PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pena Pulkkinen (ranked 57 p4p, 5 weight class) and Mario Barrera (ranked 90 p4p, 13 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pulkkinen
vs
Barrera

225 cm
25
211 lbs
18 - 3 - 0

190 cm
29
205 lbs
17 - 3 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pena Pulkkinen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mario Barrera!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Paul Tew and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barrera slips a jab from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Barrera needs to keep his hands up - Pulkkinen had a free shot at his head there.
Pena Pulkkinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Barrera clinches up against the cage.
Barrera throws a head punch that misses.
Pulkkinen fails to pull guard.
Barrera lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Pulkkinen backwards.

Barrera breaks from the clinch.
Barrera takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice shot by Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Good leg kick by Pulkkinen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Barrera steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pulkkinen.
A swing and a miss from Pulkkinen.
A nice side step and Barrera releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Pulkkinen connects with a solid leg kick.
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!
Barrera on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barrera throws a sloppy body shot
and Pulkkinen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Barrera ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Barrera doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Pulkkinen scores with a nice strike.
Pulkkinen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Barrera.
Pulkkinen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Barrera is out of range and Pulkkinen settles back down.
Barrera appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Pulkkinen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pulkkinen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Barrera misses with a looping right.
Pulkkinen stalks Barrera and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Barrera's face. Barrera staggers backwards, shaken.
Barrera throws a wild body kick that Pulkkinen sees coming a mile off.
Pulkkinen connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Good shot there by Pulkkinen.
Barrera lands the left hand.
Pulkkinen throws out a loose jab but Barrera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pulkkinen takes a swing at Barrera's ribcage but misses.
Pulkkinen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook.
Pulkkinen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Barrera to score with a decent uppercut.
Pulkkinen misses with a low kick.

Oooooh!!! Barrera has knocked Pulkkinen down with a huge combo! Barrera steps away and waves a wobbly Pulkkinen back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Pulkkinen works Barrera's body with a nice hook.
Barrera works Pulkkinen's body with a nice hook.
Pulkkinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Barrera.
Pulkkinen throwing a counter right hand but Barrera manages to avoid it.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pulkkinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen misses with a looping right.
A shot to the body from Pulkkinen misses
and Barrera makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Barrera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Barrera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pulkkinen misses with a low kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Barrera. Pulkkinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Barrera loads up on a big right hand but Pulkkinen slips the punch.
Pulkkinen throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Pulkkinen misses with a low kick.
Barrera appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Pulkkinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Barrera manages to avoid it.
And Barrera responds with a good body kick, but Pulkkinen manages to step out the way in time.
Pulkkinen throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Barrera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen lands a right hand.

Pulkkinen jumps guard.
Barrera tries to free his leg and advance position but Pulkkinen is retaining full guard.
Barrera advances position into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pulkkinen can't do much from the bottom here.
Pulkkinen stops Barrera from passing to mount.
Pulkkinen is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Jorzi GYM, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Pulkkinen can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pena Pulkkinen will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pulkkinen throws a leg kick but Barrera moved away.
Barrera takes a kick to the side of the head.
Barrera walks into a left hand.
Pulkkinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Barrera.
Pulkkinen lands a leg kick that knocks Barrera off balance momentarily.
Pulkkinen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Pulkkinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Barrera checks the leg kick.
Pulkkinen scores with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pulkkinen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Barrera. Barrera circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pulkkinen throws a leg kick but Barrera checks it.
Barrera with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barrera doesn't manage to clinch there - Pulkkinen circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barrera. That did some damage!
Pulkkinen misses with a wild body shot.
Barrera throws an overhand right that lands on Pulkkinen's shoulder, as Pulkkinen tries to avoid the shot.
Barrera tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pulkkinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Barrera.
The fighters circling - Pulkkinen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Barrera crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Pulkkinen - the referee stops the clock and Barrera gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Pulkkinen. Barrera manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Barrera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pulkkinen.
A jab from Pulkkinen finds it's way through Barrera's defenses.
Pulkkinen lands a slapping body shot.
Pulkkinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Barrera goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Barrera stuns Pulkkinen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Pulkkinen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen thuds his right hand into Barrera's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pulkkinen, right into the meat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barrera takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Barrera digs a good body shot into Pulkkinen's ribs.
Pulkkinen cracks Barrera with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A jab from Barrera misses.
Pulkkinen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Barrera's sensitive parts.
Barrera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Barrera waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A little jabbing left from Barrera on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pulkkinen wants to slow Barrera down by chopping away at his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A nice side step and Barrera releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Barrera checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Pulkkinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Pena Pulkkinen is winning the standup battle so far.
An inside leg kick from Pulkkinen misses.
Barrera displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pulkkinen throws out the jab.
A little jabbing left from Barrera on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Barrera is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Pulkkinen rather than just go for the knockout.
Barrera just misses with a punch to the body.
Pulkkinen connects with a leg kick. Barrera looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Pulkkinen throws a leg kick that misses.
Barrera counters with a body kick.
Barrera takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Pulkkinen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Barrera counters with a nice leg kick.
Pulkkinen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Barrera connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barrera throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrera throws a lazy uppercut
and Pulkkinen counters with a nice leg kick.
Pulkkinen scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Barrera misses with a straight right.
Barrera's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Barrera lands a jab.
Nice cross by Barrera.
Pulkkinen looks to land a body kick but Barrera moved away.
A big left from Pulkkinen misses.
Barrera flicks out a counter leg kick but Pulkkinen steps away.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook. Barrera ducked under it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Barrera on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pulkkinen misses with a low kick.
Barrera doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A slow jab from Pulkkinen misses its intended target.
Pulkkinen throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pena Pulkkinen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pulkkinen misses with a body kick.
Barrera wants to counter with a clinch but Pulkkinen pushes him away.
Pulkkinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Barrera misses with a right hand
letting Pulkkinen counter with a right hand.
Barrera looks to land a left hand but Pulkkinen moved out of range nicely.
Barrera throws a big shot that misses.
Barrera misses with an attempted mid kick.
Barrera on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pulkkinen misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barrera moves out of range of the strikes.
Pulkkinen looks to land a left hand but Barrera moved out of range nicely.
Barrera checks the leg kick nicely there.
Pulkkinen moves out of range as Barrera throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera avoids the body shot from Pulkkinen.
Barrera avoids a kick to the body.
Pulkkinen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Barrera counters with a straight right hand.
Jab by Barrera.
Barrera moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Good work by Barrera as he checks the leg kick.
Barrera is looking for the big counter here.
Barrera is looking to slow Pulkkinen down with leg kicks.
Barrera bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barrera steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Pulkkinen.
Barrera throws a good cross that connects.
Pulkkinen goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Pulkkinen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Pulkkinen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrera throws a nice outside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Barrera slips under a jab from Pulkkinen.

Barrera drops Pulkkinen with a beautiful combination! Pulkkinen stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Barrera is looking for the KO!

Pulkkinen is rocked!
Jab from Pulkkinen.
Oh Pulkkinen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pulkkinen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Barrera takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Pulkkinen seems to have got his legs back now.
Pulkkinen thumps Barrera with a low kick.
Pulkkinen lands a front kick.
Pulkkinen throws a chopping leg kick but Barrera manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Pulkkinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barrera moves away.
Barrera throws a nice looking combination but Pulkkinen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pulkkinen manages to avoid it.
Pulkkinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Barrera throws a right hand that Pulkkinen ducks under and follows up with a left that Pulkkinen also avoids with ease.
Barrera looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pulkkinen moves out of range of the body kick.
Pulkkinen lands a jab.
Pulkkinen cracks Barrera with a right hand to the side of the head.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Pulkkinen.
Nice defenses there by Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen misses with a straight left.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Barrera checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Barrera scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Barrera scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
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!
Pulkkinen tries a low kick but Barrera avoids it.
Barrera scores with a hook to the body. Pulkkinen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Pulkkinen lands a nice shot to the body.
Pulkkinen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen throws a leg kick

and Barrera counters by moving into the clinch.
Barrera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Barrera has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Barrera lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Barrera lands a body punch in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Mario Barrera just about did enough to take it.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Pulkkinen moves out of range of the body kick.
Pulkkinen lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Pulkkinen looks to throw the jab but Barrera is out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Barrera! But no joy.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Pulkkinen, right into the meat.
A shot to the liver by Barrera. Beautiful body shot.
Pulkkinen steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Barrera. That one must have hurt.
Pulkkinen is looking to score with low kicks.
An inside leg kick lands from Barrera.
Barrera falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Pulkkinen counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pulkkinen cracks the inside of Barrera's front leg.
Nice body punch from Barrera.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Pulkkinen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Barrera has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pulkkinen throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pulkkinen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Barrera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pulkkinen.
Barrera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pulkkinen manages to avoid it.
Barrera slips a jab from Pulkkinen.
Barrera now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Pulkkinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barrera moves away.
Pulkkinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Barrera misses.
Pulkkinen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Barrera.
Barrera throws a body shot but no joy.
Pulkkinen moves out of range of the body kick from Barrera.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barrera throws a right and a left that Pulkkinen avoids nicely.
It looked like Pulkkinen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pulkkinen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Barrera misses with a hook.
Barrera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Pulkkinen misses with a leg kick.
Pulkkinen throws a body punch but Barrera moves out of range.
Pulkkinen sets himself, and Barrera steps forward looking for the clinch! Pulkkinen avoids it this time.
Nice jab there from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Barrera counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Pulkkinen thinking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pulkkinen avoids a kick to the body.
Pulkkinen is looking to slow Barrera down with leg kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrera keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Barrera looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Pulkkinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Barrera.
A jab from Pulkkinen does it's job there.
Barrera bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Barrera looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Barrera.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook.
Pulkkinen swats away the attempt to clinch by Barrera.
Barrera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Pulkkinen misses with a straight left.
Barrera appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pulkkinen.
Barrera throws a body punch but Pulkkinen moves out of range.
Pulkkinen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Barrera on the side of the head.
Pulkkinen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Barrera.
Pulkkinen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Barrera's head.
Pulkkinen jabs at Barrera's body.
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!
Pulkkinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Pulkkinen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Pulkkinen.
A telegraphed right hand from Pulkkinen misses the target.
And Barrera responds with a good body kick, but Pulkkinen manages to step out the way in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pena Pulkkinen had his way with Mario Barrera in that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Barrera blocks a head kick by Pulkkinen.
Barrera throws a body punch but Pulkkinen moves out of range.
Pulkkinen checks a low kick from Barrera.
Pulkkinen lands a leg kick that knocks Barrera off balance momentarily.
Barrera has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Barrera there as he acknowledges the shot.
Pulkkinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Pulkkinen misses with a straight right.
Barrera thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pulkkinen throws an overhand right that lands on Barrera's shoulder, as Barrera tries to avoid the shot.
Pulkkinen misses with a jab to the body

and Barrera moves into the clinch.
Pulkkinen is trying to stall.
Pulkkinen trying to stall but Barrera improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen lands a shoulder strike.
Barrera throws a head punch that misses.
Pulkkinen looking to stall.
Pulkkinen blocks a body shot from Barrera.
Pulkkinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Barrera.
A head punch on the inside from Pulkkinen fails to land.
Pulkkinen misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from Barrera.

Pulkkinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pulkkinen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Barrera is out of range and Pulkkinen settles back down.
Barrera tries to land a front kick but Pulkkinen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Pulkkinen cracks the inside of Barrera's front leg.
Barrera swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mario Barrera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen throws a body kick that misses.
Barrera looks to clinch
and Pulkkinen counters with a nice body shot.
Barrera uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pulkkinen.
An inside leg kick lands from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen connects with a right hand. Barrera shakes it off.
Pulkkinen looks to land a right hand but Barrera moved out of range.
Barrera follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Barrera walks into a stiff left hand from Pulkkinen.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pulkkinen takes a swing at Barrera's ribcage but misses.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook
and Barrera counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pulkkinen connects with a right hand. Barrera shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen lands a body shot.
Barrera slips under a jab.
Barrera plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Barrera tries to clinch but Pulkkinen is having none of it.
Pulkkinen is looking to counter punch.
Barrera throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pulkkinen is looking to counter punch.
Pulkkinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Barrera moves away.
Barrera wants to counter the offense by Pulkkinen and move into the clinch position.
Pulkkinen throws a body kick that misses.
Barrera jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Barrera slips a jab from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the side of Barrera's head but Barrera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Barrera let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Pulkkinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barrera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barrera falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pulkkinen counters with a straight right hand.
Pulkkinen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Barrera on the side of the head.
Barrera 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 throws a front kick that sends Barrera stumbling back into the cage.
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!
Barrera throws a body shot but no joy.
Pulkkinen throws a low kick but Barrera avoids it.
Pulkkinen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Barrera. That did some damage!
A lazy left from Pulkkinen finds it's target.
Pulkkinen throws a body shot but no joy.
Pulkkinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barrera can do to turn this around?
Pulkkinen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Barrera.
Barrera now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pena Pulkkinen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pulkkinen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 50:46
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 49:47
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pena Pulkkinen!
Pena Pulkkinen retains his light heavyweight title!
After the fight, Pena Pulkkinen was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.