PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gabe Manuel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimo Pukki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manuel's entrance music is Violent Femmes- Blister In the Sun. A fine choice. Raimo Pukki will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Manuel
vs
Pukki

168 cm
31
145 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

170 cm
26
146 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gabe Manuel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Raimo Pukki!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manuel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pukki throws a lazy uppercut
and Manuel connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pukki comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Manuel lands the left hand.
Some wild striking there from Pukki.
Pukki throws a hook but Manuel blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pukki takes a swing at Manuel's ribcage but misses.

Manuel has managed to clinch.
Pukki blocks a body shot from Manuel.
Pukki is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel has double underhooks.

Pukki's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Manuel misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manuel shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Pukki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Manuel was well out of range. Poor timing from Pukki.
Pukki takes a swing at Manuel's ribcage but misses.
Pukki throws a lazy uppercut
and Manuel counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pukki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Pukki looks to score with a jab to the body but Manuel is just out of range.
Pukki connects with a body shot that sends Manuel's belly button to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pukki throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Manuel stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A punch lands to the side of Manuel 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Pukki throws a shot from downtown. Manuel moves away and avoids it.
Manuel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pukki throws out the jab.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Pukki throws a looping overhand right but Manuel ducks down to avoid it.
Pukki walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Manuel checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Pukki slips under a jab from Manuel.
Pukki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Manuel.
Pukki clobbers Manuel with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Manuel fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Pukki is out of range.
Manuel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pukki throws out the jab.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Pukki is looking to score with low kicks.
Pukki looks to land a left hand but Manuel moved out of range nicely.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Manuel will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pukki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Manuel throws a series of punches but Pukki avoids them all with ease.

That's eight 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.
Pukki fails to land with a series of punches.
Manuel smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Manuel fails to land the takedown.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Manuel throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Manuel pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pukki looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Pukki dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pukki loads up on a big right hand but Manuel slips the punch.
Pukki scoring well with a low kick there.
Pukki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Manuel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Pukki. Those never looked like landing.
A punch combination from Manuel misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manuel throws a looping overhand right but Pukki ducks down to avoid it.
Pukki ducks under a wild hook from Manuel.
Pukki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Manuel looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Pukki missing with a left hand there. Manuel was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Manuel jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Manuel is defended easily by Pukki.
Manuel on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Raimo Pukki seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pukki with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Pukki stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pukki wants it to stay on the feet.
Manuel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Manuel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Manuel takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Pukki misses with the combination.
Manuel bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Manuel throws a right and a left that Pukki avoids nicely.
Pukki fails to land with a series of punches.
Pukki misses the shot to the body.
Raimo Pukki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's six 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.
Some bone on bone action there as Pukki checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pukki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Manuel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pukki lands with a short shot to the head.
Pukki on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pukki misses with a punch on the inside.
Pukki is looking to break free of the clinch but Manuel has double underhooks.
Manuel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Pukki lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Manuel tries to stall but Pukki uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Manuel.

Pukki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manuel misses with a hook to the body
and Pukki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Manuel throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Manuel swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pukki.
Gabe Manuel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Manuel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Pukki throws a lazy right hand but Manuel sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Manuel shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pukki but Pukki pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabe Manuel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manuel throws a left and a right that both miss
and Pukki counters with a two punch combo.
Manuel finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Pukki throws an off balance right hand
and Manuel counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Manuel has closed the distance and engaged Pukki in a clinch.
Manuel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pukki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Pukki is trying to force a seperation but Manuel has the dominant position.
Manuel goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pukki misses with a hook to the ribs.
Manuel tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Pukki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Manuel misses with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gabe Manuel.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Raimo Pukki!
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight for Raimo Pukki!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Raimo Pukki!

Raimo Pukki wins by unanimous decision!