PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cain Payne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joulu Pukki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Payne
vs
Pukki

190 cm
23
209 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

179 cm
19
215 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

[MMABR] WIN Nutritional

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cain Payne!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joulu Pukki!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pukki looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Payne!
Payne is squirming around, avoiding Pukki's attempts to control the action.
Payne really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pukki controlling the position easily from mount.
Payne tries to improve his position but instead Pukki has taken his back!
Pukki biding his time, controlling Payne.

Payne defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Pukki's arms.
Payne tries to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Payne rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Pukki stalling away here and it's allowed Payne to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Pukki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

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

Payne is looking for a triangle here but Pukki uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Payne is looking to reverse the position.
Payne is working hard here to advance position.
Payne manages to get back to half guard.
Payne is looking for a sweep. Pukki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Payne actively working from the bottom here.
Payne trying to control here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pukki is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Payne looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Payne actively working from the bottom here.

Payne looking for submissions off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Payne lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Joulu Pukki has been cut.
Payne fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Pukki.
Pukki misses with a two punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Payne fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pukki is out of range.
Pukki takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Cain Payne is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Pukki gets a takedown into half guard.
Pukki is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Payne actively working from the bottom here.
Payne is looking to improve his position.

Payne looking for submissions off his back.
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 Cain Payne will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joulu Pukki's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pukki shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Payne tries to kick Pukki off but Pukki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Payne wants to get back to full guard.
Payne is not content to let Pukki control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pukki content to control rather than advance.
Payne tries to roll over but Pukki keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Payne looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pukki trying to control the action but Payne is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
An inside leg kick from Payne misses.
Pukki fails with a takedown attempt.

Pukki darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Payne looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pukki controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pukki is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pukki wants to pass to mount but Payne is defending the position.
Payne is looking to improve his position.

Payne looking for submissions off his back.
Pukki performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Payne makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Payne.

Payne looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Payne working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Pukki has passed into half guard!

Payne is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pukki pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pukki seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Payne tries to get to full guard but Pukki has control of the leg.
Pukki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Payne regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Payne had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pukki defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joulu Pukki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Joulu Pukki's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Pukki blocks a head kick by Payne.
Nice takedown defense from Payne. No joy for Pukki on that attempt.
Payne throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Pukki shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Pukki works his way into full mount!
Pukki controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Payne is trying to escape the mount.
Payne 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.
Pukki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Payne knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Payne is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pukki pulls his head out easily.
Pukki keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Payne makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Payne.
Payne will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pukki stopping the sweep attempt from Payne.
Pukki stays in close to Payne's body and controls the position.
Payne looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pukki controlling from the top position.
Payne trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Payne is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Payne throws his legs up looking for a submission but Pukki uses it to pass to side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Payne is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Payne is being controlled here.

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.
Payne is not content to let Pukki control the position.
Payne is looking for a sweep.
Pukki controls the position from side control.
Payne is looking to regain half guard here but Pukki keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joulu Pukki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pukki has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joulu Pukki!