PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Gibiatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pertti Pulkkinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pulkkinen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Third, The Magical. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Gibiatti
vs
Pulkkinen

165 cm
29
155 lbs
14 - 6 - 1

155 cm
31
157 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

GREEN!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 14 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Frank Gibiatti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pertti Pulkkinen!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gibiatti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big left from Gibiatti misses.
Gibiatti throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gibiatti doesn't manage to clinch there - Pulkkinen circles away.
Pulkkinen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gibiatti slips under a jab from Pulkkinen.
Gibiatti jabs Pulkkinen right on the nose. Pulkkinen blinks but takes it well.
A chopping leg kick lands by Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen cracks a nice hook into Gibiatti's ribs.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook. Gibiatti ducked under it nicely.
Pulkkinen jabs Gibiatti to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gibiatti avoids the body shot from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen throws a jab but it's blocked by Gibiatti.

Gibiatti closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gibiatti lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gibiatti tries to free his leg and advance position but Pulkkinen is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen is looking to stand up but Gibiatti isn't so interested in that idea.
Pulkkinen keeping moving, preventing Gibiatti from controlling successfully.
Gibiatti lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gibiatti advances to half guard.
Pulkkinen moves into full guard.
Gibiatti trying to control the position from guard on top but Pulkkinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pulkkinen keeping full guard, as Gibiatti tries to pass.
Gibiatti throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gibiatti wants to control from the top but Pulkkinen keeps moving.

Gibiatti drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pulkkinen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gibiatti has Pulkkinen in his guard.

Pulkkinen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Gibiatti throws his legs up looking for a submission but Pulkkinen uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen slows the pace down.
Pulkkinen is continuing to stall.
Pulkkinen is looking to take a break and control but Gibiatti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gibiatti is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gibiatti is trying to control Pulkkinen's posture but Pulkkinen avoids it.
Gibiatti is looking to regain half guard here but Pulkkinen keeps moving and retains side control.
Gibiatti is not content to let Pulkkinen control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pulkkinen working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pertti Pulkkinen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gibiatti misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Pulkkinen throws out a counter right but Gibiatti avoids it with no problem.
Gibiatti throws a lazy head kick
and Pulkkinen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pulkkinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gibiatti.

Gibiatti closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Pulkkinen did well to prevent Gibiatti getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gibiatti stalling away here and it's allowed Pulkkinen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gibiatti is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Gibiatti won't allow Pulkkinen to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibiatti tries to free his leg and advance position but Pulkkinen is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gibiatti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gibiatti wants to pass the guard but Pulkkinen is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gibiatti shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pertti Pulkkinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pulkkinen stuffs the takedown attempt from Gibiatti. Gibiatti gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Gibiatti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pulkkinen throws a hook but Gibiatti blocks it.
It looked like Gibiatti wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Gibiatti swings for the body but Pulkkinen moves out of range.
Pulkkinen throws a low kick, looking for Gibiatti's leg but Gibiatti calmly moves out of range.
Pulkkinen misses with a lunging right hand
and Gibiatti counters with a nice body shot.
Gibiatti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pulkkinen.
Pertti Pulkkinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A telegraphed right hand from Pulkkinen misses the target.

Gibiatti has closed the distance and engaged Pulkkinen in a clinch.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pulkkinen avoiding damage.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Pulkkinen is looking to control Gibiatti's arms but Gibiatti gets an underhook and turns him. Now Pulkkinen has his back to the cage.
Gibiatti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pulkkinen backwards.
Gibiatti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gibiatti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pulkkinen wants to stall.
Pulkkinen looking to stall.
Pulkkinen is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Pulkkinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Gibiatti controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gibiatti lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pulkkinen or not.
Pulkkinen avoiding damage as Gibiatti throws knees to the body.
Pulkkinen is trying to break the clinch but Gibiatti has him pressed against the cage.
Gibiatti prevents a body shot from Pulkkinen.

Gibiatti gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Pulkkinen regains guard.
Gibiatti pushes down on Pulkkinen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Pulkkinen trying to control here.
Gibiatti looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen wants to improve his position but Gibiatti is controlling well.

Gibiatti is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pulkkinen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gibiatti.
Pulkkinen looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Gibiatti is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Pulkkinen still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Pulkkinen has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Gibiatti dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pulkkinen throws a chopping leg kick but Gibiatti manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Gibiatti throwing a counter right hand but Pulkkinen manages to avoid it.
Gibiatti misses with a hook
and Pulkkinen counters with a left to the body.
Gibiatti swings for the body but Pulkkinen moves out of range.
Pulkkinen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gibiatti lands a nice shot to the body.
Pulkkinen misses with a looping left.
Gibiatti dips to his left and cracks Pulkkinen with an uppercut!
Pulkkinen with a hook.
Pulkkinen throws a wild body kick that Gibiatti sees coming a mile off.
Gibiatti blocks a low kick nicely.
Pulkkinen throws a head kick but Gibiatti moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gibiatti shoots in and drives through. Pulkkinen sprawls well.
Pulkkinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pulkkinen misses with a looping left.
Pulkkinen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gibiatti takes a swing at Pulkkinen's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gibiatti staying out of range there.
Pulkkinen throws a lazy uppercut

so Gibiatti counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Pulkkinen wriggles free and stands up.
Pulkkinen swings for the body but Gibiatti moves out of range.

Gibiatti shoots in and bounces Pulkkinen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
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.
Gibiatti not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Gibiatti throws an elbow that misses. Pulkkinen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gibiatti's guard. Nice move by Pulkkinen!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gibiatti keeping moving, preventing Pulkkinen from controlling successfully.

Gibiatti working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pulkkinen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pulkkinen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pulkkinen content to stall in guard here.

Pulkkinen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Pulkkinen throws a leg kick but Gibiatti checks it.
Pulkkinen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gibiatti.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gibiatti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gibiatti slips under a jab from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gibiatti keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gibiatti shoots and misses
and Pulkkinen counters with an outside leg kick.
Gibiatti tries to move into range but Pulkkinen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A jab from Pulkkinen misses.
Gibiatti is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Pulkkinen throws a jab when Gibiatti was well out of range.
Gibiatti appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Pulkkinen lands a right hook to the body.
Gibiatti shoots in for a takedown but Pulkkinen shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Gibiatti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pulkkinen misses with a low kick.
Pulkkinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gibiatti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gibiatti misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gibiatti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gibiatti takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good leg kick by Pulkkinen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Gibiatti fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pulkkinen connects with a single shot there.
Gibiatti throws a low kick but Pulkkinen avoids it.
Pulkkinen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gibiatti.
Pulkkinen avoids the body shot from Gibiatti.
Pulkkinen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gibiatti drops his hands momentarily and Pulkkinen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Pulkkinen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Pulkkinen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Gibiatti looks to land a combination but Pulkkinen avoids it well.
Gibiatti lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Pulkkinen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pertti Pulkkinen.
I think Pulkkinen 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pertti Pulkkinen!
Pertti Pulkkinen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.