PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joulu Pukki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cory Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Steel's choice of entrance music: Immortal Technique-Point of no return. Cory Steel has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Joulu Pukki's chin.

Pukki
vs
Steel

179 cm
32
215 lbs
27 - 12 - 0

184 cm
39
212 lbs
26 - 21 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

LOD: Affordable Quality

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 27 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joulu Pukki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cory Steel!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pukki throws a head kick but Steel moves out of range.
Pukki moves to clinch but Steel breaks away
and Steel counters with a one-two to the body.
Pukki fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Steel checks it well.
Steel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Pukki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pukki dodges the punch combination from Steel.
Steel looks to land a combination but Pukki avoids it well.
Pukki ducks under a wild hook from Steel.
Steel looks to score with a jab to the body but Pukki is just out of range.
Pukki avoids the body shot from Steel.
Steel misses the shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pukki fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Steel sprawls well initially but Pukki persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Steel is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pukki scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pukki seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Steel is trying to stand back up but Pukki is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Pukki wants to free his trapped foot but Steel is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Ground and pound from Pukki.
Steel wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pukki is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Steel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Pukki not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nice strikes from Pukki there.

Pukki is trying to work for a kimura but Steel is defending well.
Pukki stops Steel from getting back to his feet.
Pukki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Pukki is working for a kimura but Steel is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pukki.
Pukki is keen to just control but Steel is a slippery customer.
Steel is trying to stand back up but Pukki is controlling him
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Steel kicks off Pukki and gets to his feet.
Steel throws a series of punches but Pukki moves out of range.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Pukki.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pukki.
Steel catches Pukki with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Steel looks to score with a jab to the body but Pukki is just out of range.
Pukki blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Pukki tries to clinch there but Steel circles away.
No joy there for Steel, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A telegraphed right hand from Pukki misses the target.
Pukki connects with an inside leg kick.

Pukki clinches with his opponent.
Pukki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Pukki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Steel's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Steel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pukki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Steel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Steel misses with a looping left.
Steel misses with a body punch
and Pukki counters with a straight right hand.
Pukki scores with a leg kick.
Nice shot by Steel.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Steel just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steel checks a leg kick.
Steel pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Pukki back to the cage. Steel follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Pukki thows a body kick. Steel tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Pukki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pukki lands a nice uppercut.
Pukki avoiding damage.

Steel breaks from the clinch.

Pukki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Steel's half guard.
Steel is staying active underneath Pukki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Steel wants to get back to his feet.
Pukki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steel tries to kick Pukki off but Pukki keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Pukki trying to pass the guard but Steel defending well.
Steel has hold of Pukki's hands but Pukki slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joulu Pukki dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pukki is looking to slow Steel down with leg kicks.
Pukki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pukki throws a leg kick but Steel moved away.
Steel takes a kick to the side of the head.
Pukki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Steel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pukki tries to move into range but Steel moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pukki.
Steel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pukki counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Steel is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Pukki dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Steel. That did some damage!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pukki throws a head kick that half lands.
Pukki lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pukki throws a leg kick but Steel checks it.
Pukki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Steel avoids it really well and circles away.
Steel circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Steel loads up on a big right hand but Pukki slips the punch.
Pukki keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Sloppy strikes from Pukki. Those never looked like landing.
Steel just misses with a punch to the body.
Steel misses with a hook.
Steel needs to keep his hands up - Pukki had a free shot at his head there.
Cory Steel is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Steel lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pukki circles away quickly and effectively.
Joulu Pukki is winning the standup battle so far.
Steel ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pukki thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Steel if he has to take too many more of those.
Joulu Pukki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pukki throws a sloppy head kick and Steel moves out of range easily.
Pukki misses with a low kick.
Steel lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Pukki gets a double leg takedown into Steel's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukki is looking to work some ground and pound but Steel has wrist control.
Pukki stops Steel from standing up.
Pukki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Pukki stops Steel from standing up.
Pukki looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pukki wants to control from the top but Steel keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Pukki sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joulu Pukki.
Pukki stuns Steel with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel thows a body shot but no joy.
Steel steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Pukki. That one must have hurt.
Pukki does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Pukki lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Pukki.
A big left from Steel misses.

Pukki clinches.
Steel is trying to break the clinch but Pukki is controlling him.

Pukki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pukki tries to score a power double leg takedown but Steel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pukki somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joulu Pukki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pukki ducks under a wild hook from Steel.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukki avoids the body shot from Steel.
Pukki shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Steel checks a leg kick.
Steel tries to bum rush Pukki with a series of wild strikes but Pukki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Pukki is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Steel's half 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!
Steel pushes Pukki off looking to stand but Pukki dives back in and keeps control.
Pukki is keen to just control but Steel is a slippery customer.
Steel pushes Pukki off looking to stand but Pukki dives back in and keeps control.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pukki connects with a nice short shot to Steel's temple.
Pukki wants to pass to mount but Steel is defending the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pukki is keen to just control but Steel is a slippery customer.
Pukki has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Steel looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joulu Pukki dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Steel fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pukki manages to avoid it.
Pukki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Steel.
Steel thows a body shot but no joy.
Pukki is looking to land body kicks.
Pukki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pukki tries to clinch there but Steel circles away.

Pukki scores with a takedown into Steel's guard.
Pukki is working Steel over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pukki tries to free his leg and advance position but Steel is retaining full guard.
Pukki is working Steel over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Steel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pukki stands up over Steel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel wants to stand and escape but Pukki is having none of it.
Steel keeping moving, preventing Pukki from controlling successfully.
Pukki throws a big elbow that misses.
Steel wants to stand but Pukki is controlling the position.
Pukki lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Pukki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Steel wants to get back to his feet but Pukki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pukki scoring with some ground and pound.
Pukki tries to free his leg and advance position but Steel is retaining full guard.
Steel wants to get back to his feet but Pukki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Steel takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukki is standing up over Steel. Steel looks to escape but Pukki dives into side control.
Pukki is looking to take a break and control but Steel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pukki lands a decent elbow from side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Pukki is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Steel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Steel is trying to get back to his feet.

Pukki is trying to get an arm triangle but Steel is defending well.
Pukki is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki cracks Steel with a big right hand but Steel just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Joulu Pukki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Pukki has hold of Steel's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Steel seems comfortable defending it but Pukki has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Steel is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Steel is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Pukki couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:17 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Joulu Pukki!