PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiapo Okina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimo Pukki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raimo Pukki is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Okina
vs
Pukki

170 cm
27
147 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

170 cm
23
146 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiapo Okina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raimo Pukki!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yukihiro Shimada and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pukki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Okina.
Okina lands a jab to the nose.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pukki walks into a stiff left hand from Okina.
A decent looking cross lands there for Okina.
Pukki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pukki throws a nice looking combination but Okina bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pukki ducks under a wild hook from Okina.
Okina is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pukki.
Pukki displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Okina throws out the jab.
Pukki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pukki lands a nice looking kick to the body. Okina takes a step back to recover.
Okina swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Pukki moves in looking to clinch but Okina pushes him off.
Pukki tries to work over Okina's front leg with a kick but Okina checks it.
Pukki smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Pukki scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Pukki tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Pukki working the ground and pound.
Pukki is looking to take a break and control but Okina is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okina is looking to reverse the position.
Pukki looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Okina is avoiding damage well.
Okina tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pukki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Pukki stands up.

Pukki shoots in and bounces Okina off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Pukki looking to pass the guard.

Pukki gets to his feet - Okina follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Okina pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Okina throws out a loose jab but Pukki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Okina takes a jab right on the kisser.

Pukki pushes Okina up against the cage in a clinch.
Pukki throws a head punch that misses.
Okina wants a takedown.
Okina misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pukki lands a shot to the body.
Okina struggles to land a body shot inside as Pukki controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Okina.
Okina wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pukki pushes Okina back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Okina throws a punch but it's blocked by Pukki.
Pukki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Pukki presses Okina against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Okina is breathing heavily.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pukki.
Okina misses with a punch to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pukki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki lands a right hand that snaps the head of Okina backwards.
Pukki scores with a hook to the body.
Pukki lands with a light punch inside.
Pukki lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Okina throws a head punch that misses.
Pukki lands a body shot in the clinch.
Pukki lands a nice uppercut.
Pukki tries to score a body lock takedown but Okina shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pukki lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Pukki lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Okina.
Pukki lands with a light punch inside.
Pukki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Okina tries a body shot but Pukki blocks it.
Okina slows down the pace here.

Pukki gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Okina regains guard.
Okina managing to control the position.
Pukki scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Okina being controlled here, momentarily.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Okina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pukki tries to stand but Okina is controlling from the bottom.
Okina wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pukki wants to control from the top but Okina keeps moving.
Pukki is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Pukki dominated that round.
That's time! Okina's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Pukki throws a head kick but Okina moves out of range.
Pukki doesn't manage to clinch there - Okina circles away.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Okina crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Pukki - the referee stops the clock and Okina gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Pukki. Okina manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Pukki thuds his right hand into Okina's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Pukki scores a takedown into full mount!
Pukki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Okina is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pukki tries to control but Okina wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pukki thowing shots but they're missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Okina tries to hold on but Pukki pushes him away.
Pukki controlling the position easily from mount.
Pukki looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Pukki looking to finish Okina with some ground and pound. This is bad for Okina!
Okina is desperately trying to improve his position but Pukki has a good base and remains in mount.
Pukki working the ground and pound effectively.
Okina is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pukki takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Okina is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukki with good strikes from the mount here!
Okina is trying to stand up.
Okina regains half guard.
Okina blocking the ground and pound attempt from Pukki.
Pukki trying to control from half guard but Okina is working away.
Pukki tries to stand and escape but Okina is controlling the position.

Pukki wants to work for an arm triangle but Okina is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pukki is thwarting Okina's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pukki lands a nice short elbow.
Pukki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Okina defending well though.
Okina keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Pukki not doing much here.
Pukki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Okina's head.
Pukki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Okina is trying to get back to full guard.
Okina pushes Pukki off looking to stand but Pukki dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Pukki postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Okina to stand up.
Okina takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Okina keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A cross from Pukki lands.
Okina swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Okina misses with a body shot
letting Pukki counter with a right hand.
Okina misses with an uppercut. Pukki saw that one coming.
Okina jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Okina avoids the body shot from Pukki.
Okina throws an overhand right that lands on Pukki's shoulder, as Pukki tries to avoid the shot.
Okina throws a jab when Pukki was well out of range.
Pukki lands a really nice looking cross but Okina seems unphased.
Okina takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Pukki takes the fight into the clinch.
Pukki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Okina avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Pukki lands a body shot in the clinch.
Okina tries to break the clinch but Pukki is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Pukki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Okina keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Okina throws a predictable looking body shot
and Pukki counters with a nice uppercut.
Pukki throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Okina stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Okina slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Pukki lands a jab to the head.
Okina scores with a jab.
Okina avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Okina smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Okina throws out a loose jab but Pukki uses good head movement to avoid it.
Okina takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Pukki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pukki slips under a jab.
Pukki tries to close the distance and clinch but Okina swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Pukki closes the distance and clinches.
Okina tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pukki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Okina working hard to break the clinch.
Okina can't find room to land a body shot as Pukki controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki lands a hook that snaps the head of Okina backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pukki.
Pukki avoiding damage.
Okina has Pukki pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pukki manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pukki creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pukki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pukki lands a body punch.

Okina pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Okina throws a lazy right hand but Pukki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pukki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pukki wants it to stay on the feet.

Pukki closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Okina to the mat! Okina manages to get full guard.
Pukki won't allow Okina to sweep him here.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Okina is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pukki might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Okina kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukki would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Okina looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Okina is looking to stand up but Pukki isn't so interested in that idea.

Pukki stands and steps away. Okina gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Okina tries to keep at a distance but Pukki has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pukki working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pukki lands a body punch in the clinch.
Pukki is leaning against Okina and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Pukki pushes Okina back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Pukki throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Pukki scores with a shot to the side of Okina's head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pukki.
Pukki displaying some good clinch control by pressing Okina up against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Pukki as the two fighters clinch.

Pukki has clasped his hands together around Okina's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Okina gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Raimo Pukki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pukki controlling the action here.
Pukki is looking to advance position but Okina won't allow it.
Pukki controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukki wants to pass to mount but Okina is defending the position.
Hiapo Okina has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Okina is controlling Pukki's trapped leg to prevent Pukki from advancing to side control.
Pukki trying to control from half guard but Okina is working away.
Pukki thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Pukki controlling the action here.
Okina tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raimo Pukki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pukki has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raimo Pukki!