PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Repa Pulkkinen (ranked 3484 p4p, 1999 weight class) and Alexander Zass (ranked 370 p4p, 241 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Pulkkinen
vs
Zass

150 cm
20
195
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
190
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Repa Pulkkinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Zass!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, David Schapiro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pulkkinen looks to land a combination but Zass avoids it well.
Pulkkinen avoids the body shot from Zass.
Zass cracks Pulkkinen with a right hand to the side of the head.

It looks like Repa Pulkkinen has been cut.
Zass tests Pulkkinen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zass missing with a left hand there. Pulkkinen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pulkkinen throwing a counter right hand but Zass manages to avoid it.
Zass looks to throw the jab but Pulkkinen is out of range.
Pulkkinen throws out a leg kick but Zass moves out of range and Pulkkinen only half commits.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook
and Zass counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pulkkinen connects with a right hand. Zass shakes it off.
Pulkkinen avoids the body shot from Zass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen throws a poor cross that misses
and Zass counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pulkkinen scores with a leg kick.
Pulkkinen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Pulkkinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zass blocks a jab.
Zass doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Pulkkinen misses with a straight left.
Nice straight punches there by Zass. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Zass.
Pulkkinen walks into a stiff left hand from Zass.
Zass blocks a low kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zass displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pulkkinen throws out the jab.
Pulkkinen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zass cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pulkkinen looks to land a left hand but Zass moved out of range nicely.
Pulkkinen swings widly with a right hand
and Zass counters with a right hand to the body.
Pulkkinen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
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!
Zass takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Zass swings widly with a right hand
and Pulkkinen counters with a left to the body.
Pulkkinen looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Pulkkinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zass takes a swing at Pulkkinen's ribcage but misses.
Pulkkinen is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Zass's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Zass is able to avoid easily.
Zass let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Zass scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pulkkinen misses with a leg kick
and Pulkkinen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pulkkinen throws a big shot that misses.
Repa Pulkkinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zass defending well as Pulkkinen loads up on a big left hand.
Zass has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Pulkkinen throws a body kick that misses.
Zass is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've been informed that Zass has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Pulkkinen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Zass back to the cage. Pulkkinen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Zass is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Pulkkinen misses with a wild body shot.
Pulkkinen misses with a straight left.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pulkkinen. Zass does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pulkkinen swings for the body but Zass moves out of range.
Pulkkinen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zass moves out of range as Pulkkinen strikes.
A little jabbing left from Zass on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the side of Zass's head but Zass sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zass lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zass looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zass scores with a nice strike.
Pulkkinen ducks right into an uppercut from Zass.
Zass slips under a jab from Pulkkinen.
Zass swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pulkkinen throws a shot to the body.
Pulkkinen misses the shot to the body.
Pulkkinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zass looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zass waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Pulkkinen.
Zass looks to score with a jab to the body but Pulkkinen is just out of range.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pulkkinen misses with an uppercut
and Zass counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pulkkinen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook. Zass ducked under it nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zass. Pulkkinen does a little dance to reset his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Pulkkinen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A leg kick checked by Zass.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pulkkinen. Zass does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pulkkinen misses with a straight right.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Zass scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pulkkinen in his tracks.
Zass dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pulkkinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Zass throws out a counter right but Pulkkinen avoids it with no problem.
Pulkkinen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Zass takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pulkkinen misses with a looping left.
Pulkkinen scores with a hook.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook. Zass ducked under it nicely.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pulkkinen slips under a jab.
Zass misses with a hook
and Pulkkinen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Pulkkinen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Pulkkinen walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Zass checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pulkkinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Zass.
Pulkkinen throws a poor cross that misses
and Zass cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pulkkinen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Pulkkinen throws an off balance right hand
and Zass counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zass manages to avoid it.
Zass slips a straight right by Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen throws a hook but Zass blocks it.
Pulkkinen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pulkkinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zass looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zass takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Zass is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Pulkkinen had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Pulkkinen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zass at a distance.
Zass swings for the body but Pulkkinen moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Repa Pulkkinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Repa Pulkkinen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Pulkkinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zass is just out of range.
Pulkkinen throws a body shot but no joy.
Zass lands with an overhand left.
Zass 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 changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zass throws an overhand right that lands on Pulkkinen's shoulder, as Pulkkinen tries to avoid the shot.
Pulkkinen throwing a counter right hand but Zass manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zass takes one to the side of the head.
Pulkkinen looks to land a left hand but Zass moved out of range nicely.
A left lands for Pulkkinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Zass cracks a nice hook into Pulkkinen's ribs.
Pulkkinen lands a high kick!
Zass blocks a jab.
A shot to the liver by Pulkkinen. Beautiful body shot.
Pulkkinen misses with a wild body shot.
Zass looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Pulkkinen 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.
Pulkkinen swings widly with a right hand
enabling Zass to counter with a crisp jab.
Zass swings for the body but Pulkkinen moves out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pulkkinen.
Repa Pulkkinen is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zass swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pulkkinen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Pulkkinen throws a body shot but no joy.
Pulkkinen digs a good hook to Zass's body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pulkkinen misses with a left hand
and Zass counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Pulkkinen misses with a combination
and Zass connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pulkkinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zass manages to avoid it.
Zass uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pulkkinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zass throws out a loose jab but Pulkkinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pulkkinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zass was well out of range. Poor timing from Pulkkinen.
Zass is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Pulkkinen with a body shot.
Pulkkinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zass manages to avoid it.
A nice side step and Zass releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Pulkkinen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Zass.
Zass avoids the body shot from Pulkkinen.
Zass looks to score with a jab to the body but Pulkkinen is just out of range.
Zass takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Zass throws a hook but Pulkkinen blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Pulkkinen misses.
A little jabbing left from Zass on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pulkkinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Zass.
Pulkkinen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Pulkkinen throws out a loose jab but Zass uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zass loads up on a big right hand but Pulkkinen slips the punch.
Zass connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pulkkinen. Pulkkinen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pulkkinen throws an overhand right that lands on Zass's shoulder, as Zass tries to avoid the shot.
Pulkkinen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pulkkinen misses with a wild body shot.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen moves out of range of the strikes.
A counter left hand to the body from Pulkkinen misses its target.
Pulkkinen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zass slips under a jab.
Pulkkinen loads up on a big right hand but Zass slips the punch.
A nice side step and Zass releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Zass avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zass looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Zass takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Zass throws a looping overhand right but Pulkkinen ducks down to avoid it.
Pulkkinen swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Zass to counter with a crisp jab.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zass misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pulkkinen.
Zass looks to score with a jab to the body but Pulkkinen is just out of range.
Zass's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Pulkkinen. Zass does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zass swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pulkkinen ducks under a wild hook from Zass.
Pulkkinen tried to counter with a leg kick but Zass avoided it.
Zass moves out of range as Pulkkinen strikes.
Pulkkinen moves out of range as Zass strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Pulkkinen misses the target.
Pulkkinen throws a right hand that misses
and Zass cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Pulkkinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Zass was well out of range. Poor timing from Pulkkinen.
Zass has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Pulkkinen.
Zass misses with an uppercut.
Alexander Zass has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pulkkinen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Pulkkinen clobbers Zass with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A swing and a miss from Pulkkinen.
Zass misses with a body shot
and Pulkkinen counters with a left to the body.
Pulkkinen looks to land a right hand but Zass moved out of range.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen tests Zass's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A jab lands there for Pulkkinen.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Zass, as that shot connected.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the side of Zass's head but Zass sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Zass is looking for the big counter here.
Pulkkinen moves away from the strike by Zass.
Pulkkinen tried to counter with a leg kick but Zass avoided it.
A shot to the body from Pulkkinen misses
and Zass counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pulkkinen misses with a straight right.
Zass looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Zass takes one to the side of the head.
Pulkkinen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Zass counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pulkkinen misses with a shot to the body
and Pulkkinen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zass throws a jab when Pulkkinen was well out of range.
Zass ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pulkkinen moves away.
It looked like Pulkkinen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pulkkinen throws a right hand that misses
and Zass counters with a stiff right hand.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zass let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Zass displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pulkkinen throws out the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Repa Pulkkinen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pulkkinen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 20:18
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 20:18
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 20:18

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Repa Pulkkinen!