PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Raimo Pukki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Solomon Obasi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Obasi has chosen Overkill as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pukki
vs
Obasi

170 cm
38
146 lbs
39 - 17 - 0

170 cm
38
148 lbs
35 - 24 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
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 39 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Raimo Pukki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Solomon Obasi!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obasi keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice shot by Pukki.
Obasi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Obasi moves out of range as Pukki strikes.
Obasi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Pukki counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Pukki connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Obasi's hands.
Pukki scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pukki misses with an uppercut.
Pukki takes a swing at Obasi's ribcage but misses.
Obasi shoots in looking for a takedown but Pukki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Obasi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Obasi scores with a takedown into Pukki's guard.
Obasi stops Pukki from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki is trying to keep Obasi in close.
Obasi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Obasi preventing the sweep.

Pukki pushes Obasi off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Obasi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Raimo Pukki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Solomon Obasi.
Nice shot lands for Pukki.
Pukki loads up on a big right hand but Obasi slips the punch.
Obasi scores with the left hand. Pukki knows he should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obasi scores with a nice body kick.
Pukki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Obasi.
Pukki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Obasi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pukki napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pukki tries to bench press Obasi off him but Obasi keeps the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Obasi looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Pukki is avoiding damage well.
Pukki is trying to buck Obasi off.

Obasi goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Pukki rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Obasi's guard! Nice work there by Pukki!
Pukki is looking to pass into half guard but Obasi pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Obasi is in guard.
Obasi prevents Pukki from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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.
Pukki is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Obasi is controlling him.
Obasi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Obasi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Obasi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Obasi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Obasi stopping the sweep attempt from Pukki.
Obasi postures up in Pukki's guard and throws a big left but Pukki blocks it.
Pukki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obasi won't allow Pukki to sweep him here.

Obasi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Obasi throwing strikes from guard but Pukki blocks nicely.
Obasi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Pukki keeping full guard, as Obasi tries to pass.
Obasi chips away with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Obasi prevents Pukki from getting back to his feet.
Pukki trying to control the position.
Obasi has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Obasi wants to pass the guard but Pukki is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Raimo Pukki will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pukki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab from Pukki misses.
Pukki thows a body shot but no joy.
Obasi dives in for a single leg takedown but Pukki sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pukki.
A short left from Pukki.
Pukki tries to work over Obasi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pukki is looking to control Obasi's arms but Obasi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pukki has his back to the cage.
Obasi lands a nice uppercut.
Pukki stalling the fight.
Pukki stops a takedown attempt from Obasi.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Pukki.
Pukki looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki lands an uppercut.
Obasi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pukki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Raimo Pukki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Solomon Obasi.
Obasi tries to score a body lock takedown but Pukki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Pukki tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Obasi trying to land knees to the body.
Obasi just leaning against Pukki, taking a breather.
Obasi is trying to stall.

Pukki works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Obasi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Obasi trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Obasi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Obasi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Pukki is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Obasi.
Obasi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Obasi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Pukki trying to control the action but Obasi is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Obasi wants to control but Pukki postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obasi is trying to work for a sweep but Pukki has mounted him!
Obasi wants to control but Pukki is having none of it.
Pukki cracks Obasi with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Obasi tries to hold on but Pukki postures up.
Obasi bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Pukki wants to stand up but Obasi is controlling him.

Pukki pushes Obasi off and gets back to his feet.
No luck for Obasi with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukki jabs Obasi to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Obasi swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Pukki counters with a stiff right hand.
Pukki thumps Obasi with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pukki checks a leg kick nicely.
Obasi takes a swing at Pukki's ribcage but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pukki lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Pukki misses the jab.
Pukki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Obasi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Pukki dominated that second round.
That's time! Pukki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Pukki lands a nice shot to the body.
Obasi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pukki is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Obasi.
Obasi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Pukki scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Obasi ducks under a wild hook from Pukki.
Obasi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Obasi ducks under a wild hook from Pukki.
Pukki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Obasi manages to avoid it.
Pukki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Pukki slaps away a takedown attempt from Obasi, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obasi moves away from the strike by Pukki.
Pukki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Obasi.
Obasi misses with a takedown attempt - Pukki sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Obasi shoots in looking for a takedown but Pukki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Obasi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Raimo Pukki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Solomon Obasi.
Pukki swings for the body but Obasi moves out of range.
Obasi misses with a left hand
and Pukki counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Obasi avoids the body shot from Pukki.
Pukki digs a good body shot into Obasi's ribs.
Nice defenses there by Pukki.
Raimo Pukki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obasi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A big left from Pukki misses.
Pukki misses with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Pukki throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Raimo Pukki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Obasi on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Solomon Obasi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pukki missing with a left hand there. Obasi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Obasi ducks under a wild hook from Pukki.
Pukki throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Obasi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Obasi lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pukki is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki prevents Obasi from improving his position.
Obasi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pukki is working away from the top position though.

Pukki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Obasi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Pukki is working away from the top position though.
Pukki wants to take a breather but Obasi is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukki is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Obasi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Obasi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Pukki is trying to control the action in half guard but Obasi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Raimo Pukki just wasn't active enough.
Obasi misses with a few strikes there.
Solomon Obasi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A lazy left from Pukki finds it's target.
Obasi defending well as Pukki loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pukki scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A bone on bone clash there as Pukki blocks the leg kick.
Obasi on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raimo Pukki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pukki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

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.