PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sakari Ukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Pinta (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.

Ukkonen
vs
Pinta

189 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
19
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sakari Ukkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thomas Pinta!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pinta needs to keep his hands up - Ukkonen had a free shot at his head there.
Ukkonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ukkonen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Thomas Pinta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pinta has a takedown stuffed.
Ukkonen thows a body shot but no joy.
Pinta throws a combination. Ukkonen tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A combination from Pinta does no damage.
Pinta wants to clinch.
Pinta moves in looking to clinch but Ukkonen pushes him off.
Ukkonen slips a jab from Pinta.
Pinta looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ukkonen is fending him off so far but Pinta persists. Nope, Ukkonen circles away and we're back to standing.
Ukkonen misses with a hook.

Pinta closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Pinta with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukkonen is trying to get back to full guard.
Ukkonen is working hard here to advance position.
Ukkonen is staying active underneath Pinta, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ukkonen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Pinta prevents Ukkonen from improving his position.
Pinta working over Ukkonen with some ground and pound. Ukkonen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ukkonen strikes from the bottom but Pinta uses the opportunity to move to side control.

Pinta tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pinta has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Pinta cracks Ukkonen with a big right hand but Ukkonen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ukkonen is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen throws a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Pinta landing strikes.
Ukkonen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Pinta off and has taken his back!
Ukkonen is trying to stick to Pinta's back but Pinta is turning into Ukkonen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ukkonen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Pinta.

Ukkonen looking for a guillotine here but Pinta defends easily.
Pinta won't allow Ukkonen to sweep him here.
Pinta missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pinta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ukkonen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ukkonen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pinta content to stall in guard here.
Ukkonen 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Pinta uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ukkonen.
Pinta lands a high kick!
Pinta defending well as Ukkonen loads up on a big left hand.
Ukkonen slips under a jab from Pinta.
Jab, jab by Ukkonen - just one landing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pinta.
Sakari Ukkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Pinta.
Pinta wants to clinch.
Ukkonen lands a lovely overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pinta throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice straight punches there by Ukkonen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Ukkonen.

Pinta clinches up with Ukkonen and pushes him back against the cage.
Ukkonen letting Pinta take a breather here.
Pinta lands a body punch.
A knee to the head by Pinta.
Ukkonen is trying to break the clinch but Pinta has him pressed against the cage.

Pinta wants the takedown. Ukkonen is fighting it off but Pinta persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ukkonen's guard against the cage.
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!
Ukkonen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pinta controls the pace.
Pinta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pinta looks gassed!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ukkonen has his foot on Pinta's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Pinta works his way back into a safe position though.
Ukkonen scores with a nice shot.

Ukkonen is looking for a triangle but Pinta pushes his legs off easily.
Ukkonen tries to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Pinta dominated that 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.

Pinta fails with a takedown attempt.

Pinta has Ukkonen up against the cage in a clinch.
Pinta displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ukkonen up against the cage.
Pinta lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Pinta.
Ukkonen stops a takedown attempt from Pinta.
Ukkonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pinta lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pinta throws a knee to the head but misses.
Pinta lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinta taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Ukkonen avoids a wild elbow strike from Pinta.
Pinta unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ukkonen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ukkonen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pinta tries to score a body lock takedown but Ukkonen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sakari Ukkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Pinta.
Pinta is breathing heavily.
Ukkonen misses with a body punch.
Pinta prevents Ukkonen from breaking the clinch.
Pinta lands a knee to the head.

Pinta is trying to trip Ukkonen. He has hold of a leg but Ukkonen is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Pinta persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Pinta preventing the sweep.
Ukkonen keeping moving, preventing Pinta from controlling successfully.
Ukkonen lands some strikes from the bottom.
Pinta has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Ukkonen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pinta keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ukkonen's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ukkonen's head.
Ukkonen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pinta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ukkonen keeping moving, preventing Pinta from controlling successfully.
Pinta showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Pinta wants to control from the top but Ukkonen keeps moving.

Ukkonen is looking for a triangle but Pinta pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pinta content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pinta trying to control the position from guard on top but Ukkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pinta accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ukkonen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pinta uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ukkonen.
Ukkonen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Pinta throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Pinta goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ukkonen moves out of range of the strikes.
Pinta defending well as Ukkonen loads up on a big left hand.
Pinta tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Ukkonen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Pinta shoots in and drives through. Ukkonen sprawls well.
Ukkonen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pinta tries to clinch up but Ukkonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Pinta tries to clinch up.
Ukkonen scores with the left hand. Pinta knows he should have avoided that one.
Ukkonen scores with a body shot.
Pinta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ukkonen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Ukkonen punishes Pinta's body with a nice straight punch.
Danga de danga de dang - Ukkonen scores with a four punch combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Pinta showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ukkonen connects with a body shot.
Pinta fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ukkonen connects with a body shot.
Pinta 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.
Ukkonen dips to his left and cracks Pinta with an uppercut!
Pinta changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ukkonen tries to avoid it but Pinta manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ukkonen to the ground. Ukkonen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ukkonen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pinta moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ukkonen misses the jab.
Pinta fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ukkonen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ukkonen misses with a wild combination.
Pinta has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Pinta there as he acknowledges the shot.
Pinta takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukkonen lands a nice hook to Pinta's body. Pinta takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Pinta uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ukkonen.
A head kick misses from Pinta.
Pinta slips under a jab.
Ukkonen dips to his left and cracks Pinta with an uppercut!
Pinta ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ukkonen looks to land a combination but Pinta avoids it well.
Thomas Pinta is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pinta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pinta throws a head kick but Ukkonen moves out of range.
Ukkonen just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick misses from Pinta.
Sakari Ukkonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ukkonen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinta throws a body kick that misses.
A jab from Ukkonen finds it's way through Pinta's defenses.
Pinta looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ukkonen is fending him off so far but Pinta persists. Nope, Ukkonen circles away and we're back to standing.
Sakari Ukkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Pinta.
Ukkonen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ukkonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Pinta takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nice cross by Ukkonen.
Ukkonen misses with a body shot.
Sakari Ukkonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Ukkonen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pinta's head backwards.
Ukkonen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ukkonen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pinta sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Pinta will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ukkonen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen throws a hook to the side of Pinta's head but Pinta sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ukkonen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Pinta keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ukkonen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pinta's head backwards.
Pinta on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A jab from Ukkonen misses.
Pinta throws a head kick but Ukkonen moves out of range.
Ukkonen throws a hook but Pinta avoids it easily.
Ukkonen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pinta throws a hook but Ukkonen avoids it easily.
Pinta takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pinta throws a hook to the side of Ukkonen's head but Ukkonen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big right from Ukkonen misses.
Pinta scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pinta tries to clinch up.
Thomas Pinta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ukkonen slips a straight right by Pinta.
Pinta tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sakari Ukkonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pinta.
Ukkonen throws a right hand that Pinta ducks under and follows up with a left that Pinta also avoids with ease.
Jab from Ukkonen.
Pinta attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pinta looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ukkonen lands a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sakari Ukkonen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pinta 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Pinta!