PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Muta Pukka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Koivunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Pukka
vs
Koivunen

185 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 Helsinki, Muta Pukka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Koivunen!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivunen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pukka counters with a nice body shot.
Koivunen tries for a takedown but Pukka circles away easily

and Pukka counters with a single leg into guard. Koivunen didn't expect that.
Pukka being controlled here momentarily.
Pukka is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Koivunen looking to control.
Pukka slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koivunen is trying to get back to half guard.
Pukka tries to stand but Koivunen is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivunen takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Koivunen parries the strikes from Pukka easily there. Pukka is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Koivunen to escape.
Koivunen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Pukka wants to work for an arm triangle but Koivunen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pukka not doing much here.

Pukka is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Pukka uses his free foot to push down on Koivunen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Koivunen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukka misses with a head shot.
Koivunen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pukka wants to control the pace but Koivunen is squirming around nicely.

Pukka looking to secure an arm triangle but Koivunen defends it well.
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!

Pukka is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Koivunen to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Koivunen shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Pukka there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
The referee warns Koivunen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Koivunen tries to control the position but Pukka now has his back.

Koivunen is having to fend off submission attempts from Pukka, who is looking to sink in the choke. Pukka doesn't have the hooks in though and Koivunen manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Koivunen is fighting to break Pukka's control of his arms but Pukka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukka is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Koivunen trying to control but Pukka is working from the bottom.
Pukka wants to hit a switch here but Koivunen passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Pukka there!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koivunen content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Koivunen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Pukka swivels and escapes.

Pukka closes the distance and clinches.
Pukka is pressed up against the cage. Koivunen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Pukka down to the mat. Pukka avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Koivunen gets caught napping as Pukka dives in and scores a takedown. Koivunen manages to retain guard.
Pukka throwing strikes but missing.
Pukka postures up.
Pukka is looking to advance position but Koivunen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Pukka working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivunen tries to control but Pukka wriggling away.
Pukka is desperately trying to improve his position but Koivunen has a good base and remains in mount.
Koivunen wants to control the pace but Pukka is squirming around nicely.
Koivunen controlling from mount.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Koivunen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pukka is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukka can't escape the position.
Koivunen avoids the attempt from Pukka to control.
Pukka is looking to get to half guard.
Muta Pukka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pukka 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.
Koivunen is thwarting Pukka's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivunen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Koivunen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Muta Pukka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ari Koivunen.

Pukka gets a clinch.

Pukka pulls Koivunen into guard.
Pukka wants to control but Koivunen passes easily into half guard.
Koivunen is trying to control the action in half guard but Pukka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pukka is trying to stand.

Pukka looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivunen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Koivunen trying to control from half guard but Pukka is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muta Pukka dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Koivunen gets caught flat footed, as Pukka shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pukka trying to control the position from guard on top but Koivunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pukka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Pukka throwing strikes but missing.
Pukka stopping the sweep attempt from Koivunen.
Koivunen trying to control the position.
Pukka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Koivunen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Koivunen trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Pukka looking to score a takedown here. Koivunen is defending well but Pukka drives through and ends up in Koivunen's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Koivunen holds on and takes a little breather.
Pukka stands and throws Koivunen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Koivunen struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukka advances nicely into full mount.

Pukka working for a guillotine from mount but Koivunen is in no mood to give up.
Pukka throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivunen tries to hold on but Pukka pushes him away.
Pukka wants to control the pace but Koivunen is squirming around nicely.
Pukka tries to get up but Koivunen was controlling his body and he's reversed into guard.
Pukka looking for a sweep. Not yet Pukka, not yet.
Pukka looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Koivunen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koivunen postures up.
Ari Koivunen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivunen trying to control the position from guard on top but Pukka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pukka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Koivunen!
Koivunen tries to hold on but Pukka postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pukka wants to control the pace but Koivunen is squirming around nicely.
Muta Pukka is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pukka controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muta Pukka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pukka 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muta Pukka!