving and retains side control.
Pouko is looking to take a break and control but Linhares is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pouko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Check out the look on Pouko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linhares tries to buck Pouko off but Pouko is having none of it.
Linhares manages to get back to half guard.
Pouko is trying to control. Linhares wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Pouko not doing much here.
Linhares gets full guard.
Pouko preventing the sweep.
Pouko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two 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.
Pouko's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Pouko trying to control but Linhares is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pouko lands a glancing blow to the side of Linhares's head.

Pouko has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Linhares - that landed with a thud.
Linhares misses with a body punch.
Pouko throws a punch but it's blocked by Linhares.
A head punch on the inside from Linhares fails to land.
Pouko misses with a punch to the body.
Pouko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pouko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pouko blocking some punches.
Linhares throws a head punch that misses.
Linhares pushes Pouko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pouko tries a body shot but Linhares blocks it.
Linhares working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pouko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pouko avoiding damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Linhares.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Linhares tries a body shot but Pouko blocks it.

Linhares jumps guard and drags Pouko to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Pouko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Linhares working for a triangle but Pouko defends it easily.
Pouko wants to control from the top but Linhares keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Linhares wants to sweep here but Pouko controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Touko Pouko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Linhares takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Linhares has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Linhares there as he acknowledges the shot.
Linhares lands a glancing blow to the side of Pouko's head.
Linhares fakes the leg kick and cracks Pouko in the body.
Linhares looks to score with a jab to the body but Pouko is just out of range.
Pouko slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Linhares darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Linhares tries to land a body kick

and Pouko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pouko keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Touko Pouko has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pouko is keen to just control but Linhares is a slippery customer.

Pouko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Linhares defends it well.
Pouko wants to control but Linhares is keeping him busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pouko sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Linhares fakes the leg kick and cracks Pouko in the body.
Linhares is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pouko.
Luis Carlos Linhares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pouko lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Luis Carlos Linhares seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Linhares goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pouko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Linhares pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Linhares is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pouko.
Nice cross by Pouko.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pouko takes a swing at Linhares's ribcage but misses.
Pouko scores with a decent looking hook.
Linhares throws a nice outside leg kick.
Pouko scores with a sloppy right hand. Linhares should have avoided that one.
No joy there for Pouko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Pouko checks a leg kick.
Pouko changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Linhares thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Pouko if he has to take too many more of those.
Pouko on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Linhares tries to land a front kick but Pouko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Linhares lands with a straight right. Pouko didn't see that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pouko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pouko throws an overhand right that lands on Linhares's shoulder, as Linhares tries to avoid the shot.
Pouko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Linhares, right into the meat.
Linhares lands a front kick.
Linhares scores with a kick to the midsection.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Linhares.
Pouko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Linhares moves away.
Touko Pouko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pouko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Linhares feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Pouko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pouko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Pouko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Linhares. Linhares obviously looking to wear him down.
Touko Pouko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pouko pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Linhares back to the cage. Pouko follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Pouko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Linhares.
A left and a right from Pouko both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pouko avoids a kick to the body.
Pouko goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Pouko gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Linhares.
Linhares scores with a kick to the body.
Pouko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Linhares dodges the punch combination from Pouko.
Pouko closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Linhares with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pouko misses with an uppercut. Linhares saw that one coming.
Touko Pouko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pouko throws a lazy right hand but Linhares sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Linhares throws a wild body kick that Pouko sees coming a mile off.
Linhares misses the shot to the body.
Linhares pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pouko feints the counter takedown.

Pouko takes the fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Touko Pouko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pouko 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Touko Pouko!