PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lucian Stockes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Hantunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hantunen has chosen Bad Religion - American Jesus as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stockes
vs
Hantunen

201 cm
23
207 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

190 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Lucian Stockes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Hantunen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stockes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hantunen loads up on a big right hand but Stockes slips the punch.
Stockes swinging wilding here.
Hantunen looks to land a combination. Stockes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Lucian Stockes has been cut.
Hantunen takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hantunen wants to clinch.
Stockes will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hantunen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stockes circles away quickly and effectively.
Hantunen dodges the punch combination from Stockes.
Hantunen misses with a wild combination.
Hantunen dodges the punch combination from Stockes.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch but Stockes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice uppercut lands for Stockes. That snapped Hantunen's head back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hantunen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hantunen throws a series of punches but Stockes avoids them all with ease.
Stockes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hantunen.
Stockes misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Stockes as he connects with a hook.
Hantunen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hantunen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stockes throws a right and a left that Hantunen avoids nicely.
Hantunen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Stockes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stockes throws a series of punches but Hantunen avoids them all with ease.
Stockes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hantunen counters with a leg kick.
Stockes is breathing heavily.
Hantunen tries to bum rush Stockes with a series of wild strikes but Stockes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stockes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stockes misses with a double jab.
Hantunen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hantunen slips a straight right by Stockes.
Stockes with a jab.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stockes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stockes swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Stockes gets caught flat footed, as Hantunen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hantunen postures up.
Hantunen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hantunen looking to pass the guard.
Hantunen thows a big elbow that misses.
Hantunen trying to control the position from guard on top but Stockes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hantunen throws a big right hand that misses.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hantunen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stockes.
Hantunen misses with a wild combination.
Hantunen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stockes throws out the jab.
Stockes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hantunen shoots in but Stockes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hantunen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Stockes is out of range.
Stockes lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hantunen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hantunen wants to clinch.
Hantunen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Stockes as he jumps to the side.
Hantunen scores with a one two! Stockes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stockes misses with a wild combination.
Hantunen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Stockes was well out of range. Poor timing from Hantunen.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch but Stockes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hantunen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Stockes throws a jab but it's blocked by Hantunen.
Stockes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stockes checks a leg kick nicely.
Hantunen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stockes scores with a spinning back kick!
Some wild striking there from Stockes.
Crunch! Stockes slams his shin into Hantunen's torso.
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 Lucian Stockes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lucian Stockes's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stockes scores with a sloppy right hand. Hantunen should have avoided that one.
Stockes connects with a nice looking jab.
Hantunen needs to keep his hands up - Stockes had a free shot at his head there.
Stockes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hantunen moves out of range of the strikes.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch but Stockes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A jab from Hantunen misses.
Stockes scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lucian Stockes is winning the standup battle so far.
Stockes staying out of range there.
Hantunen cracks Stockes with an open hand slap.
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!
Stockes fails to land with a series of punches.
Hantunen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Stockes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hantunen misses with a wild body shot.
Hantunen moves away from the strike by Stockes.
Stockes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hantunen.
Hantunen tries to clinch there but Stockes circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stockes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hantunen misses with a looping right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hantunen doesn't manage to clinch there - Stockes circles away.
Hantunen walks into a left hand.
Stockes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hantunen.
Stockes misses with a double jab
and Hantunen counters with a nice body shot.
Hantunen misses with a looping left.
Lucian Stockes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch but Stockes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stockes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hantunen.
Hantunen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stockes.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stockes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hantunen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Stockes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Hantunen clinches with his opponent.
Stockes being controlled against the cage.
Hantunen can't break the clinch.
Hantunen avoids a wild elbow strike from Stockes.
Hantunen wants to break free but Stockes has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stockes keeps control of Hantunen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stockes tries to break the clinch but Hantunen is controlling the position.
Hantunen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Stockes scores with a hook to the body.
Stockes controlling the action here for a moment.
Hantunen avoiding damage as Stockes throws knees to the body.
Stockes gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Stockes leaning against his opponent.
Hantunen tries to break the clinch but Stockes is controlling the position.
Stockes is leaning against Hantunen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hantunen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Stockes has him pressed against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Stockes.
Stockes lands an elbow just above Hantunen 's eye.
Hantunen blocks an elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hantunen has had enough of the clinch but Stockes keeps him there for the moment.
Stockes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hantunen fails to pull guard.
Stockes leaning against his opponent.
Stockes missing with knees to the body.
Stockes content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Stockes creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Stockes is trying to break the clinch but Hantunen has him pressed against the cage.

Stockes breaks from the clinch.
Hantunen tries to bum rush Stockes with a series of wild strikes but Stockes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stockes misses with a few strikes there.
Stockes stuffs the takedown.
Hantunen checks a low kick from Stockes.
Stockes throws a nice looking combination but Hantunen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stockes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hantunen.

Hantunen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Stockes tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stockes wants to control but Hantunen postures up.
Stockes sneaks back into half guard.
Hantunen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hantunen blocks the strikes from Stockes.
Hantunen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lucian Stockes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Lucian Stockes's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Hantunen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stockes circles away quickly and effectively.
Hantunen is looking to clinch.
Hantunen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Stockes is out of range and Hantunen settles back down.
Hantunen throws a hook but Stockes avoids it easily.
Hantunen wants to clinch up but Stockes keeps it at a distance.
Stockes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hantunen throws a head kick but Stockes moves out of range.
Stockes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hantunen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
No joy there for Stockes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hantunen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Stockes.
Hantunen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stockes pinned against the cage. Stockes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hantunen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hantunen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hantunen throws a right hand that Stockes ducks under and follows up with a left that Stockes also avoids with ease.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stockes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hantunen in his tracks.
Stockes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Stockes lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hantunen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lucian Stockes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stockes throws a series of punches but Hantunen moves out of range.
Stockes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Stockes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hantunen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hantunen misses with a low kick.
Stockes throws a hook but Hantunen blocks it.
Stockes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hantunen.
Hantunen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hantunen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A left lands for Stockes.
Stockes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hantunen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hantunen is looking to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hantunen.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Stockes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Hantunen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stockes missing with a left hand there. Hantunen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stockes misses with a series of wild punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hantunen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stockes swinging wilding here.
Hantunen looks for a takedown but Stockes sprawls well.
Lucian Stockes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Hantunen.
Hantunen avoids a kick to the body.
Stockes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stockes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hantunen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hantunen wants to clinch up but Stockes keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stockes swats away the attempt to clinch by Hantunen.
Stockes checks a leg kick nicely.
Hantunen tries to clinch but Stockes is having none of it.
Stockes on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A combination from Stockes does no damage.
Lucian Stockes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hantunen misses with a low kick as Stockes jumps back.
Nice takedown defense from Stockes. No joy for Hantunen on that attempt.
Hantunen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hantunen wants to clinch up but Stockes keeps it at a distance.
Stockes is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch but Stockes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stockes swinging wilding here.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A telegraphed right hand from Hantunen misses the target.
Stockes throws a right hand that Hantunen ducks under and follows up with a left that Hantunen also avoids with ease.
Hantunen misses with a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hantunen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mikko Hantunen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Hantunen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Stockes throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Hantunen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Stockes.
Hantunen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stockes pushes Hantunen away with a front kick.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stockes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stockes checks a low kick from Hantunen.
Hantunen shoots in for a takedown but Stockes shows good takedown defense.
Stockes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Stockes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A jab from Stockes misses.
The fighters circling - Hantunen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Stockes throws a series of punches but Hantunen avoids them all with ease.
Hantunen tries to close the distance and clinch but Stockes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stockes keeps the fight on the outside.
Stockes tries to bum rush Hantunen with a series of wild strikes but Hantunen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stockes tries to move into range but Hantunen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lucian Stockes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stockes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lucian Stockes!