PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Johan Hegg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jari Kankkunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kankkunen has chosen Go to sleep as his entrance music. Jari Kankkunen looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Hegg
vs
Kankkunen

173 cm
24
150 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

176 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johan Hegg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Kankkunen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hegg thows a body shot but no joy.
Kankkunen looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Nice takedown defense from Kankkunen. No joy for Hegg on that attempt.
Hegg shoots in and drives through. Kankkunen sprawls well.
Hegg throws a head kick but Kankkunen moves out of range.

Hegg gets caught flat footed, as Kankkunen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kankkunen trying to control the position from guard on top but Hegg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hegg trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hegg throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Hegg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hegg is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hegg working the head and body with strikes.
Hegg has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hegg prevents Kankkunen from standing back up.
Hegg looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Hegg seems to be looking for submissions.
Kankkunen wants to sweep but Hegg has passed to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hegg scoring with punches and elbows.
Hegg lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kankkunen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hegg. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kankkunen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hegg is looking to take a break and control but Kankkunen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hegg grinds an elbow into Kankkunen's temple.
Kankkunen wants to control but Hegg postures up.
Hegg trying to control the position but Kankkunen is working away.
Hegg connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kankkunen some visible discomfort.
Hegg wants to control but Kankkunen is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kankkunen is looking to clinch.
Hegg shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kankkunen as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Hegg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kankkunen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hegg's guard.
Kankkunen trying to control but Hegg is working from the bottom.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kankkunen stands and steps away. Hegg gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kankkunen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hegg with a poor takedown

and Kankkunen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hegg!
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kankkunen controlling from the full mount.
Kankkunen wants to control the pace but Hegg is squirming around nicely.
Hegg is looking to improve his position but Kankkunen isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen looking to control but Hegg is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kankkunen scoring with strikes but Hegg is staying in there.
Kankkunen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hegg is looking to escape.
Hegg tries to reverse the position but Kankkunen maintains control.
Kankkunen controlling his opponent.
Kankkunen thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kankkunen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hegg looks a forlorn figure.
Hegg sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Hegg is not content to let Kankkunen control the position.
Hegg is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kankkunen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kankkunen's back!
Hegg gets his hands free as Kankkunen looks to control.
Kankkunen covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Kankkunen controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jari Kankkunen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hegg throws a head kick that misses.
Hegg avoids the head kick by Kankkunen.
Kankkunen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kankkunen fails with a takedown attempt.
Hegg fails to land the takedown.
Jari Kankkunen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hegg listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Johan Hegg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hegg tries to close the distance and clinch but Kankkunen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hegg lands with a kick to the temple. Kankkunen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Hegg connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Horrible takedown by Hegg or perhaps it was just good defense by Kankkunen which made him look bad.

Kankkunen scores with a takedown into Hegg's guard.
Hegg working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kankkunen wants to control from the top but Hegg keeps moving.
Hegg pulls Kankkunen in close to prevent any damage.
Kankkunen won't allow Hegg to sweep him here.
Jari Kankkunen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hegg working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kankkunen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kankkunen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kankkunen wants to control from the top but Hegg keeps moving.
Kankkunen wanted to stand there but Hegg had control of the position.

That's two 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.
Hegg looking to control.
Hegg has a closed guard, preventing Kankkunen from standing up.
Hegg striking off his back but it's not causing Kankkunen any problems.
Kankkunen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kankkunen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hegg is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hegg avoids the head kick by Kankkunen.
Kankkunen throws a body kick that misses.

Hegg closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hegg lands in his opponent's guard.
Hegg wants to control from the top but Kankkunen keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hegg throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hegg content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kankkunen pulls Hegg in close to his closed guard and prevents Hegg from doing any damage or advancing position.
Hegg looking to pass the guard.
Kankkunen working a defensive guard here.
Hegg won't allow Kankkunen to sweep him here.
Kankkunen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hegg looks for a takedown but Kankkunen sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan Hegg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kankkunen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kankkunen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hegg fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kankkunen scores with a spinning back kick!

Kankkunen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Kankkunen is looking to advance position but Hegg won't allow it.
Hegg tries to roll over but Kankkunen keeps him under control.
Kankkunen stalling away here and it's allowed Hegg to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Kankkunen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hegg's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Johan Hegg will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

No luck for Kankkunen with that takedown attempt.
Hegg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kankkunen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hegg's corner calls for a 1-2. Hegg obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hegg keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Kankkunen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hegg looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Kankkunen working for a triangle but Hegg defends it easily.
Kankkunen trying to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kankkunen has momentary wrist control but Hegg slips an elbow through the middle.
Kankkunen is looking to stand back up but Hegg counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kankkunen.
Hegg passes to side control.
Hegg grinds an elbow into Kankkunen's temple.
Hegg working away.
Hegg wants to control but Kankkunen is keeping him busy.
Kankkunen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kankkunen can't do much from the bottom here.
Hegg prevents Kankkunen from escaping the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hegg scores with a kick to the body.

Hegg shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hegg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hegg passes to side control.
Kankkunen is trying to get back to his feet.
Kankkunen wants to control but Hegg postures up.
Hegg lands a few punches from side control.
Hegg working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hegg decides to stand back up.
Kankkunen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Kankkunen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kankkunen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hegg lands a couple of sideways elbows.

Hegg actively working from the bottom here.
Kankkunen is keen to just control but Hegg is a slippery customer.
Hegg tries to roll over but Kankkunen keeps him under control.
Kankkunen wants to take a breather but Hegg is having none of it.
Still in half guard, Kankkunen seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hegg blocks a jab.

Hegg clinches with his opponent.
Kankkunen missing with knees to the body.
Kankkunen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hegg has him pressed against the ropes.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Kankkunen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hegg landing knees to the head.
Hegg prevents the takedown attempt.
A short body shot lands from Hegg as the two fighters clinch.
Kankkunen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kankkunen misses with a hook to the ribs.

Hegg breaks the clinch.

Kankkunen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hegg's guard.
Hegg wants to sweep here but Kankkunen controlling him for the moment.
Hegg keeping moving, preventing Kankkunen from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johan Hegg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hegg has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Hegg!