PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Miguel Azevedo Souza (ranked 986 p4p, 725 weight class) and Eero Jukola (ranked 123 p4p, 94 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Azevedo Souza
vs
Jukola

176 cm
37
150
31 - 19 - 0

165 cm
39
148
29 - 16 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
NARCOS

Silverguard Outfitters 🛡
Furnace Performance 🔥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Miguel Azevedo Souza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eero Jukola!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azevedo Souza looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Azevedo Souza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jukola.
Jukola is looking to clinch but Azevedo Souza is avoiding it.
Azevedo Souza has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Tappelukerho in the buildup to the fight.
Azevedo Souza misses with a looping right.
Azevedo Souza fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jukola lands a nice looking body shot.
Jukola scores with a punch to the head.
Azevedo Souza moves out of range of the body kick.
Azevedo Souza bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Azevedo Souza slips under a jab from Jukola.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Azevedo Souza looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jukola is looking for a sweep. Azevedo Souza is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza trying to control from half guard but Jukola is working away.
Azevedo Souza looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Azevedo Souza is trying to work for a kimura but Jukola is defending well.
Jukola is staying active underneath Azevedo Souza, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Azevedo Souza is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jukola is just riding it out for now. Azevedo Souza eventually gives up the hold.
Azevedo Souza trying to control the action but Jukola is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Azevedo Souza seems to be looking for submissions.
Azevedo Souza is looking to advance position but Jukola won't allow it.
Azevedo Souza looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Azevedo Souza is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza moves into full mount! Jukola won't be happy about that!
Azevedo Souza looking to control but Jukola is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Azevedo Souza working for a guillotine from mount but Jukola is in no mood to give up.
Azevedo Souza prevents Jukola from getting the reversal.
Jukola wants to hold on but Azevedo Souza pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza trying to control but Jukola is having none of it.
Jukola is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jukola is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Azevedo Souza is looking to work his way around to Jukola's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Azevedo Souza trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Azevedo Souza looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Azevedo Souza dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Azevedo Souza slips a jab and a cross from Jukola.
Azevedo Souza jabs Jukola to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jukola takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Good exchange - Jukola coming out on top.
Azevedo Souza wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jukola takes one to the chin there.
Azevedo Souza slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Miguel Azevedo Souza is winning the standup battle so far.
Jukola looks to land a body kick but Azevedo Souza moved away.
Jukola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azevedo Souza manages to avoid it.
Azevedo Souza blocks a jab.
Azevedo Souza tries to counter with a takedown but Jukola is quick to defend against it.
Jukola lands a nice hook to Azevedo Souza's body. Azevedo Souza takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jukola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azevedo Souza moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A decent looking cross lands there for Azevedo Souza.
Azevedo Souza takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza avoids the body shot from Jukola.
Jukola looks to land a left hand but Azevedo Souza moved out of range nicely.
Azevedo Souza fails to land with a series of punches.
Azevedo Souza throws a hook but Jukola blocks it.
Eero Jukola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jukola throws an overhand right that lands on Azevedo Souza's shoulder, as Azevedo Souza tries to avoid the shot.
Jukola throws a lazy right hand but Azevedo Souza sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jukola closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jukola just misses with a punch to the body.
Azevedo Souza appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Jukola misses with a looping left.
Azevedo Souza keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jukola.
Jukola's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Azevedo Souza connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Jukola scrambles back to his feet.
Jukola throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Azevedo Souza sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jukola throws a wild body kick that Azevedo Souza sees coming a mile off.
Azevedo Souza lands an overhand right.
Azevedo Souza is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jukola throws a push kick but Azevedo Souza slaps the foot to one side.
Jukola looks for the body kick but Azevedo Souza saw that one coming.
Azevedo Souza sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Jukola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azevedo Souza manages to avoid it.
Azevedo Souza tries to counter with a takedown but Jukola is quick to defend against it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jukola is looking to land body kicks.
Jukola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azevedo Souza manages to avoid it.
Azevedo Souza throws a lazy right hand but Jukola sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jukola misses with an uppercut.
Jukola throws an ugly left hook that misses

so Azevedo Souza counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Jukola keeping moving, preventing Azevedo Souza from controlling successfully.
Azevedo Souza is really struggling to control Jukola but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza passes into half guard.
Jukola wants to control but Azevedo Souza is keeping busy.
Jukola is not content to let Azevedo Souza control the position.

Azevedo Souza seems to be looking for submissions.
The fighters are battling for position here. Jukola manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Azevedo Souza wants to pass the guard but Jukola is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Azevedo Souza wants to control from the top but Jukola keeps moving.

Jukola had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Azevedo Souza defends it easily.
Azevedo Souza's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Azevedo Souza seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Jukola for as long as he can get away with.
Azevedo Souza trying to control the position from guard on top but Jukola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eero Jukola will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Azevedo Souza takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Jukola bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jukola on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Jukola throws a hook to the side of Azevedo Souza's head but Azevedo Souza sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jukola throws a body shot but no joy.
Jukola on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Azevedo Souza connects with the punch.
Jukola catches Azevedo Souza with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azevedo Souza slips a straight right by Jukola.
Azevedo Souza drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jukola sprawls and moves away.
Azevedo Souza throws a looping overhand right but Jukola ducks down to avoid it.
Azevedo Souza is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Jukola throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Azevedo Souza scores with a one two! Jukola had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
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!
Jukola connects with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola tries to clinch up.
Azevedo Souza uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jukola.
Jukola is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Azevedo Souza.
Azevedo Souza drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jukola sprawls and moves away.

Jukola tries to sprawl but Azevedo Souza drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Azevedo Souza is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Jukola reverses the position - he's now on top in Azevedo Souza's guard.
Jukola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Azevedo Souza is keeping the position for now.
Jukola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Azevedo Souza is trying to keep Jukola in close.
Jukola landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jukola is one step ahead there.

Azevedo Souza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jukola makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Azevedo Souza looking to control.
Jukola wants to control from the top but Azevedo Souza keeps moving.
Jukola connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azevedo Souza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Azevedo Souza working for a triangle but Jukola defends it easily.
Jukola working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Azevedo Souza is controlling Jukola's posture.

Azevedo Souza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jukola makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

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.
Azevedo Souza can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jukola controls the pace.
Jukola makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jukola working some strikes from top position.
Azevedo Souza will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jukola trying to control but Azevedo Souza is working from the bottom.
Azevedo Souza looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Azevedo Souza trying to keep a closed guard but Jukola is proving a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jukola is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Eero Jukola.
I think Jukola 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Eero Jukola!
Eero Jukola decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.