PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Louis Puckett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Ponds (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Puckett
vs
Ponds

222 cm
19
151 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

180 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Louis Puckett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Ponds!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Puckett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Puckett wants it to stay on the feet.

Puckett gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ponds looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Puckett seems keen to control Ponds's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Puckett working for a triangle but Ponds defends it easily.
Puckett wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Puckett pulls Ponds in to control the position.
Ponds stays in close to Puckett's body and controls the position.
Ponds trying to control the position from guard on top but Puckett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ponds misses with a takedown
and Puckett counters with a nice body shot.

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.
Ponds throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Puckett counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ponds jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Puckett walks away with a smile on his face. Ponds gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Louis Puckett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Ponds.
Ponds throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ponds shoots in for a takedown but Puckett shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Puckett tries to counter by clinching up but Ponds breaks away and moves out of range.
Ponds misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Puckett.
Ponds misses with a double jab.
Ponds throws a sloppy head kick and Puckett moves out of range easily.

Ponds drives through and clinches with Puckett against the cage.
Ponds working hard to break the clinch.
Puckett drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ponds gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponds looking to stall.
Puckett really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Puckett drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ponds tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ponds is trying to maintain a safe position but Puckett gets an underhook and turns Ponds into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ponds wants to break free but Puckett has control.
Ponds doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ponds is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Puckett pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Puckett wants the takedown. Ponds is fighting it off but Puckett persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Ponds's guard against the cage.

Ponds kicks Puckett off and gets to his feet.

Ponds has closed the distance and engaged Puckett in a clinch.
Ponds can't get the takedown.
Ponds looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ponds has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Puckett uses from the top position.
Puckett is looking to work some ground and pound but Ponds has wrist control.
Puckett makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Ponds dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Puckett ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ponds moves away.
Louis Puckett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ponds has closed the distance and engaged Puckett in a clinch.

Ponds pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ponds lands a nice looking body shot.
Ponds lands with a kick to the ribs.
Ponds looks for the body kick but Puckett saw that one coming.
Puckett was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sloppy strikes from Ponds. Those never looked like landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Puckett misses its target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ponds looks for a takedown but Puckett sprawls well.
Ponds tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Puckett defends well and Ponds ends up having to push Puckett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Puckett tries to counter by clinching up but Ponds breaks away and moves out of range.
Ponds is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponds shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Puckett as he avoids it easily.
Louis Puckett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Ponds.

Ponds clinches up against the cage.
Ponds is looking for a takedown.
Ponds is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Puckett pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ponds has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Puckett avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Puckett tries to land knees in the clinch but Ponds avoids the damage to the body.
Puckett manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Ponds tries a knee to the head but Puckett blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponds is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Puckett to keep the fight standing.

Puckett tightens his grip and picks Ponds up, before dumping him to the ground. Ponds manages to land in guard.
Puckett is standing up over Ponds. Ponds looks to escape but Puckett dives into side control.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Puckett is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Ponds is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Puckett lands a few punches from side control.
Puckett trying to control the action but Ponds is working from the bottom.
Puckett connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Ponds some visible discomfort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Puckett tries for a kimura but Ponds is defending well.
Louis Puckett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ponds tries to improve position but can't.
Ponds taking a bit of punishment here - Puckett scoring with strikes.

Puckett tries for a kimura but Ponds is defending well.

Puckett looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Puckett lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponds is looking for a sweep.
Ponds is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Puckett working the ground and pound.
Puckett landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Puckett is working Ponds over with some ground and pound from side control.

Puckett tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Puckett has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Ponds takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Puckett wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ponds, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Puckett working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Louis Puckett dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Puckett scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ponds works his way to full guard. Good work.
Puckett loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ponds preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Puckett throwing strikes from guard but Ponds blocks nicely.
Puckett postures up in Ponds's guard and throws a big left but Ponds blocks it.
Ponds is trying to control the position but Puckett postures up.
Ponds is looking to stand up but Puckett isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puckett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Puckett working some strikes from top position.
Ponds working a defensive guard here.
Ponds takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponds has momentary wrist control but Puckett slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Puckett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Puckett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Puckett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ponds tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Puckett throwing strikes but missing.
Puckett is in close to Ponds's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Puckett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Puckett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ponds's head.
Ponds preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Puckett stands up from Ponds's guard - Puckett perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponds misses with a takedown

and Puckett counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Puckett tries to pull guard but Ponds holds him up against the cage and eventually Puckett drops back down to his feet.
Puckett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ponds can do to turn this around?
Ponds is trying to push Puckett away but Puckett has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Puckett has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ponds is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Puckett wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ponds has him pressed against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Puckett - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Puckett is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Puckett for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponds lands a knee to the body.
Ponds wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Puckett has him pressed against the cage.
Puckett drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Louis Puckett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Puckett effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Puckett blocks an elbow strike from Ponds.
Ponds fails to pull guard.
Puckett keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ponds's efforts to push away.
Ponds is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ponds is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Puckett tries to score a body lock takedown but Ponds shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Louis Puckett showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Puckett 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Louis Puckett!