PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rile Husika (ranked 4987 p4p, 6019 weight class) and Claudio Puelles (ranked 562 p4p, 606 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Husika
vs
Puelles

175 cm
18
180
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
19
170
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rile Husika!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Claudio Puelles!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puelles looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Husika closes the distance and pushes Puelles back into the cage.
Husika is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Puelles to keep the fight standing.

Husika decides to pull guard.
Husika keeping moving, preventing Puelles from controlling successfully.

Husika is looking for a triangle but Puelles pushes his legs off easily.

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

Husika looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Puelles passes into side control.
Husika is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Husika is working hard here to advance position.
Husika prevents Puelles from improving position.
Husika is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Husika looking for a sweep but Puelles has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Husika is looking to improve his position but Puelles isn't that keen on the idea.
Puelles trying to control but Husika is having none of it.
Husika sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Well, if Puelles is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Husika trying to hold on to Puelles's head to control him but Puelles postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Husika looking for submissions off his back.

Husika is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Puelles pulls his head out easily.

Husika looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Husika actively working from the bottom here.
Puelles wants to free his trapped foot but Husika is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Husika looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Husika is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Puelles pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Puelles stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Husika to get to his feet.
Husika fails in his attempt to clinch.

Husika clinches with his opponent.
Puelles trying to land knees to the body.
Husika prevents Puelles from breaking the clinch.
Puelles taking a breather.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Puelles.
Puelles goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Husika tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Puelles smiles and moves away.

Husika closes the distance and pushes Puelles back into the cage.
Husika fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rile Husika. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puelles missing with knees to the body.
Puelles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Puelles misses with a body punch.
Husika is trying to pull guard but Puelles has him pressed against the cage.
Puelles lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Husika tries to pull guard but Puelles won't allow it.
Husika tries to pull guard but Puelles holds him up against the cage and eventually Husika drops back down to his feet.
Husika keeps control of Puelles as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Puelles trying to control the position but instead, Husika has worked for underhooks and has pushed Puelles into the cage.
Husika tries to pull guard but Puelles won't allow it.
Husika blocks an uppercut.
Husika tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Puelles smiles and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Puelles connects with a crisp jab.

Husika moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Claudio Puelles will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Puelles lands a body shot.
Husika takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Puelles swats away the attempt to clinch by Husika.

Husika has taken the fight to the clinch.
Puelles looking to slow down the pace here.
Husika tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Puelles misses with the head strike.
Puelles wants to stall.
Husika tries to pull guard but Puelles holds him up against the cage and eventually Husika drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Husika pulls Puelles into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Puelles stands and steps away. Husika gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Husika tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Puelles counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Donk. Puelles catches Husika right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Puelles catches Husika right on the button with a cross.

Husika fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Puelles, pushing him back against the cage.
Husika is trying to pull guard but Puelles has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rile Husika. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Husika is trying to pull guard but Puelles has him pressed against the cage.
Husika jumps guard but Puelles turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Puelles tries a body shot but Husika blocks it.
Husika jumps guard but Puelles stands there with Husika around his waist. Husika gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Husika is trying to pull guard but Puelles turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Husika tries to pull guard but Puelles holds him up against the cage and eventually Husika drops back down to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Puelles has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Husika jumps guard and drags Puelles to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Puelles's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Puelles must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Husika working for a triangle but Puelles defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Husika is looking for a triangle but Puelles pushes his legs off easily.
Husika looking for a sweep. Not yet Husika, not yet.

Husika is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Husika keeping moving, preventing Puelles from controlling successfully.
Puelles pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Husika is keeping the position for now.

Husika has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Puelles can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Husika throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Puelles escapes and throws Husika's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Husika tries to improve position but can't.
Puelles trying to control the action but Husika is working from the bottom.
Puelles tries to advance to mount but can't.
Puelles is looking to take a break and control but Husika is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Husika tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Puelles wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four 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.
Husika trying to control but Puelles flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Puelles controlling well, preventing Husika from escaping the position.
Husika looking very determined here, making life difficult for Puelles.
Husika is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Puelles struggling to keep hold of the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Husika trying to control the position but Puelles manages to sink in the hooks.
Husika can't escape the position.
Puelles is looking to control Husika but Husika is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Puelles keeps control of the position as Husika tries to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Puelles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Puelles throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Husika moves into the clinch.

Puelles breaks the clinch.
Husika has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Husika tries to close the distance and clinch but Puelles swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Husika tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Puelles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Husika moves into the clinch successfully.

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

Husika looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Puelles passes into side control.
Husika is not content to let Puelles control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puelles tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Puelles stands up and beckons Husika to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puelles cracks Husika with a good jab.
Rile Husika seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Husika wants to clinch up but Puelles keeps it at a distance.
Husika fails with an attempt to clinch.
Husika tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It seemed like Puelles was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Husika tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Puelles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Puelles looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Puelles misses with an attempted mid kick.
Husika seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Husika moves to clinch but Puelles breaks away
and Puelles counters with a one-two to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Puelles tries to throw a body punch but Husika avoids it by throwing Puelles back against the cage.
Husika tries to pull guard but Puelles won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Husika jumps guard but Puelles turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Puelles has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Puelles working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Husika tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Puelles just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rile Husika. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short right from Puelles on the inside.
Puelles softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Rile Husika has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Husika tries to pull guard but Puelles holds him up against the cage and eventually Husika drops back down to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Puelles is trying to break free.
Puelles is looking to control Husika's arms but Husika gets an underhook and turns him. Now Puelles has his back to the cage.
Husika jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Puelles walks away with a smile on his face. Husika gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Husika fails with an attempt to clinch.
Husika tries to close the distance and clinch up but Puelles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Puelles uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Husika tries to close the distance and clinch up but Puelles swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Puelles! But no joy.
Husika tries to clinch there but Puelles circles away.
Puelles lands with a hook. Husika tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Husika tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Husika is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Puelles throws out a counter right but Husika avoids it with no problem.
Husika doesn't manage to clinch there - Puelles circles away.
Puelles goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Husika tries to clinch there but Puelles circles away.
Husika tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Puelles manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Puelles lands with an overhand left.
Puelles with a hook.
Puelles lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Puelles keeps the fight on the outside.
Husika tries to clinch up but Puelles circles away and keeps his distance.
Puelles connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Husika tries to clinch but Puelles moves out of range.
Puelles throws a body punch but Husika moves out of range.

Husika has Puelles up against the cage in a clinch.
Husika blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Husika is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Puelles to keep the fight standing.
Puelles stalling.
Puelles wants to stall.
Puelles wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Husika successfully pulls guard.
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!
Puelles seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Rile Husika has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Husika looking for a guillotine here but Puelles defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claudio Puelles comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Puelles 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claudio Puelles!