PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raimo Pukki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrea Hermias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Pukki
vs
Hermias

170 cm
38
146 lbs
37 - 16 - 0

170 cm
33
159 lbs
18 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 37 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Raimo Pukki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrea Hermias!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hermias doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Pukki counters with a stiff right hand.

Hermias gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hermias tries to score a body lock takedown but Pukki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pukki scores with a nice hook to the head.

Pukki pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pukki seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Pukki misses with a body shot
and Hermias counters with a nice low kick that buckles Pukki's knee momentarily.
Pukki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hermias shoots in for a takedown but Pukki shows good takedown defense.
Raimo Pukki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrea Hermias.
Hermias shoots in and drives through. Pukki sprawls well.
Hermias walks into a stiff left hand from Pukki.
Hermias shoots in but Pukki avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pukki jabs Hermias right on the nose. Hermias blinks but takes it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki jabs Hermias to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Pukki misses the shot to the body.
Hermias fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Pukki avoids it really well and circles away.
Hermias tries to work over Pukki's front leg with a kick but Pukki checks it.
Pukki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hermias manages to avoid it.
Hermias steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pukki.
Hermias checks a leg kick.
We've been informed that Hermias has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Pukki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pukki looks to score with a jab to the body but Hermias is just out of range.
Nice defenses there by Hermias.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukki throws a combination that misses
and Hermias cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hermias keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hermias misses with a takedown
and Hermias takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pukki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hermias.
Pukki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hermias on the side of the head.
Hermias slips a jab from Pukki.
Hermias moves away from the strike by Pukki.
Pukki throws a jab but it's blocked by Hermias.
Pukki walks into a jab.
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!
Hermias with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pukki to score with a decent uppercut.
Pukki tries to land a leg kick but Hermias saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hermias takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hermias slips a jab and a cross from Pukki.
Hermias slips under a jab from Pukki.
Hermias with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Pukki counter with a right hand.
Pukki connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pukki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hermias moves away.
Pukki lands a jab to the nose.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hermias.
Pukki throws a series of punches but Hermias avoids them all with ease.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Pukki, as that shot connected.
Raimo Pukki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermias shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pukki but Pukki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Pukki lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hermias at a distance.
Hermias walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
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!
A slapping leg kick lands for Pukki.
Pukki scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hermias shoots in for a takedown but Pukki shows good takedown defense.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hermias.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pukki thuds a left hand into Hermias's body.
Hermias misses with a looping left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Pukki dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Hermias throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pukki's waist but Pukki gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hermias off to one side.

Hermias closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pukki did well to prevent Hermias getting side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hermias not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hermias wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pukki keeps working.
Pukki is trying to control but can't.

Hermias is looking for a kimura here.
Pukki wants to improve his position but Hermias is controlling well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Pukki is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermias is looking to take a break and control but Pukki is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pukki wants to improve his position but Hermias is controlling well.
Hermias throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pukki is trying to stand back up but Hermias is controlling him
Pukki is not content to let Hermias control the position.
Hermias might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Pukki haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Andrea Hermias was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Pukki swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hermias dives in and grabs Pukki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Pukki pushes down on Hermias's head and hops out.
Pukki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hermias manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermias gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Pukki.
Hermias misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Raimo Pukki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrea Hermias.
Pukki throws a series of punches but Hermias avoids them all with ease.
Pukki slaps away a takedown attempt from Hermias, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Pukki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hermias takes one to the side of the head.
Pukki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hermias.
Hermias has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hermias darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermias stalling away here and it's allowed Pukki to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Pukki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hermias wants to control from the top but Pukki keeps moving.
Pukki wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Pukki 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.
Hermias throws a strike but Pukki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pukki has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hermias looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukki wants to control from the top but Hermias keeps moving.
Hermias is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hermias keeping full guard, as Pukki tries to pass.
Pukki passes Hermias's left leg - he's now in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hermias is trying to maintain the position but Pukki is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andrea Hermias will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pukki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pukki wants it to stay on the feet.
Raimo Pukki is winning the standup battle so far.
Pukki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hermias.
Pukki slaps away a takedown attempt from Hermias, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Raimo Pukki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrea Hermias.
Hermias smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pukki.
Hermias takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Pukki slips under a jab from Hermias.
Pukki closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Pukki looks to land a combination. Hermias sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Pukki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hermias.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hermias.
Hermias throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hermias dives in for a single leg takedown but Pukki sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Hermias jumps guard but Pukki stands there with Hermias around his waist. Hermias gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hermias as Pukki tries to tie him up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hermias.
Hermias wants a takedown.
Pukki avoiding damage.
Hermias softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Hermias slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pukki pressing his opponent against the ropes.
Pukki lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Hermias gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Hermias missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pukki wants to get back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pukki moves into full guard.

Pukki looking for a guillotine here but Hermias defends easily.
Hermias throws a strike but Pukki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermias is controlling Pukki's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pukki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hermias is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Hermias is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pukki preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hermias working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pukki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pukki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pukki throws a strike but Hermias rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hermias won't allow Pukki to sweep him here.
Hermias missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pukki manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hermias is looking to improve his position but Pukki isn't that keen on the idea.

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 Raimo Pukki.
I think Pukki 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raimo Pukki!
During a confident post fight interview, Raimo Pukki thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.