PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edmond Booker (ranked 7161 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tuukka Tuukkaka (ranked 7272 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Booker
vs
Tuukkaka

160 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Edmond Booker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tuukka Tuukkaka!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tuukkaka closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Booker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Booker tries to clinch but Tuukkaka moves away

and Tuukkaka counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tuukkaka.
Booker is wriggling around but Tuukkaka manages to pass to half guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Booker is looking for a sweep. Tuukkaka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Booker missing with punches from the bottom.
Tuukkaka not doing much here.
Tuukkaka passes to side control.
Tuukkaka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Booker keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuukkaka is putting a hurting on Booker here, landing some big shots from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Booker manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Booker is looking for a sweep. Tuukkaka is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Tuukkaka seems to be looking for submissions.
Tuukkaka is looking to advance position but Booker won't allow it.
Booker throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Booker tries to get to full guard but Tuukkaka has control of the leg.
Booker manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuukkaka pushes down on Booker's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Booker has hold of Tuukkaka's hands but Tuukkaka slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Booker tries to roll over but Tuukkaka keeps him under control.
Booker punching from the bottom.

Booker is defending against the submission attempts here by Tuukkaka.
Booker regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker keeping moving, preventing Tuukkaka from controlling successfully.
Tuukkaka scoring with some ground and pound.
Tuukkaka showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tuukkaka distracts Booker with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tuukkaka's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Booker looking for a sweep. Not yet Booker, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Booker looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tuukkaka passes into half guard.
Tuukkaka prevents Booker from improving his position.
Booker has a hand on Tuukkaka's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Tuukkaka takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Booker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Booker is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tuukkaka looking to control and managing it successfully.
Booker regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuukka Tuukkaka dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tuukkaka darts in looking for a takedown but Booker gets double underhooks and turns Tuukkaka into the cage.
Tuukkaka tries for a takedown but Booker sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tuukkaka fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Edmond Booker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tuukka Tuukkaka.
Tuukkaka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Booker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tuukkaka somewhat.
Tuukkaka with a poor takedown
and Booker connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tuukkaka moves into range and clinches up with Booker.
Tuukkaka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Booker pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tuukkaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tuukkaka.
Tuukkaka is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tuukkaka is trying to trip Booker. He has hold of a leg but Booker is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Tuukkaka persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Booker uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Tuukka Tuukkaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Booker shoots in but Tuukkaka avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A combination from Tuukkaka does no damage.
Booker dives in and grabs Tuukkaka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tuukkaka pushes down on Booker's head and hops out.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Booker is defended easily by Tuukkaka.
Booker slaps away a takedown attempt from Tuukkaka, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Booker gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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!

Booker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tuukkaka defends it easily.

Booker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Booker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tuukkaka defends it easily.

Booker pushes Tuukkaka off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tuukkaka shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Booker manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Booker is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Booker looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tuukkaka puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuukkaka seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Let's hope that Tuukkaka 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.
Tuukkaka tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Booker.
Nice strikes from Tuukkaka there.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tuukkaka in particular looking to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Booker missing with punches from the bottom.
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 Edmond Booker will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Tuukkaka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Booker changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Tuukkaka moves into the clinch.
Booker is trying to break the clinch but Tuukkaka has him pressed against the cage.
Tuukkaka can't get the takedown.
Tuukkaka fails to pull guard.
Edmond Booker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tuukka Tuukkaka.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tuukkaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Booker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker has a takedown stuffed.
Booker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tuukkaka.
Booker is looking to counter the offense by Tuukkaka and move into the clinch.
Booker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tuukkaka as he jumps to the side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tuukkaka.
Tuukkaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tuukkaka pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Tuukkaka gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Booker to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuukkaka is controlling Booker's posture.
Tuukkaka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Booker is fighting to break Tuukkaka's control of his arms but Tuukkaka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Booker wants to stand but Tuukkaka has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Booker won't allow Tuukkaka to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker wants to get up but he can't break Tuukkaka's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tuukkaka has his takedown stuffed

and Booker moves into the clinch.
Tuukkaka jumps guard but Booker turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tuukkaka jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Booker walks away with a smile on his face. Tuukkaka gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Booker uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Tuukkaka has time to react.

Tuukkaka gets a clinch.

Tuukkaka escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Booker looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Edmond Booker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tuukkaka shoots in looking for a takedown but Booker manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Tuukkaka's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Tuukkaka tries to score a power double leg takedown but Booker sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tuukkaka somewhat.
Booker tries to counter with a takedown but Tuukkaka is quick to defend against it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Booker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tuukkaka avoids it really well and circles away.

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 Edmond Booker.
I think Booker 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Edmond Booker!