PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Timo Sukari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Sukari
vs
Locke

191 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

190 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Sukari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Locke!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Locke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sukari looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sukari.
Sukari throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Locke's waist but Locke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sukari off to one side.
Some wild striking there from Locke.
Locke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Locke misses with a few strikes there.
Locke misses with a wild combination.
Locke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
John Locke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Locke lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Timo Sukari has been cut.
Locke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sukari.
Locke scoring well with a low kick there.
Locke misses with a series of wild punches.
Locke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Locke scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sukari doesn't seem bothered though.
A left and a right from Locke both land. Nice combination.
Locke cracks Sukari with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Locke misses with a few strikes there.
Locke feints and then cracks Sukari's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sukari down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Locke.
Locke lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sukari dodges the punch combination from Locke.
Locke with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Locke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Locke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sukari takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Locke darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A right-left combo lands from Locke.
Locke throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sukari.
Locke bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sukari's head.
Locke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Locke lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Locke misses with a two punch combination.
A lazy left from Locke finds it's target.
Locke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Locke takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A punch combination from Locke misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sukari is trying hard to land a takedown here. Locke sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timo Sukari. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sukari has taken the fight to the clinch.
Locke is trying to break free.
Sukari tries for a takedown but Locke manages to get underhooks.
Sukari working hard to break the clinch.
Locke wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sukari has him pressed against the cage.
Locke wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sukari has him pressed against the cage.
Locke wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Sukari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Locke scores with a one two! Sukari had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Sukari will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sukari fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Locke lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Locke is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Locke.
Sukari shoots for a double leg takedown but Locke sprawls well. He's pushed Sukari's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Locke throws a right and a left that Sukari avoids nicely.
Locke connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Sukari dodges the punch combination from Locke.
Nice takedown defense from Locke. No joy for Sukari on that attempt.
Locke tries to bum rush Sukari with a series of wild strikes but Sukari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sukari slips a jab and a cross from Locke.
Locke listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Sukari tries to close the distance and clinch up but Locke swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Locke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Timo Sukari's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Locke's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Locke duly obliges.
Locke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Locke connects with a body shot.
Timo Sukari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Locke moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sukari slips a jab and a cross from Locke.
A nice inside leg kick there by Locke. That's going to slow Sukari down.
Locke moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Locke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sukari circles away quickly and effectively.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Sukari. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Locke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Locke will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sukari shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Locke defends it nicely.
A jab from Locke finds it's way through Sukari's defenses.
Locke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sukari tries for a takedown but Locke sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Locke goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Locke slaps away a takedown attempt from Sukari, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timo Sukari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A combination from Locke does no damage.
John Locke is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Locke misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Locke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sukari fails with an attempt to clinch.
Locke throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Locke closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Locke lands a nice looking body shot.
Locke scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sukari shoots in looking for a takedown. Locke tries to sprawl out of it but Sukari keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Locke manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Locke jabs at Sukari's body.
Sukari fails to land the takedown.
Locke goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sukari shoots in but no luck this time.
Locke throws a series of punches but Sukari avoids them all with ease.
A jab from Locke finds it's way through Sukari's defenses.
Locke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Locke throws a right and a left that Sukari avoids nicely.
Locke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sukari walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sukari misses with a two punch combination.
John Locke seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Locke lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Horrible takedown by Sukari or perhaps it was just good defense by Locke which made him look bad.
Locke slips under a jab from Sukari.

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.
Locke misses with a combination

and Sukari counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Sukari missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sukari throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sukari is looking to take a break and control but Locke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Locke blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sukari.
Sukari throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sukari wants to pass to mount but Locke is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Locke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Timo Sukari's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Locke lands a jab to Sukari's midsection.
Nice takedown defense from Locke. No joy for Sukari on that attempt.
Locke throws a series of punches but Sukari avoids them all with ease.
Locke looks to land a combination. Sukari sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Sukari showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Locke.
Nice jab there from Locke.
Locke tries to bum rush Sukari with a series of wild strikes but Sukari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Locke lands a nice shot that snaps Sukari's head back.
Sukari fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Nice body punch from Locke.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sukari counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sukari.
Locke is pressed up against the cage. Sukari has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Locke down to the mat. Locke avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Timo Sukari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Sukari with that takedown attempt.
Sukari on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Locke. Locke obviously looking to wear him down.
Locke throws a series of strikes that have Sukari backpedaling.
Locke tries to bum rush Sukari with a series of wild strikes but Sukari uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A slapping leg kick lands for Locke.
Locke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No joy there for Locke, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Locke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sukari is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Locke.
Locke scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sukari doesn't seem bothered though.
Locke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Sukari.
Locke misses with a two punch combination.
Locke throws a leg kick

so Sukari counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sukari working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sukari tries to free his leg and advance position but Locke is retaining full guard.
Sukari preventing the sweep.
Locke is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sukari working some strikes from top position.
Sukari works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sukari seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Locke does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sukari thows a huge punch but Locke dodges it nicely.

Sukari is trying to work for a kimura but Locke is defending well.
Sukari lands with a punch from half guard.
Sukari thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sukari thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Locke's head.
Locke keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Locke is trying to stand.
John Locke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sukari shoots in for a takedown but Locke shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

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.
A nice combination there by Locke.
Sukari slips a jab and a cross from Locke.
Some bone on bone action there as Sukari checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Locke misses with a jab, cross combination.

Locke gets caught flat footed, as Sukari shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sukari is looking to work some ground and pound but Locke has wrist control.
Sukari postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Locke bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sukari's guard.

Locke got a little sloppy there for a moment and Sukari has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Locke has managed to get both his arms back between Sukari's legs - danger averted.

Sukari working for a triangle but Locke defends it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timo Sukari showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Locke has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Locke!