PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muuli Potku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Sullivan might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Blood on the ground. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Sullivan
vs
Potku

185 cm
29
155 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

174 cm
23
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sammy Sullivan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Muuli Potku!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sullivan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sullivan looks to land a left hand but Potku moved out of range nicely.
Sullivan swinging wildly here.
Sullivan loads up on a big right hand but Potku slips the punch.
Sullivan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Potku throws a leg kick which misses Sullivan's front leg but catches the back leg as Sullivan tries to avoid it.
Potku scores with a kick to the body.
Potku throws a head kick that Sullivan semi-blocks.
Sullivan walks forward, straight into a front kick from Potku.
Potku connects with a leg kick. Sullivan looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Potku scores with a head kick.
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 cracks the inside of Sullivan's front leg.
Potku throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Potku ducks under a wild hook from Sullivan.
Potku turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Potku. That's going to slow Sullivan down.
A head kick misses from Potku.
Potku moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Potku moves away.
Potku tests Sullivan's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Potku swings for the body but Sullivan moves out of range.
Potku lands with a nice body kick.

Potku fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sullivan, pushing him back against the cage.
Potku scores a nice knee to the body.
Potku utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Sullivan is breathing heavily.
Potku stalling in the clinch.
Sullivan avoiding damage as Potku throws knees to the body.
Sullivan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Sullivan blocks an uppercut.
Potku lands with a right to the head.
Potku just leaning against Sullivan, taking a breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Potku tries to land a knee to the head but Sullivan blocks with his arms.
Sullivan trying to control the position but instead, Potku has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sullivan into the cage.
Potku misses with a punch to the body.
Sullivan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Potku utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Potku putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sullivan in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Potku tries to land knees in the clinch but Sullivan avoids the damage to the body.
Potku trying to land knees to the body.
Potku throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sullivan blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sullivan is defending well for now.
Potku tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sullivan avoids it.
Potku trying to land knees to the body.
Potku is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sullivan is defending well for now.
Sullivan is trying to force a seperation but Potku has the dominant position.
Potku working Sullivan over with knees to the body.
Potku using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sullivan has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Potku with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Potku tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sullivan's elbow.
Potku is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sullivan is defending well for now.
Potku can't find room to land a body shot as Sullivan controls the action.
Potku works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Potku working Sullivan over with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potku scores a nice knee to the body.
Sullivan is trying to force a seperation but Potku has the dominant position.
Potku landing knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Potku unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sullivan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Potku tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Potku using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Potku misses with the head strike.
Potku slowing the pace effectively.
Potku is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sullivan is defending well for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Potku works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Potku tries to land a knee to the head but Sullivan blocks with his arms.
Potku connects with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muuli Potku dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Sullivan is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Potku.
Potku misses with a low kick.
A slow jab from Sullivan misses its intended target.
Potku misses with a hook.
Sullivan throws a right and a left that Potku avoids nicely.
Potku fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sullivan misses with a wild combination.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Potku, right into the meat.
Sullivan moves out of range as Potku throws a body kick.
Sullivan misses with a looping left.
Potku has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Potku clinches with his opponent.
Potku putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sullivan in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sullivan avoiding damage as Potku throws knees to the body.
Potku leaning against his opponent.
Potku digs a right hand into Sullivan's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Sullivan's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku cracks Sullivan with a nice body shot.
Potku tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Potku is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Potku effectively controlling the action here.
Potku tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sullivan avoids it.
Potku looking to throw knees to the head but Sullivan is blocking nicely.
Potku throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sullivans head.
Potku lands a body shot in the clinch.
Sullivan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Potku lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Sullivan blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku displaying some good clinch control by pressing Sullivan up against the cage.
Sullivan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Potku has him pressed against the cage.
Potku presses Sullivan against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Potku will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sullivan up against the cage.
Potku lands a body punch.
Potku tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sullivan avoids it.
Potku throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sullivan blocks it with crossed arms.
Potku lands a body punch.
Muuli Potku seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sullivan.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Potku.
The referee is keeping an eye on Potku - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Good body shot from Potku.
Potku is stalling here.
Sullivan blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Potku crunches a lovely knee into Sullivan's ribcage.
Potku with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Potku stalling against the cage.
Potku unloads a knee to the mid-section. Sullivan lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan working hard to break the clinch.
Sullivan avoiding damage as Potku throws knees to the body.
Potku with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Potku tries to land a knee to the head but Sullivan blocks with his arms.
Sullivan takes a knee to the side of the body.
Sullivan wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Potku has him pressed against the cage.
Potku content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Potku misses with a hook to the ribs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sullivan has had enough of the clinch but Potku keeps him there for the moment.
Potku prevents Sullivan from breaking the clinch.
Sullivan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muuli Potku showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Potku throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sullivan.
Sloppy strikes from Sullivan. Those never looked like landing.
Sullivan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Potku with a jab.
Potku uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sullivan.
Jab by Potku.
Sullivan takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Muuli Potku seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sullivan takes one on the button.
Sullivan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Potku throws a nice outside leg kick.
Potku throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sullivan takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Potku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sullivan.
A combination from Potku does no damage.
Potku tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Potku throws a right hand that Sullivan ducks under and follows up with a left that Sullivan also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That kick from Potku tenderised Sullivan's leg. Sullivan is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sullivan showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Potku.
Sullivan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Potku looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sullivan takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sullivan chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Potku can pounce on him.
Sullivan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Potku has time to react.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Potku.
Potku misses with a straight left.
Potku lands a leg kick that knocks Sullivan off balance momentarily.
Sullivan keeps the fight on the outside.
Sullivan ducks under a wild hook from Potku.
Potku feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sullivan's calf.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan jabs at Potku's body.
Potku goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Potku throws a jab but it's blocked by Sullivan.
Potku lands a nice looking body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Potku scores with a shot to the body.
A punch combination from Potku misses.
Potku lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Potku.
A solid leg kick lands there for Potku.
A jab from Sullivan misses.
Potku keeps Sullivan at a distance using the push kick.
Sullivan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Potku was well out of range. Poor timing from Sullivan.
Potku lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Sullivan connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sullivan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Potku scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Potku throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Potku lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sullivan takes a step back to recover.
Potku throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Sullivan.
Potku fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Potku will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sammy Sullivan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Potku forces Sullivan back against the cage and clinches.
Sullivan is looking to break free of the clinch but Potku has double underhooks.
Potku scores with a hook to the body.
Potku crunches a lovely knee into Sullivan's ribcage.
Potku landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Potku lands a knee to the head.
Potku leaning against his opponent.
Potku misses with a knee to the head.
A body shot lands from Potku.
Potku lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Potku misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sullivan.
A right handed body shot lands from Potku.
Potku landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Potku with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Potku crunches a lovely knee into Sullivan's ribcage.
Potku misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Potku obliges.
Potku using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Muuli Potku comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Potku has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muuli Potku!
After winning the bout, Muuli Potku thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.