PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Squirrel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joulu Pukki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Squirrel's entrance music is Bio Crisis - Delirio. A fine choice. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Joulu Pukki enters the cage!

Squirrel
vs
Pukki

195 cm
24
226 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

179 cm
39
215 lbs
32 - 22 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Modern Wear Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Squirrel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joulu Pukki!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Squirrel. Those never looked like landing.
Squirrel has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Squirrel tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pukki defends well and Squirrel ends up having to push Pukki into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Pukki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pukki is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Squirrel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Squirrel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Squirrel trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Pukki trying to control but Squirrel is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Squirrel darts in and clinches Pukki up against the cage.
Squirrel is looking for a takedown.
Squirrel working aggressively here.

Squirrel breaks the clinch.
Joulu Pukki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pukki gets the takedown into side control.
Squirrel struggling a bit here.
Pukki is staying tight to Squirrel's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Squirrel prevents Pukki from moving into mount.
Squirrel is not content to let Pukki control the position.
Squirrel tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Squirrel is not content to let Pukki control the position.
Squirrel is looking for a sweep.
Squirrel wants to control but Pukki postures up.
Squirrel tries to buck Pukki off but Pukki is having none of it.
Squirrel can't do much from the bottom here.
Squirrel is trying to get back to half guard.
Squirrel is not content to let Pukki control the position.
Squirrel is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Pukki's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki wants to control but Squirrel is keeping him busy.
Well, if Pukki is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Pukki is looking to take a break and control but Squirrel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Pukki wants to work for an arm triangle but Squirrel is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Pukki controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Squirrel trying to control here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Squirrel stuffs the takedown attempt from Pukki. Pukki gets slowly back to his feet.
Pukki takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Pukki gets tackled into the cage by Squirrel. Squirrel maintains the clinch.
Pukki blocks an uppercut.
Pukki is trying to drag Squirrel to the mat but Squirrel just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pukki is looking to take this one to the mat.
Steve Squirrel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joulu Pukki.
Pukki blocks a body shot from Squirrel.
Squirrel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Squirrel swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Squirrel pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Squirrel looks for a takedown but Pukki sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Joulu Pukki will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Squirrel tries to bum rush Pukki with a series of wild strikes but Pukki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Pukki shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Pukki showed some decent athleticism there.
Pukki controlling the action here.
Squirrel trying to control from the bottom.
Pukki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Squirrel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Squirrel makes his way to full guard, as Pukki worked for a kimura.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Squirrel wants to sweep but no luck.
Pukki wants to control from the top but Squirrel keeps moving.
Joulu Pukki has got the better of the ground game so far.
Squirrel controls Pukki momentarily but Pukki frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Squirrel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Squirrel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Squirrel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pukki is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Pukki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pukki lands in his opponent's guard.
Pukki controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Squirrel throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Pukki's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Pukki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Squirrel has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Pukki has managed to get both his arms back between Squirrel's legs - danger averted.
Pukki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pukki trying to control but Squirrel is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Pukki dives in and scores a takedown into Squirrel's guard.
Squirrel trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Squirrel is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Squirrel working a defensive guard here.

Squirrel working for a triangle but Pukki defends it easily.
Squirrel is trying to control the position but Pukki postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Squirrel looking for a sweep. Not yet Squirrel, not yet.
Squirrel looking to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Pukki thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pukki has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Squirrel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pukki controls the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Steve Squirrel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Squirrel has Pukki up against the cage in a clinch.
Squirrel tries to throw a body punch but Pukki avoids it by throwing Squirrel back against the cage.
Squirrel tries a body shot but Pukki blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pukki prevents a body shot from Squirrel.
Squirrel tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pukki's elbow.
Pukki is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Squirrel is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joulu Pukki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Squirrel's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Pukki looking to score a takedown here. Squirrel is defending well but Pukki drives through and ends up in Squirrel's guard.
Pukki wants to pass the guard but Squirrel is keeping the position.
Squirrel keeping moving, preventing Pukki from controlling successfully.

Squirrel is looking for a triangle but Pukki pushes his legs off easily.
Pukki wants to control from the top but Squirrel keeps moving.
Squirrel trying to keep a closed guard but Pukki is proving a slippery customer.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Squirrel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Pukki defends it easily.
Pukki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Squirrel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pukki is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Squirrel rushes Pukki and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Squirrel misses with the head strike.
Squirrel gets underhooks to prevent Pukki's takedown attempt.
Squirrel stops a takedown attempt from Pukki.
Squirrel tries to work over Pukki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Squirrel fails to land.
Pukki wants to take the fight to the mat but Squirrel manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Steve Squirrel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joulu Pukki.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Squirrel prevents the takedown attempt.
Pukki blocks a body shot from Squirrel.
Pukki blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Squirrel doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pukki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pukki takes a shot to the head.
Pukki prevents a body shot from Squirrel.
Squirrel misses with a short punch on the inside.

Pukki lands a takedown into guard.
Pukki trying to control the position from guard on top but Squirrel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pukki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Squirrel swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki being controlled here momentarily.
Squirrel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pukki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Squirrel's guard.
Squirrel is looking for a sweep. Pukki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Squirrel is staying active underneath Pukki, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Pukki is trying to work for a kimura but Squirrel is defending well.
Squirrel is not content to let Pukki control the position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Pukki working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

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

Pukki is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Joulu Pukki is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Squirrel moves into full guard.

Squirrel is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pukki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Squirrel will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Joulu Pukki.
I've got Pukki winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

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