PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bartholomew Bainbridge (ranked 1188 p4p, 425 weight class) and Kurki Potku (ranked 184 p4p, 64 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kurki Potku was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Bainbridge
vs
Potku

185 cm
25
206
6 - 4 - 1

177 cm
24
210
12 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

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 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bartholomew Bainbridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kurki Potku!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Joseph Jones and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bainbridge clinches.
Bainbridge tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bainbridge blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Potku softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Bainbridge working aggressively here.
Bainbridge lands with a light punch inside.
Potku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bainbridge's elbow.
Bainbridge has a couple of punches blocked by Potku.
Potku is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Potku lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Potku throws a punch but it's blocked by Bainbridge.
Potku misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short left from Bainbridge.
Potku works on Bainbridge's body with a couple of short punches.
Bainbridge works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Bainbridge has a couple of punches blocked by Potku.
Bainbridge works on Potku's body with a couple of short punches.
Potku has a couple of punches blocked by Bainbridge.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bainbridge lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Bainbridge breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bainbridge takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bainbridge 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.
Potku closes the distance looking to clinch
and Bainbridge counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bainbridge scoring well with a low kick there.
Potku lands a slapping body shot.
Potku throws a shot to the body.
Bainbridge takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bainbridge defending well as Potku loads up on a big left hand.
Potku tests Bainbridge's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Potku shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Potku showed some decent athleticism there.
Bainbridge is trying to stand back up but Potku is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bainbridge is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bainbridge gets back to full guard.
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!
Potku trying to control the position from guard on top but Bainbridge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Potku thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Bainbridge seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bainbridge 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.
Potku sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bainbridge seems keen to control Potku's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku trying to control the position from guard on top but Bainbridge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Potku sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Potku trying to control the position from guard on top but Bainbridge is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Potku waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bainbridge.
Bainbridge moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Potku shoots in and gets a takedown into Bainbridge's guard.
Bainbridge has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Potku is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potku is fighting to break Bainbridge's control of his arms but Bainbridge is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Potku trying to control but Bainbridge is working from the bottom.
Bainbridge has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Potku has passed into side control.
Potku is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bainbridge will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Bainbridge is trying to control Potku's posture but Potku avoids it.
Bainbridge looking for a sweep but Potku has passed into full mount! Oh no!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Potku swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bainbridge counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Potku fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bainbridge manages to avoid it.
A shot to the body from Potku misses
enabling Bainbridge to counter with a crisp jab.
Potku scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Potku tries to clinch but Bainbridge moves out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Bainbridge on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Potku on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Bainbridge moves forwards but Potku connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Potku tries to clinch up but Bainbridge circles away and keeps his distance.
Potku throws a jab when Bainbridge was well out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Potku misses the shot to the body.
Bainbridge wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Potku ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bainbridge moves away.
Bainbridge swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Potku scores with a jab. Bainbridge acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Potku closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Potku rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bainbridge counters with a stiff right hand.
Potku misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bainbridge was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Potku has his takedown stuffed
and Bainbridge counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bainbridge moves out of range of the strikes.
Bartholomew Bainbridge is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Potku throws a hook but Bainbridge blocks it.
Potku throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Potku takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Potku moves into range and connects with a jab.
Potku lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bainbridge takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bainbridge will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Potku throws out a counter right but Bainbridge avoids it with no problem.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Potku works the jab nicely.

Potku forces Bainbridge back against the cage and clinches.
Potku is trying to maintain a safe position but Bainbridge gets an underhook and turns Potku into the cage.
Bainbridge prevents the takedown attempt.
Bartholomew Bainbridge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurki Potku.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bainbridge.
Bainbridge lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Bainbridge can't find room to land a body shot as Potku controls the action.
Bainbridge lands a nice uppercut.
Bainbridge can't find room to land a body shot as Potku controls the action.
Potku has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bainbridge is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bainbridge scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bainbridge makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bainbridge blocks an uppercut.
Bainbridge misses with the head strike.
Potku lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Potku on the inside.
Bainbridge working aggressively here.
Bainbridge blocks a body shot from Potku.
A short right from Potku.
Bainbridge lands with a left to the head.
Potku takes a shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Potku creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bainbridge blocks a body shot from Potku.
Potku blocks an uppercut.
Bainbridge throws a head punch that misses.
Potku tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bainbridge.
Potku is leaning against Bainbridge and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A short right from Bainbridge on the inside.
Bainbridge can't find room to land a body shot as Potku controls the action.
Potku lands with a short shot to the head.
Bainbridge is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short body shot lands from Bainbridge as the two fighters clinch.
A short body shot lands from Bainbridge as the two fighters clinch.
Bainbridge misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bainbridge is pressed up against the cage. Potku has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bainbridge down to the mat. Bainbridge avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Potku throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bainbridge staying out of range there.
It looked like Bainbridge was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Potku.
Bainbridge showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Potku.
Potku darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bainbridge 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.
A big left from Potku misses.
It looked like Bainbridge was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Potku.
Potku missing with a left hand there. Bainbridge was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Potku misses with a looping left.
Potku lands a jab.
Bainbridge with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Potku to score with a decent uppercut.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kurki Potku will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Potku shoots in and gets a takedown into Bainbridge's guard.
Bainbridge keeping moving, preventing Potku from controlling successfully.
Potku stops Bainbridge from standing up.
Bainbridge is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bainbridge wants to hit a sweep here but Potku passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bainbridge there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Potku working for a submission but Bainbridge is keeping him at bay.

Potku working for a guillotine from mount but Bainbridge is in no mood to give up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bainbridge controls the position.
You get the feeling that Bainbridge really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Bainbridge is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Potku can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bainbridge is looking to escape.
Bainbridge keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Potku has control of Bainbridge's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Bainbridge regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bainbridge is trying desperately to improve position.
Bainbridge is working hard here to advance position.

Potku is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bainbridge is surviving well by controlling Potku's body position as best he can.
Bainbridge prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Potku fails to advance to Bainbridge's back.
Bainbridge is trying to stand.
Bartholomew Bainbridge has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Potku has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Potku jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bainbridge manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Potku wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bainbridge, who protects the arm well.
Bainbridge wants to control but Potku postures up.
Bainbridge regains half guard.
Potku prevents Bainbridge from standing back up.
Bainbridge knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Potku on the ground.

Bainbridge has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Potku is on him like a limpet, forcing Bainbridge back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Potku fails to land.
Bainbridge slows down the pace here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bainbridge misses with the head strike.
Potku blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Bainbridge fails to land.
Potku lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bainbridge gets underhooks to prevent Potku's takedown attempt.
Bainbridge cracks Potku with a nice body shot.
Potku goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bainbridge prevents it.
Potku has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bainbridge avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bartholomew Bainbridge has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurki Potku.
Potku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A short body shot lands from Bainbridge as the two fighters clinch.
Potku misses with a punch to the body.
Potku misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.
Bainbridge stops a takedown attempt from Potku.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bainbridge blocks a punch to the side of the head.
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!
Bainbridge works on Potku's body with a couple of short punches.
Bainbridge tries to work over Potku's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Potku.
Bainbridge works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurki Potku comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Potku 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurki Potku!
A determined Kurki Potku didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!