PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Rodolfo (ranked 3775 p4p, 1675 weight class) and Sepi Pulkkinen (ranked 155 p4p, 85 weight class). Miguel Rodolfo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rodolfo
vs
Pulkkinen

188 cm
23
280
3 - 5 - 0

225 cm
24
333
7 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Miguel Rodolfo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sepi Pulkkinen!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pulkkinen scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Miguel Rodolfo has been cut.
Pulkkinen lands a head shot.
Rodolfo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pulkkinen circles away quickly and effectively.
It seemed like Pulkkinen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Rodolfo misses with a hook
and Pulkkinen counters with a stiff right hand.
Rodolfo has a takedown stuffed.
Pulkkinen steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Rodolfo.

Pulkkinen drops Rodolfo with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Rodolfo looks back up at him and smiles so Pulkkinen waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Rodolfo is rocked!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodolfo fails with a takedown attempt.
Rodolfo shoots in but Pulkkinen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Rodolfo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pulkkinen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Rodolfo fails with a takedown attempt.
Pulkkinen is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Pulkkinen has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Rodolfo is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Rodolfo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rodolfo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Pulkkinen sprawls well initially but Rodolfo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen tries to roll over but Rodolfo keeps him under control.
Pulkkinen desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Pulkkinen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rodolfo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rodolfo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pulkkinen desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Rodolfo prevents Pulkkinen from improving his position.
Pulkkinen trying to control but Rodolfo postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rodolfo wants to work for an arm triangle but Pulkkinen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rodolfo working over Pulkkinen with some ground and pound. Pulkkinen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rodolfo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pulkkinen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rodolfo working the head and body with strikes.
Pulkkinen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen keeping moving, preventing Rodolfo from controlling successfully.
Pulkkinen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Pulkkinen is continuing to stall.
Pulkkinen 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.
Pulkkinen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rodolfo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pulkkinen is thwarting Rodolfo's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Rodolfo actively working from the bottom here.
Pulkkinen is thwarting Rodolfo's attempts to control the position.
Pulkkinen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Rodolfo missing with punches from the bottom.
Rodolfo 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.
Well, if Pulkkinen 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.

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.
Rodolfo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rodolfo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rodolfo tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Pulkkinen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Rodolfo is trying to escape the mount.
Pulkkinen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sepi Pulkkinen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Miguel Rodolfo's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Rodolfo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sepi Pulkkinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pulkkinen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rodolfo on the side of the head.
Miguel Rodolfo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rodolfo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pulkkinen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Rodolfo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pulkkinen slips a jab and a cross from Rodolfo.
Pulkkinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rodolfo.
Pulkkinen connects with a solid leg kick.

Rodolfo shoots in and bounces Pulkkinen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pulkkinen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rodolfo is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodolfo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rodolfo throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodolfo trying to control the position from guard on top but Pulkkinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rodolfo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pulkkinen managing to control the position.
Rodolfo stands and throws Pulkkinen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Pulkkinen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Miguel Rodolfo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pulkkinen tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Rodolfo presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Rodolfo lands with some strikes.
Rodolfo raining down shots from the mount!
Pulkkinen tries to hold on but Rodolfo pushes him away.
Rodolfo looking to finish Pulkkinen with some ground and pound. This is bad for Pulkkinen!
Rodolfo punching from mount but Pulkkinen doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen can't escape the position.
Rodolfo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Rodolfo jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Pulkkinen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Pulkkinen and Rodolfo has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
An elbow from Rodolfo crashes against the mat.
Pulkkinen gets back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Rodolfo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pulkkinen defends it well.
Pulkkinen desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Pulkkinen trying to control from the bottom.
Pulkkinen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pulkkinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodolfo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pulkkinen wants to sweep but no luck.
Rodolfo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pulkkinen's head.
Pulkkinen trying to keep a closed guard but Rodolfo is proving a slippery customer.
Pulkkinen keeping moving, preventing Rodolfo from controlling successfully.
Pulkkinen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rodolfo manages to get himself to full guard.

Pulkkinen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Pulkkinen trying to control but Rodolfo is working from the bottom.
Rodolfo throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodolfo throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Rodolfo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rodolfo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rodolfo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rodolfo being controlled here momentarily.
Rodolfo postures up in Pulkkinen's guard and throws a big left but Pulkkinen blocks it.
Pulkkinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rodolfo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pulkkinen's head.
Rodolfo landing with the ground and pound.
Rodolfo throwing strikes from guard but Pulkkinen blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Rodolfo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Miguel Rodolfo's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Rodolfo swinging wildly here.
Pulkkinen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rodolfo ducks under a wild hook from Pulkkinen.
Rodolfo tries to counter with a takedown but Pulkkinen is quick to defend against it.
Pulkkinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pulkkinen misses with a body shot.
Rodolfo fails with the takedown.
Rodolfo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pulkkinen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Pulkkinen was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Rodolfo throws a hook but Pulkkinen avoids it easily.
Pulkkinen looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Miguel Rodolfo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rodolfo lands an overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pulkkinen clinches.
Rodolfo fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Miguel Rodolfo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen scores with a shot to the side of Rodolfo's head.
Pulkkinen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pulkkinen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen is working Rodolfo over against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rodolfo up against the cage.
Pulkkinen lands a nice shot to the body.
Pulkkinen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pulkkinen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Pulkkinen scores with a nice short uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pulkkinen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pulkkinen lands a shot to the body.
Pulkkinen tries a body shot but Rodolfo blocks it.
Pulkkinen pushes Rodolfo back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oh Rodolfo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pulkkinen throws a big uppercut that drops Rodolfo! More strikes from Pulkkinen and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Rodolfo lies dazed against the cage as Pulkkinen celebrates with his cornermen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:08 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sepi Pulkkinen!
An out of breath Sepi Pulkkinen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.