PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gnaeus Maximilianus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Puhakka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Maximilianus
vs
Puhakka

170 cm
21
179 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gnaeus Maximilianus !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sam Puhakka!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puhakka tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Puhakka keeps the fight on the outside.
Puhakka explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Sam Puhakka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maximilianus fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Puhakka tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maximilianus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Puhakka is looking to clinch.
Puhakka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Puhakka clinches but Maximilianus breaks the clinch
and Maximilianus counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Puhakka wants to clinch
and Maximilianus counters with a nice kick to the body.
Puhakka closes the distance but Maximilianus moves to the side
and Maximilianus counters with an inside leg kick.
Puhakka looks gassed!
A nice leg kick lands there from Maximilianus .
Puhakka blocks a head kick by Maximilianus .
Maximilianus fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puhakka throws a body kick the misses
and Maximilianus counters with a nice uppercut.
A chopping leg kick lands by Maximilianus .
Maximilianus throws a sloppy head kick and Puhakka moves out of range easily.
Puhakka throws a head kick that misses
and Maximilianus counters with a good, hard body kick but Puhakka shrugs it off.
Puhakka avoids the head kick by Maximilianus .
Maximilianus slips a jab and a cross from Puhakka.
Puhakka showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maximilianus .
Maximilianus thuds his right hand into Puhakka's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Maximilianus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Maximilianus looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Puhakka is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ground and pound from Maximilianus .
Maximilianus could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puhakka trying to control but Maximilianus postures up.
Puhakka wants to improve his position but Maximilianus is controlling well.
Maximilianus is looking to take a break and control but Puhakka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Maximilianus lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Maximilianus working Puhakka over with strikes.
Maximilianus trying to pass the guard but Puhakka defending well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Maximilianus looks for the body kick but Puhakka saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puhakka lands with a kick to the temple. Maximilianus shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Puhakka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Both fighters circling a little - Puhakka finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Maximilianus pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Puhakka just misses with a punch to the body.
Maximilianus throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Puhakka keeps the fight on the outside.
Puhakka clinches but Maximilianus breaks the clinch
and Maximilianus counters with a body kick.

Maximilianus drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Maximilianus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Puhakka is trying to control the position but Maximilianus postures up.

Puhakka is looking for a triangle but Maximilianus pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Puhakka looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Maximilianus slips nicely into half guard.
Puhakka trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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. Maximilianus connects with a nice short shot to Puhakka's temple.
Well, if Maximilianus 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.
Puhakka wants to control but Maximilianus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maximilianus is just content to waste time from the top position. Puhakka takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Puhakka keeping moving, preventing Maximilianus from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gnaeus Maximilianus dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Puhakka throws a series of strikes that have Maximilianus backpedaling.
Maximilianus takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Puhakka looks to land a body kick but Maximilianus moved away.

Maximilianus bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Puhakka prevents Maximilianus from moving into mount.
Puhakka looks to move to half guard but instead Maximilianus has passed into mount! Damn!
Maximilianus is landing with some decent strikes but Puhakka is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Puhakka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Puhakka is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maximilianus raining down shots from the mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximilianus lands with some strikes.
A nice elbow there by Maximilianus .
Puhakka regains half guard.
Puhakka wants to control but Maximilianus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Puhakka is looking to improve his position.
Maximilianus is pressing down on Puhakka's thigh, looking to free his foot. Puhakka is holding on for now.
Puhakka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.
Maximilianus is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Puhakka lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Maximilianus lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Maximilianus closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Puhakka is looking to control Maximilianus 's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Puhakka avoid being mounted?

Maximilianus stands up from half guard.
Maximilianus takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Maximilianus .

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Puhakka is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Maximilianus has Puhakka pressed against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Maximilianus for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Maximilianus blocks an elbow strike from Puhakka.

Maximilianus breaks the clinch.
Puhakka wants to clinch
and Maximilianus counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Puhakka misses with a jab, cross combination.
Puhakka circles away from the clinch attempt.
Puhakka looks to clinch
and Maximilianus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four 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.
Maximilianus throws a lazy body kick
and Puhakka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Maximilianus misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Puhakka tries to clinch up
and Maximilianus makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Puhakka stuffs the takedown.
Puhakka throws a leg kick which misses Maximilianus 's front leg but catches the back leg as Maximilianus tries to avoid it.

Maximilianus shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Maximilianus showed some decent athleticism there.
Puhakka manages to get to full guard.

Maximilianus drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Maximilianus jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gnaeus Maximilianus dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Puhakka fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maximilianus tries a head kick but it misses.
Maximilianus circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gnaeus Maximilianus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maximilianus misses with a wild body shot.
Puhakka throws a nice head kick!
Puhakka shoots for a double leg takedown but Maximilianus sprawls well. He's pushed Puhakka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Maximilianus avoids the head kick by Puhakka.
Maximilianus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puhakka works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Maximilianus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Puhakka.
Puhakka takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Some wild striking there from Puhakka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maximilianus fails with the takedown.
Puhakka tries to clinch there but Maximilianus circles away.
Puhakka darts in trying to clinch
and Maximilianus counters with a nice body shot.
Maximilianus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Maximilianus throws a push kick but Puhakka slaps the foot to one side.
Puhakka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Nice sprawl there from Puhakka as Maximilianus shoots in.
Maximilianus is looking to chop away at Puhakka's legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Puhakka changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maximilianus tries to avoid it but Puhakka manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maximilianus to the ground. Maximilianus escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Maximilianus throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Puhakka clinches up with Maximilianus and pushes him back against the cage.
Puhakka wants to break free but Maximilianus has control.
Puhakka is looking to control Maximilianus 's arms but Maximilianus gets an underhook and turns him. Now Puhakka has his back to the cage.
Puhakka wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maximilianus has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Puhakka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gnaeus Maximilianus . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maximilianus blocks an elbow strike from Puhakka.
Puhakka prevents Maximilianus from breaking the clinch.
Maximilianus is looking to control Puhakka's arms but Puhakka gets an underhook and turns him. Now Maximilianus has his back to the cage.
Puhakka controlling the action here for a moment.
Maximilianus fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Puhakka throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Maximilianus blocks it with crossed arms.
Maximilianus lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maximilianus softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Maximilianus breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Maximilianus is looking to score with low kicks.
A head kick misses from Maximilianus .
Puhakka tries to clinch up
and Maximilianus makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Puhakka really felt that one!
Puhakka lands a high kick!
Maximilianus throws a leg kick that misses.
Maximilianus fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Puhakka has closed the distance and engaged Maximilianus in a clinch.

Maximilianus escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Puhakka tries to close the distance and clinch but Maximilianus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sam Puhakka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Puhakka!
Maximilianus swats away the attempt to clinch by Puhakka.
Maximilianus throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Puhakka tries to close the distance and clinch but Maximilianus swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Maximilianus swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gnaeus Maximilianus is winning the standup battle so far.
Puhakka tries to clinch but Maximilianus moves out of range.
Puhakka tries a head kick but it misses.
Maximilianus throws a sloppy head kick and Puhakka moves out of range easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Maximilianus chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Puhakka can pounce on him.
Maximilianus lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Maximilianus tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Puhakka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Maximilianus has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gnaeus Maximilianus !