PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Scott Highlander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Risto Jukkalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Highlander
vs
Jukkalainen

179 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

187 cm
22
195 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 Las Vegas, Scott Highlander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Risto Jukkalainen!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Highlander shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jukkalainen but Jukkalainen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Highlander showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jukkalainen.

Jukkalainen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Jukkalainen advances position into side control!

Jukkalainen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jukkalainen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Jukkalainen is looking to take a break and control but Highlander is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Jukkalainen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Highlander, who protects the arm well.
Highlander seems a little lost for a moment, as Jukkalainen dominates the positioning.
Highlander tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jukkalainen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Highlander, who protects the arm well.
Jukkalainen trying to control the position but Highlander is working away.
Highlander tries to improve position but can't.
Highlander is breathing heavily.
Highlander on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Highlander is looking for a sweep.

Jukkalainen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Highlander, who protects the arm well.
Jukkalainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Highlander keeps working.
Highlander manages to work his way to half guard, despite Jukkalainen's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Highlander is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Jukkalainen pulls his head out easily.
Highlander wants to get back to his feet.
Jukkalainen controlling the action here.

Highlander actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jukkalainen is tying to control. Highlander wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Highlander actively working from the bottom here.

Highlander looking for submissions off his back.
Jukkalainen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Jukkalainen gets a takedown into half guard.
Jukkalainen slows the pace down in half guard.

Highlander actively working from the bottom here.

Highlander looking for submissions off his back.

Highlander actively working from the bottom here.

Highlander looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Jukkalainen seems content to control.

Jukkalainen seems to be looking for submissions.

Highlander looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jukkalainen content to control rather than advance.

Highlander actively working from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Highlander looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No joy there for Highlander, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jukkalainen shoots for a takedown but Highlander saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Highlander takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Scott Highlander seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Highlander moves in looking to clinch but Jukkalainen pushes him off.
Highlander with a lazy takedown attempt

and Jukkalainen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Highlander's guard now.

Highlander working for submissions but it's allowed Jukkalainen to get to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jukkalainen in particular looking to stall.

Jukkalainen seems to be looking for submissions.

Highlander looking for submissions off his back.

Highlander actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Highlander is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Jukkalainen pulls his head out easily.

Highlander looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Jukkalainen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jukkalainen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Highlander looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jukkalainen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Highlander does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jukkalainen working the head and body with strikes.
Jukkalainen wants to control but Highlander is keeping him busy.
Risto Jukkalainen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jukkalainen controlling the action here.

Jukkalainen wants to work for an arm triangle but Highlander is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Highlander is refusing to be controlled, as Jukkalainen sits in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Highlander instigates a clinch.
Highlander connects with a knee to the head.

Jukkalainen lands a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Highlander looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Highlander escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jukkalainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jukkalainen is stalling in the full guard.
Jukkalainen won't allow Highlander to get back to his feet.
Jukkalainen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Jukkalainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Highlander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jukkalainen has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Highlander to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Jukkalainen is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Highlander pulls down on the head and he's put Jukkalainen to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Scott Highlander!