PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Niko Puhkuri (ranked 3253 p4p, 367 weight class) and Paul Walker (ranked 4994 p4p, 517 weight class). Niko Puhkuri has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Puhkuri
vs
Walker

188 cm
20
194 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
21
186 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Puhkuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Walker!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puhkuri throws a sloppy head kick and Walker moves out of range easily.
Walker's coach down at The PIT Hawaiian Kempo was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Walker's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Walker misses with a jab, cross combination.

Puhkuri gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Puhkuri manages to break the clinch.

Puhkuri takes the fight into the clinch.
Puhkuri is pressed up against the cage. Walker has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Puhkuri down to the mat. Puhkuri avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Puhkuri throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
And Walker tries to counter it with a takedown but Puhkuri pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Puhkuri displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Walker throws out the jab.

Puhkuri lands a big head kick that sends Walker tumbling to the mat! Puhkuri takes a step backwards and waves Walker back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Walker is rocked!

It looks like Paul Walker has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Puhkuri throws a sloppy head kick and Walker moves out of range easily.
Walker is still on wobbly legs! Can Puhkuri finish him?
Puhkuri pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Walker seems to have recovered his senses.
Walker throws a series of punches but Puhkuri avoids them all with ease.
Puhkuri throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Walker.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Puhkuri moves into the clinch.

Puhkuri has Walker pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Puhkuri pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Walker tumbling to the mat - Puhkuri dives into Walker's guard.

Walker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Walker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Walker wants to hit a switch here but Puhkuri passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Walker there!
Puhkuri is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Walker is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker keeps trying to improve his position.
Walker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Walker is wriggling around trying to escape.
Puhkuri landing strikes from the mount.

That has opened up Paul Walker's cut even more.
Walker tries to reverse the position but Puhkuri maintains control.
Walker wants to hold on but Puhkuri pushes him away.

Puhkuri is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Walker to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Walker shrugs it off.
Puhkuri is landing with some decent strikes but Walker is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Walker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Puhkuri loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Walker scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Puhkuri land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Puhkuri stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Niko Puhkuri!