PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kimmo Kehveli (ranked 2862 p4p, 4391 weight class) and Anike Chukwu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chukwu is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by There Goes The Neighborhood - Bodycount. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kehveli
vs
Chukwu

169 cm
31
159
7 - 11 - 0

178 cm
22
160
6 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Kimmo Kehveli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anike Chukwu!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chukwu has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kehveli jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Chukwu walks away with a smile on his face. Kehveli gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kehveli gets tackled into the cage by Chukwu. Chukwu maintains the clinch.

Kehveli ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kehveli no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kehveli holds on and takes a little breather.
Kehveli bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chukwu's guard.

Kehveli stands up and waves to Chukwu to follow him.

Chukwu clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kehveli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Kehveli drags the fight down to the ground.
Chukwu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chukwu throwing strikes from guard but Kehveli blocks nicely.
Chukwu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chukwu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Chukwu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Chukwu looks winded!
Kehveli bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chukwu's guard.

Kehveli stands and steps away. Chukwu gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Chukwu rushes Kehveli and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kehveli drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Chukwu gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Chukwu misses with the head strike.
Chukwu misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chukwu has a couple of punches blocked by Kehveli.
Chukwu misses with a short punch on the inside.

Kehveli is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Chukwu can't fight it off and eventually Kehveli manages to take the fight to the floor. Chukwu looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Chukwu thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Chukwu throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Kehveli stands up and waves to Chukwu to follow him.

Chukwu has closed the distance and engaged Kehveli in a clinch.
Kehveli blocking some punches.
Chukwu swings wildly with an uppercut but Kehveli uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chukwu lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chukwu working aggressively here.
Chukwu misses with the head strike.
Kehveli tries to pull guard but Chukwu won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimmo Kehveli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chukwu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Chukwu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Chukwu lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kehveli tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Chukwu smiles and moves away.

Chukwu has managed to clinch.
Kehveli goes for a takedown attempt but Chukwu pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chukwu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chukwu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chukwu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Chukwu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chukwu has a couple of punches blocked by Kehveli.
Chukwu misses with a punch on the inside.

Kehveli has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Chukwu uses from the top position.
Chukwu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chukwu throws an elbow that misses. Kehveli uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Chukwu's guard. Nice move by Kehveli!

Kehveli stands and steps away. Chukwu gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Chukwu pushes Kehveli up against the cage in a clinch.
Chukwu throws a head punch that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kehveli tries to keep at a distance but Chukwu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kehveli has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Chukwu after a bit of a struggle.
Chukwu swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Kehveli successfully pulls guard.
Chukwu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kehveli utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Chukwu throws a strike but Kehveli rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kehveli stands and steps away. Chukwu gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Chukwu clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chukwu misses with the head strike.
Chukwu is breathing heavily.
Kehveli blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Chukwu working aggressively here.
Chukwu working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chukwu misses with a punch on the inside.
Chukwu misses with a punch on the inside.
Kehveli tries for a takedown. No joy.
Chukwu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chukwu throws a punch but it's blocked by Kehveli.
Chukwu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Chukwu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kehveli tries to score a body lock takedown but Chukwu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimmo Kehveli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chukwu lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kehveli backwards.
Chukwu swings wildly with an uppercut but Kehveli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chukwu working aggressively here.
Chukwu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kehveli.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chukwu stalling against the cage.
Anike Chukwu seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Chukwu misses with a punch on the inside.
Chukwu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Chukwu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kehveli jumps into guard, dragging Chukwu to the mat.
Kehveli pulls Chukwu in close to prevent any damage.
Chukwu throwing strikes from guard but Kehveli blocks nicely.
Chukwu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kehveli is on top in guard.

Kehveli decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Chukwu, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Chukwu swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Kehveli drags the fight down to the ground.
Kehveli wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Chukwu throwing strikes but missing.
Kehveli is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kehveli gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Chukwu closes the distance and pushes Kehveli back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chukwu misses with the head strike.
Chukwu has a couple of punches blocked by Kehveli.

Kehveli jumps into guard, dragging Chukwu to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kehveli is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Chukwu punching from the bottom.

Kehveli stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Chukwu to get to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Chukwu closes the distance and clinches.
Chukwu throws a punch but it's blocked by Kehveli.
Chukwu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Chukwu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kehveli jumps guard and drags Chukwu to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kehveli manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Chukwu manages to get himself to full guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kimmo Kehveli will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Chukwu has taken the fight to the clinch.
Chukwu throws a punch but it's blocked by Kehveli.
Chukwu stalling in the clinch.

Kehveli gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Kehveli decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Chukwu takes the fight into the clinch.
Kehveli tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Chukwu just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kehveli tries to pull guard but Chukwu won't allow it.
Chukwu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Chukwu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Chukwu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kehveli gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kehveli decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chukwu closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch on the inside from Chukwu fails to land.
Chukwu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Chukwu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kehveli blocks an uppercut.
Kehveli jumps guard but Chukwu stands there with Kehveli around his waist. Kehveli gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimmo Kehveli. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kehveli blocks an uppercut.
Kehveli goes for a takedown in the clinch but Chukwu prevents it.
Chukwu swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chukwu misses with a short punch on the inside.
Chukwu working aggressively here.
Chukwu throws a punch but it's blocked by Kehveli.

Kehveli has picked Chukwu up - he's going for a ride! Kehveli dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Chukwu is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.

Kehveli stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Chukwu gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kehveli pulls guard successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kehveli bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chukwu's guard.

Kehveli gets to his feet - Chukwu follows without any prompting.

Chukwu takes the fight into the clinch.
Kehveli blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chukwu swings wildly with an uppercut but Kehveli uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kehveli has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Chukwu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Kehveli manages to pull guard.
Chukwu throws a strike but Kehveli rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Chukwu trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Kehveli decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Chukwu moves into range and clinches up with Kehveli.

Kehveli manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Chukwu throwing strikes but missing.
Chukwu throws a strike but Kehveli rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chukwu is working an open guard so Kehveli takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Chukwu pushes Kehveli up against the cage in a clinch.
Chukwu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Chukwu working aggressively here.
Kehveli blocking some punches.
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!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Chukwu.
Kehveli is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Chukwu to keep the fight standing.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Chukwu.

Kehveli pulls guard.
Kehveli controlling the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kehveli is on top in guard.

Chukwu trying to strike off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kimmo Kehveli showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kehveli has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kimmo Kehveli!
Kimmo Kehveli seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.