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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ueda Umanouke (ranked 4 p4p, 1 weight class) and Pena Pulkkinen (ranked 43 p4p, 2 weight class). Umanouke comes to the cage accompanied by Kenji Kawai's Making of a Cyborg. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 190 cm
30
280 lbs
21 - 8 - 0 |
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225 cm
28
242 lbs
26 - 7 - 0 |
BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Ueda Umanouke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
26 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pena Pulkkinen!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pulkkinen looks to land a body kick but Umanouke moved away.
Pulkkinen throws a wild body kick that Umanouke sees coming a mile off.
Pulkkinen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Umanouke stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Umanouke moves out of range of the body kick.
Pulkkinen throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Nice body kick there by Pulkkinen.
Umanouke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Umanouke moves out of range as Pulkkinen throws a body kick.
Umanouke throws a body punch but Pulkkinen moves out of range.
Pulkkinen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Pulkkinen cracks Umanouke with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
It looks like Ueda Umanouke has been cut.
Pulkkinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Pulkkinen's coach down at Holding Cell was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Pulkkinen's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Umanouke just misses with a punch to the body.
Pulkkinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Pulkkinen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
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!
Pulkkinen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Umanouke under the eye.
Umanouke takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Umanouke is looking to clinch but Pulkkinen is avoiding it.
Pulkkinen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Umanouke is out of range and Pulkkinen settles back down.
Pulkkinen slips a jab from Umanouke.
Pulkkinen throws a leg kick but Umanouke moved away.
Umanouke misses with a right hand
letting Pulkkinen counter with a right hand.
Pulkkinen ducks under a wild hook from Umanouke.
Pulkkinen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Pulkkinen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pulkkinen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Pulkkinen looks for the body kick but Umanouke saw that one coming.
Umanouke is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Pulkkinen's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Pulkkinen throws a chopping leg kick but Umanouke manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Umanouke shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pulkkinen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Umanouke throws a big right hand that misses.
Umanouke drops back looking for a leg! Pulkkinen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Pulkkinen manages to kick Umanouke off! Umanouke jumps back into Pulkkinen's guard.
Umanouke throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umanouke trying to control the position from guard on top but Pulkkinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Umanouke 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.
Umanouke is stalling in the full guard.
Umanouke wants to pass the guard but Pulkkinen is keeping the position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen trying to control the position here.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Good leg kick by Pulkkinen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Umanouke misses with a body punch
and Pulkkinen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pulkkinen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pulkkinen gets caught napping as Umanouke dives in and scores a takedown. Pulkkinen manages to retain guard.
Pulkkinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Umanouke advances to half guard.
Umanouke throwing shots but Pulkkinen is blocking nicely.
Umanouke looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Pulkkinen is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Umanouke is looking to take a break and control but Pulkkinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pulkkinen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Umanouke is working for a kimura but Pulkkinen is defending it quite comfortably.
Umanouke performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Pena Pulkkinen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ueda Umanouke's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Umanouke takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Umanouke throws a lazy right hand but Pulkkinen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pulkkinen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Umanouke is defended easily by Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen takes one to the side of the head.
Umanouke throws a hook but Pulkkinen avoids it easily.
Pena Pulkkinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pulkkinen misses with an uppercut.
Pulkkinen slips a jab from Umanouke.
Pulkkinen steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Pulkkinen misses with a body kick.
Pulkkinen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Umanouke checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Umanouke misses with a hook to the body
and Pulkkinen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pulkkinen defending well as Umanouke loads up on a big left hand.
Umanouke ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Pulkkinen scores with a sloppy right hand. Umanouke should have avoided that one.
Umanouke looks to land a right hand but Pulkkinen moved out of range.
Pulkkinen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Pena Pulkkinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Umanouke misses with a straight right.
Pulkkinen throws a series of punches but Umanouke moves out of range.
Umanouke takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Pulkkinen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Umanouke stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pulkkinen.
Umanouke wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Umanouke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pulkkinen, pushing him back against the cage.
Umanouke lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pulkkinen backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Umanouke lands a left hand.
A head punch on the inside from Umanouke fails to land.
Umanouke misses with the head strike.
Nice body punch from Umanouke.
A right hook to the body lands for Pulkkinen.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umanouke fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pulkkinen jumps guard.
Umanouke is looking to work some ground and pound but Pulkkinen has wrist control.
Umanouke stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pulkkinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Umanouke is working hard here to advance position.
Umanouke trying to control the position from guard on top but Pulkkinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pulkkinen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Umanouke.
Umanouke landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pulkkinen trying to keep a closed guard but Umanouke is proving a slippery customer.
Pulkkinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Umanouke.
Pulkkinen trying to control the position.
Umanouke is pushing down on Pulkkinen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pulkkinen is fighting to maintain full guard but Umanouke has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Umanouke wants to take a breather but Pulkkinen is having none of it.
Umanouke is looking to pass Pulkkinen's guard but actually Pulkkinen recovers to full guard.
Umanouke wants to pass the guard but Pulkkinen is keeping the position.
Umanouke passes Pulkkinen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Umanouke is stalling here. Pulkkinen is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Umanouke seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Pulkkinen has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Umanouke is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Umanouke gets back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close second round but I would say that Ueda Umanouke will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ueda Umanouke's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Umanouke looks to throw a body kick
and Pulkkinen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Umanouke misses the target.
Pulkkinen throws a low kick, looking for Umanouke's leg but Umanouke calmly moves out of range.
Umanouke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pulkkinen manages to avoid it.
Pulkkinen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Umanouke.
Pulkkinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Umanouke.
Umanouke misses with a straight left.
Umanouke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pulkkinen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Umanouke shoots in looking for a takedown. Pulkkinen tries to sprawl out of it but Umanouke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pulkkinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pulkkinen connects with a single shot there.
Umanouke misses with a body kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Pulkkinen.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Pulkkinen misses
so Umanouke counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Umanouke trying to control but Pulkkinen is working from the bottom.
Pulkkinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pulkkinen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Umanouke defends well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Umanouke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umanouke is pushing down on Pulkkinen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pulkkinen is fighting to maintain full guard but Umanouke has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pulkkinen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Umanouke is working away from the top position though.
Umanouke lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Umanouke winds up and cracks Pulkkinen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Umanouke is looking to pass Pulkkinen's guard but actually Pulkkinen recovers to full guard.
Umanouke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Umanouke advances position into side control!
Umanouke is looking to take a break and control but Pulkkinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umanouke is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Pulkkinen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Pulkkinen wants to control but Umanouke postures up.
Umanouke looking to control but instead Pulkkinen has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Pulkkinen wants to control but Umanouke is keeping busy and won't allow it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Umanouke not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Umanouke is pressing down on Pulkkinen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pulkkinen is holding on for now.
Umanouke is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pulkkinen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Umanouke.
Umanouke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pulkkinen defending well though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Umanouke trying to control the action but Pulkkinen is working from the bottom.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Pulkkinen throws a right hand that misses
and Umanouke counters with a takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ueda Umanouke clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Ueda Umanouke's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!
Umanouke misses with an uppercut.
Umanouke misses with a hook.
Pulkkinen lands with a straight right. Umanouke didn't see that one coming.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pulkkinen.
Umanouke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Umanouke lunges at Pulkkinen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Pulkkinen's hand.
Umanouke chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pulkkinen can pounce on him.
Pulkkinen throws a lazy right hand but Umanouke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Umanouke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pulkkinen leaves Umanouke with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umanouke misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pulkkinen.
A telegraphed right hand from Pulkkinen misses the target.
Umanouke appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Pulkkinen scores with a kick to the midsection.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Pulkkinen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Umanouke misses with a hook
and Pulkkinen counters with a straight right hand.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Umanouke in his tracks.
Pulkkinen lands a jab to Umanouke's midsection.
Umanouke is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Pulkkinen scores with a hook to the body. Umanouke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Pulkkinen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pulkkinen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Umanouke rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Pulkkinen counter with a right hand.
Umanouke throws an overhand right that lands on Pulkkinen's shoulder, as Pulkkinen tries to avoid the shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pulkkinen! But no joy.
Umanouke throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pulkkinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Umanouke with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pulkkinen to score with a decent uppercut.
Pulkkinen digs a good hook to Umanouke's body.
Umanouke is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pulkkinen lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Pulkkinen scores with a sloppy right hand. Umanouke should have avoided that one.
Ueda Umanouke's cut is getting worse.
Pulkkinen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen tries to sprawl but Umanouke drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Umanouke throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Pulkkinen to regain full guard.
Pulkkinen has control of Umanouke's left arm, preventing Umanouke from doing any damage.
Umanouke might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Let's hope that Pulkkinen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umanouke passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pulkkinen prevents Umanouke from improving position.
Pulkkinen wants to control but Umanouke postures up.
Umanouke wants to control but Pulkkinen is keeping him busy.
Umanouke working the body and head with strikes.
Sloppy strikes there by Umanouke.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Umanouke goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Pulkkinen rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Umanouke's guard! Nice work there by Pulkkinen!
Umanouke looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ueda Umanouke overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Umanouke wants to improve his position but instead Pulkkinen has moved into half guard.
Umanouke is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Pulkkinen jumps into side control!
Pulkkinen wants to control but Umanouke is keeping him busy.
Umanouke is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Pena Pulkkinen dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Ueda Umanouke's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!
A left lands for Pulkkinen.
Umanouke swings widly with a right hand
and Pulkkinen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Umanouke on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Umanouke ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good exchange - Umanouke coming out on top.
Umanouke tries to land a front kick but Pulkkinen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Umanouke shoots in for a takedown but Pulkkinen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Umanouke throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Pulkkinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pulkkinen is looking to score with low kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pulkkinen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Umanouke throws out the jab.
Umanouke throws out a powerful jab.
Good exchange - Pulkkinen coming out on top.
Umanouke is looking to clinch but Pulkkinen is avoiding it.
A big left from Pulkkinen misses.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen digs a good hook to Umanouke's body.
Umanouke looks to land a right hand but Pulkkinen moved out of range.
Pulkkinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Umanouke lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Pulkkinen at a distance.
Pulkkinen slips a straight right by Umanouke.
Good leg kick by Pulkkinen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pulkkinen throws a lazy uppercut
and Umanouke counters with a single leg into guard. Pulkkinen didn't expect that.
Umanouke throws a big elbow that misses.
Umanouke trying to control the position from guard on top but Pulkkinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Umanouke slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Umanouke trying to control the position from guard on top but Pulkkinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen looking for a guillotine here but Umanouke defends easily.
Pulkkinen keeping full guard, as Umanouke tries to pass.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Pulkkinen controlling the position.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Umanouke. That did some damage!
Umanouke looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Pulkkinen misses with a right hand
and Umanouke counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Umanouke throws a big elbow that misses.
Umanouke advances position into side control!
Umanouke tries to move to full mount but Pulkkinen actually manages to regain half guard.
Umanouke perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Umanouke not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Umanouke sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Umanouke is stalling here. Pulkkinen is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Umanouke seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Pulkkinen has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Umanouke prevents Pulkkinen from improving position.
Umanouke is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pulkkinen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
We've been hearing good reports from Umanouke's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
The fighters are battling for position here. Umanouke manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Umanouke 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.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ueda Umanouke.
I think Umanouke 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 48:47
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 48:47
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 48:48
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ueda Umanouke!
Ueda Umanouke retains his heavyweight title!
In his post fight interview, Ueda Umanouke started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
47% |
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