PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Saku Vuorinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Pounder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vuorinen comes to the cage accompanied by Rob Zombie - Dragula. Pounder has chosen Supernatural Ass Pounder as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vuorinen
vs
Pounder

183 cm
21
242 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

186 cm
26
260 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Saku Vuorinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Pounder!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vuorinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pounder lands a nice shot to the body.
Pounder avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vuorinen swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Pounder counters with a single leg into guard. Vuorinen didn't expect that.
Pounder trying to control the position from guard on top but Vuorinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pounder with a nice head shot there.
Vuorinen wants to stand but Pounder is controlling the position.
Vuorinen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vuorinen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Vuorinen tries to get out of the position.
Pounder slips nicely into half guard.

Pounder is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vuorinen has managed to free his arm - good work.

Pounder is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vuorinen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Pounder landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Pounder is looking for a kimura but Vuorinen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Pounder to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vuorinen looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vuorinen wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pounder tries to pass to full mount but Vuorinen defends it.
Pounder is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vuorinen is trying to stand.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Vuorinen misses the body punch
and Pounder counters with a nice uppercut.
Saku Vuorinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice defenses there by Pounder.
Vuorinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pounder sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vuorinen falls off balance throwing a combination

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

Pounder drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pounder jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Vuorinen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pounder on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vuorinen wants to stand and escape but Pounder is having none of it.
Vuorinen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Pounder drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Pounder jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Pounder is standing up over Vuorinen. Vuorinen looks to escape but Pounder dives into side control.
Vuorinen pushes Pounder away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Pounder gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Vuorinen wants to control but Pounder postures up.

Pounder tries for a kimura but Vuorinen is defending well.
Vuorinen is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pounder thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pounder prevents Vuorinen from escaping the position.

Pounder thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Pounder looks gassed!
Vuorinen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Pounder asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Pounder wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vuorinen keeps working.
Vuorinen is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Vuorinen regains half guard, as Pounder was trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Pounder is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vuorinen sees it coming and defends easily.
Pounder trying to pass the guard but Vuorinen defending well.
Vuorinen wants to control but Pounder is keeping busy.
Vuorinen is trying to stand back up but Pounder is controlling him

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Vuorinen looks to throw the jab but Pounder is out of range.
Vuorinen throws an overhand right that lands on Pounder's shoulder, as Pounder tries to avoid the shot.
Vuorinen misses the jab.
Vuorinen scores with a hook to the body. Pounder takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Vuorinen misses with a combination

and Pounder counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vuorinen won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Pounder dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vuorinen misses the body punch

and Pounder counters with a single leg into guard. Vuorinen didn't expect that.
Vuorinen wants to stand up but Pounder is controlling him.
Vuorinen 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.
Vuorinen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Pounder trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pounder trying to control but Vuorinen is working from the bottom.

Pounder has gone for a leg lock! Vuorinen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pounder's guard.

Vuorinen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pounder, up you get!
Pounder is breathing heavily.
Vuorinen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Saku Vuorinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounder slips under a jab.
Vuorinen looks to throw the jab but Pounder is out of range.
Vuorinen swings away with a body shot that misses

and Pounder counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Vuorinen!
Vuorinen is wriggling around trying to escape.

Pounder wants to finish this one by submission but Vuorinen is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Pounder.
Pounder prevents Vuorinen from getting the reversal.
Vuorinen trying desperately to get to his feet.
Vuorinen tries to lock up and control but Pounder gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Vuorinen can't escape the position.
Vuorinen has given up his back here. Will Pounder look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Vuorinen has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Pounder keeps control of the position as Vuorinen tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vuorinen showing good submission defense here.
Vuorinen is trying to get back to his feet but Pounder has full control of the position and if anything, Vuorinen has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Pounder keeps control of the position as Vuorinen tries to break free.

Pounder looking for the choke from the back.

Pounder is persistently looking for the submission but Vuorinen is defending it well.
Vuorinen looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Vuorinen trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Pounder is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Vuorinen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vuorinen holding both Pounder 's hands and preventing any damage.
You can see the frustration on Vuorinen's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Vuorinen controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Pounder has Vuorinen flattened out and is raining down punches.
Vuorinen has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Vuorinen is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Pounder gets his way!
Vuorinen trying to control the action but Pounder just sinks the hooks in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pounder lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Vuorinen.
Vuorinen is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Pounder working for a choke but Vuorinen is defending well.

Pounder looking for the choke but no joy.
Pounder wants to control but Vuorinen manages to buck him off and is now in Pounder's guard! Nice work there by Vuorinen!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vuorinen tries to stand but Pounder is controlling from the bottom.

Vuorinen stands up from Pounder's guard - Vuorinen perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Pounder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vuorinen misses with a double jab
and Pounder counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Pounder misses.
Pounder dives in and grabs Vuorinen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vuorinen pushes down on Pounder's head and hops out.
Vuorinen throws a combination that misses
and Pounder counters with a nice uppercut.
Pounder slips under a jab from Vuorinen.
Decent striking displayed by Vuorinen there.
Pounder steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vuorinen.

Pounder darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pounder takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vuorinen is trying to stand back up but Pounder is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pounder is thwarting Vuorinen's attempts to control the position.
Vuorinen tries to kick Pounder off in order to stand up. Pounder Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Vuorinen wants to get back to his feet but Pounder drags him back down.
Vuorinen is trying to get back to half guard.
Vuorinen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

Vuorinen explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Vuorinen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pounder.
Vuorinen misses the body punch

and Pounder counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Vuorinen pushes Pounder off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Vuorinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pounder ducks under a wild hook from Vuorinen.
Saku Vuorinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vuorinen falls off balance throwing a combination

and Pounder counters with a shoot takedown. Vuorinen fights it but they end up in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vuorinen wants to get back to his feet but Pounder is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Pounder thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Pounder thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Pounder prevents Vuorinen from getting back to his feet.

Vuorinen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Vuorinen tries to circle away but Pounder has him pinned against the cage.
Vuorinen working hard to break the clinch.

Vuorinen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pounder closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Pounder lands in his opponent's guard.
Pounder slips nicely into half guard.
Pounder looks to land a strike but Vuorinen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Pounder has gone for a leg lock! Vuorinen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pounder's guard.
Vuorinen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Vuorinen postures up.
Vuorinen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Pounder escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vuorinen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Pounder keeping full guard, as Vuorinen tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vuorinen stands up from Pounder's guard - Vuorinen perhaps looking for a knockout.
Vuorinen misses with an uppercut.
Vuorinen misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Pounder counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Pounder.

Vuorinen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Pounder can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pounder lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Pounder thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jim Pounder is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pounder wants to pass the guard but Vuorinen is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Pounder comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pounder 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Pounder!