PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Naiki Nekele (ranked 1123 p4p, 1496 weight class) and Sepi Pulkkinen (ranked 46 p4p, 67 weight class). Sepi Pulkkinen will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Nekele
vs
Pulkkinen

210 cm
32
275
24 - 15 - 0

225 cm
24
333
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

5 Round Science NY

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Naiki Nekele!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sepi Pulkkinen!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nekele blocks the body kick.
Pulkkinen has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Nekele is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Nekele closes the distance and clinches.
Pulkkinen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Pulkkinen throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Nekele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nekele misses with a series of wild punches.
Nekele ducks under a wild hook from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen keeps the fight on the outside.
Nekele connects with the punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nekele moves into range and clinches up with Pulkkinen.
A head punch on the inside from Nekele fails to land.
Pulkkinen misses with some punches.
Pulkkinen working aggressively here.
Nekele lands with a short shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen lands an uppercut.
Nekele lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Nekele lands a nice uppercut.
Nekele wants to break free but Pulkkinen has control.
Nekele can't break the clinch.
Pulkkinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pulkkinen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Nekele blocking some punches.
A short body shot lands from Pulkkinen as the two fighters clinch.
Nekele prevents a body shot from Pulkkinen.
Nekele tries to break free but Pulkkinen pushes him back against the cage.
Pulkkinen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nekele or not.
Nekele is breathing heavily.
Nekele blocks a body shot from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen lands with a short shot to the head.
Pulkkinen tries to throw a body punch but Nekele avoids it by throwing Pulkkinen back against the cage.
Pulkkinen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pulkkinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Nekele.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nekele looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pulkkinen is struggling to control the position.
A hook to the body from Pulkkinen.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pulkkinen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nekele tries to circle away but Pulkkinen has him pinned against the cage.
Pulkkinen misses with the head strike.
A nice left hand lands by Nekele.
Nekele is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pulkkinen misses with a punch on the inside.

Nekele gets control of Pulkkinen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Nekele will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Pulkkinen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nekele might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nekele is trying to control the position but Pulkkinen postures up.
Pulkkinen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Pulkkinen looking to pass the guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A jab from Pulkkinen misses.
Nekele looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Nekele closes the distance and clinches.
Pulkkinen lands a body punch.
Pulkkinen misses with a punch on the inside.
Nekele fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pulkkinen gets underhooks to prevent Nekele's takedown attempt.
A frustrated look appears on Nekele's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nekele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nekele or not.
Pulkkinen scores with a shot to the side of Nekele's head.
Pulkkinen misses with the head strike.
Pulkkinen slowing the pace effectively.
Pulkkinen lands with a light punch inside.
Nekele is looking to break free of the clinch but Pulkkinen has double underhooks.
Pulkkinen tries a body shot but Nekele blocks it.
Pulkkinen pushes Nekele back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sepi Pulkkinen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nekele takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Pulkkinen closes the distance and clinches.
Pulkkinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Nekele.
Nekele can't break the clinch.
Pulkkinen lands a body shot.
Pulkkinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nekele has had enough of the clinch but Pulkkinen keeps him there for the moment.
Nekele blocks an uppercut.
Pulkkinen tries to throw a body punch but Nekele avoids it by throwing Pulkkinen back against the cage.
Nekele is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pulkkinen gets through Nekele's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Pulkkinen avoiding damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nekele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nekele working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Pulkkinen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Pulkkinen is leaning against Nekele and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Pulkkinen pushes Nekele back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen tries a body shot but Nekele blocks it.
A short right from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen tries to work over Nekele's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pulkkinen digs a right hand underneath Nekele's ribcage. Nekele let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A shot in the inside from Pulkkinen.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Nekele up against the cage.
Pulkkinen lands with a light punch inside.
Pulkkinen lands a shoulder strike.
Pulkkinen tries to throw a body punch but Nekele avoids it by throwing Pulkkinen back against the cage.
Nekele being controlled against the cage.
Pulkkinen scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pulkkinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pulkkinen scores with a shot to the side of Nekele's head.
Nekele takes a shot to the head.
Sepi Pulkkinen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A short left from Pulkkinen.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nekele.
Pulkkinen working aggressively here.
Nekele blocking some punches.
Nekele is trying to push Pulkkinen away but Pulkkinen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Pulkkinen tries to throw a body punch but Nekele avoids it by throwing Pulkkinen back against the cage.
Pulkkinen lands a nice uppercut.
Pulkkinen is struggling to control the position.
Pulkkinen stalling.
A right hook to the body lands for Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen pushes Nekele back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pulkkinen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pulkkinen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Pulkkinen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pulkkinen has a couple of punches blocked by Nekele.
Pulkkinen presses Nekele against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Pulkkinen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Nekele or not.
Pulkkinen scores with a shoulder strike.
Pulkkinen lands a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Pulkkinen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pulkkinen scores with a shoulder strike.
Good body shot from Pulkkinen.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pulkkinen presses Nekele against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Pulkkinen scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Pulkkinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen lands a right hand.
Nekele blocking some punches.
Pulkkinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Good body shot from Pulkkinen.
Pulkkinen misses with the head strike.
Pulkkinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Nekele's elbow.

Nekele escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Pulkkinen has Nekele up against the cage in a clinch.
Pulkkinen scores with a shot to the side of Nekele's head.
Nekele swings wildly with an uppercut but Pulkkinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pulkkinen lands a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sepi Pulkkinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Pulkkinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nekele moves away.
Nekele tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Pulkkinen darts in and clinches Nekele up against the cage.
Pulkkinen has a couple of punches blocked by Nekele.
Pulkkinen lands a nice uppercut.
Pulkkinen lands a right hand that snaps the head of Nekele backwards.
Pulkkinen tries to work over Nekele's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pulkkinen prevents Nekele from breaking the clinch.
Pulkkinen throws a punch but it's blocked by Nekele.
Pulkkinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nekele's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pulkkinen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Nekele on the side of the head.

It looks like Naiki Nekele has been cut.
Pulkkinen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Nekele doesn't manage to clinch there - Pulkkinen circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pulkkinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Pulkkinen drops Nekele with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Nekele looks back up at him and smiles so Pulkkinen waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.
Pulkkinen measures up his opponent and throws a superman punch that connects to the jaw! Down goes Nekele! The ref steps in, and that's the ball game folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:16 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Sepi Pulkkinen!
A very excited looking Sepi Pulkkinen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.