PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tu Barrels (ranked 2145 p4p, 1845 weight class) and Sauli Kekkonen (ranked 235 p4p, 214 weight class). 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.

Barrels
vs
Kekkonen

195 cm
23
265
5 - 1 - 0

206 cm
20
265
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Conquer

Urban Fighter

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Tu Barrels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sauli Kekkonen!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shigeki Sano and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barrels bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kekkonen's head.
Barrels darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kekkonen avoids the body shot from Barrels.
Kekkonen swinging wildly here.
Kekkonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Kekkonen thows a left - swing and a miss!
A looping hook to the body misses from Barrels. Kekkonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kekkonen throws out a counter right but Barrels avoids it with no problem.
Barrels comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kekkonen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Barrels throws out the jab.
Kekkonen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Barrels shoots in for a double leg but Kekkonen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrels misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kekkonen.
Kekkonen throws a lazy right hand but Barrels sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kekkonen lands a nice hook to Barrels's body. Barrels takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tu Barrels seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Barrels throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kekkonen on the side of the head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Barrels darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kekkonen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Barrels gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Barrels misses the jab.
It seemed like Kekkonen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Barrels ducks under a wild hook from Kekkonen.
Barrels throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kekkonen is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
We've been told by Barrels's head coaches at Clinch Pride that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Barrels swings for the body but Kekkonen moves out of range.
Kekkonen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Barrels with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kekkonen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kekkonen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Barrels.
Barrels slips a jab from Kekkonen.
Barrels attempts a counter takedown but Kekkonen avoids it well and moves away.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kekkonen avoids the body shot from Barrels.
Barrels misses with a right hand

and Kekkonen counters with a takedown into side control.
Barrels gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Barrels wants to improve his position but Kekkonen is controlling well.

Barrels is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kekkonen pulls his head out easily.

Kekkonen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Barrels is just riding it out for now. Kekkonen eventually gives up the hold.
Kekkonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Barrels's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barrels is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kekkonen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Barrels with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Barrels might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kekkonen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Barrels moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Barrels tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kekkonen passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kekkonen trying to pass the guard but Barrels defending well.
Ground and pound from Kekkonen.
Kekkonen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Barrels has hold of Kekkonen's hands but Kekkonen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kekkonen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kekkonen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Barrels moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kekkonen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kekkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Barrels is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Barrels bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kekkonen's guard.

Kekkonen lands a good elbow from the bottom.
Kekkonen keeping moving, preventing Barrels from controlling successfully.
Kekkonen is trying to control the position but Barrels postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kekkonen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kekkonen throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barrels loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Barrels's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Barrels working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kekkonen's head.
Kekkonen trying to strike off his back.
Barrels has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kekkonen controls Barrels momentarily but Barrels frees himself.
Kekkonen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tu Barrels will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kekkonen lands a jab to the nose.
A lazy left from Kekkonen finds it's target.
A big left from Barrels misses.
Barrels throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kekkonen throws an off balance right hand
and Barrels connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Barrels throws an off balance right hand
and Barrels takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kekkonen misses with a double jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Barrels, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Barrels throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Barrels drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kekkonen cracks Barrels with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barrels rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kekkonen counters with a left hand that sends Barrels to the canvas!

Barrels is rocked!
Kekkonen passes into half guard.
Oh Barrels is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Barrels is looking for a sweep. Kekkonen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kekkonen lands with a punch from half guard.
Kekkonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Barrels does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kekkonen is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Barrels is hurt! He's hurt bad - Kekkonen fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Barrels from any more punishment! Congratulations to Kekkonen! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sauli Kekkonen!
Sauli Kekkonen thanked the fans post fight for their support.