PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tonny Mikkelsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and janpeter kurkela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). kurkela has chosen Korpiklaani:Wood pint as his entrance music. janpeter kurkela has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tonny Mikkelsen's chin.

Mikkelsen
vs
kurkela

179 cm
22
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
147 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Meat Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tonny Mikkelsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, janpeter kurkela!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
kurkela fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Mikkelsen avoids it really well and circles away.
janpeter kurkela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
kurkela tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mikkelsen misses with a series of wild punches.

Mikkelsen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for kurkela!
Mikkelsen lands a big elbow.
kurkela in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
kurkela tries to buck Mikkelsen off but he can't manage it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
kurkela tries to lock up and control but Mikkelsen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
kurkela taking shots to the head.
Mikkelsen lands a big shot there that rocks kurkela but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
kurkela really wants to buck Mikkelsen off and get back to his feet.
kurkela is desperately trying to improve his position but Mikkelsen has a good base and remains in mount.
Mikkelsen lands a nice shot to the head.
Mikkelsen lands a big elbow.
kurkela is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mikkelsen looking to control but kurkela is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
A nice elbow there by Mikkelsen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikkelsen dominating with strikes here.
Mikkelsen landing strikes from the mount and kurkela is in trouble!
Mikkelsen working kurkela over with strikes here.
kurkela is squirming around, avoiding Mikkelsen's attempts to control the action.
kurkela is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Mikkelsen landing strikes from the mount.
Mikkelsen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Mikkelsen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
kurkela bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
kurkela wants to stand but Mikkelsen is controlling his posture from full guard.
kurkela looks gassed!

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Mikkelsen both land. Nice combination.

Mikkelsen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
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!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Mikkelsen stopping the sweep attempt from kurkela.

kurkela pushes Mikkelsen off and scrambles back to his feet.

Mikkelsen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. kurkela did well to prevent Mikkelsen getting side control.
Mikkelsen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
kurkela wants to get back to his feet.
Mikkelsen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks kurkela with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
kurkela tries to kick Mikkelsen off but Mikkelsen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mikkelsen 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Mikkelsen.
Mikkelsen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
kurkela is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
kurkela tries to clinch there but Mikkelsen circles away.
kurkela misses with a takedown

and Mikkelsen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mikkelsen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for kurkela on the ground.
Mikkelsen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
kurkela is looking to improve his position.
kurkela taking some punishment here, with Mikkelsen in his half guard.
Mikkelsen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
kurkela is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mikkelsen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mikkelsen's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
kurkela avoiding Mikkelsen 's attempts to control his hands.
Mikkelsen is keeping busy.
Mikkelsen tries to escape but kurkela has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Mikkelsen is taking damage to the body and head.
kurkela misses with an elbow to the head.

kurkela is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Mikkelsen has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Mikkelsen is keeping busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

kurkela is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tonny Mikkelsen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mikkelsen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
kurkela throws a lazy head kick
and Mikkelsen counters with a lovely straight right hand!

kurkela scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Mikkelsen is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Mikkelsen looks like he's trying to stand up.
kurkela 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
kurkela wants to control but Mikkelsen is keeping him busy.
Mikkelsen tries to get to full guard but kurkela has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

kurkela decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Mikkelsen swats away the attempt to clinch by kurkela.
Mikkelsen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from kurkela.
Mikkelsen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Mikkelsen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Mikkelsen duly obliges.

Mikkelsen shoots in and bounces kurkela off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Mikkelsen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

kurkela has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mikkelsen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

kurkela is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mikkelsen is aware though and is defending well.
kurkela wants to get back to his feet but Mikkelsen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
kurkela tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mikkelsen works over kurkela with some ground and pound from guard.

kurkela has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Mikkelsen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Mikkelsen works the jab nicely.
kurkela tries to clinch but Mikkelsen moves away

and Mikkelsen counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mikkelsen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
kurkela wants to control but Mikkelsen postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikkelsen lands a decent elbow from side control.
kurkela taking punishment in the form of punches.
kurkela connects with an elbow from the bottom.
kurkela takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
kurkela gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
kurkela trying to hold on to Mikkelsen's head to control him but Mikkelsen postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
kurkela is looking to clinch.

Mikkelsen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mikkelsen lands in his opponent's guard.
kurkela looking to control.
Mikkelsen scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
kurkela not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mikkelsen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
kurkela lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Mikkelsen!

kurkela working for a guillotine from mount but Mikkelsen is in no mood to give up.
Mikkelsen is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Mikkelsen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
kurkela wants to control the pace but Mikkelsen is squirming around nicely.
Mikkelsen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mikkelsen tries to get out of the position.
kurkela postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mikkelsen looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tonny Mikkelsen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Mikkelsen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
kurkela wants to get back to his feet.
Mikkelsen is looking to advance position but kurkela won't allow it.
kurkela is looking to escape.

kurkela looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
kurkela has hold of Mikkelsen's hands but Mikkelsen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mikkelsen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
kurkela tries to kick Mikkelsen off but Mikkelsen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
kurkela gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Mikkelsen.
Mikkelsen circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mikkelsen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Mikkelsen working the ground and pound.
Mikkelsen cracks kurkela with a big elbow.
Mikkelsen working the head and body with strikes.
Mikkelsen working away.
Mikkelsen landing strikes.
Mikkelsen cracks kurkela with an elbow. That is naaassty.
kurkela is trying to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
kurkela has his takedown stuffed
letting Mikkelsen counter with a right hand.
kurkela showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mikkelsen.
Mikkelsen tries for a takedown but kurkela sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
kurkela throws a head kick but Mikkelsen moves out of range.
kurkela shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mikkelsen as he avoids it easily.

Mikkelsen gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mikkelsen passes to full mount!
Mikkelsen is landing with some decent strikes but kurkela is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Mikkelsen sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
kurkela wants to control but Mikkelsen is having none of it.
kurkela sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Mikkelsen is nestled in close to kurkela, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Mikkelsen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
kurkela blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mikkelsen.
kurkela landing strikes from the bottom.
Mikkelsen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mikkelsen is trying to control the action in half guard but kurkela is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kurkela is trying to control but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Mikkelsen lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and kurkela has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from kurkela and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mikkelsen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
kurkela misses with a double jab
and Mikkelsen counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Mikkelsen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. kurkela did well to prevent Mikkelsen getting side control.

kurkela kicks Mikkelsen off and gets back to his feet.
kurkela fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mikkelsen slips a jab and a cross from kurkela.
A combination from Mikkelsen does no damage.
kurkela swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mikkelsen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tonny Mikkelsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

kurkela closes the distance and clinches.

Mikkelsen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Mikkelsen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mikkelsen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikkelsen is thwarting kurkela's attempts to control the position.
kurkela missing with punches from the bottom.
kurkela tries to kick Mikkelsen off but Mikkelsen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mikkelsen lands strikes from half guard.
Mikkelsen trying to control from half guard but kurkela is working away.
kurkela wants to control but Mikkelsen is keeping busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
kurkela tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mikkelsen swivels and escapes.
janpeter kurkela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tonny Mikkelsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of janpeter kurkela.
Danga de danga de dang - Mikkelsen scores with a four punch combination!
Tonny Mikkelsen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mikkelsen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tonny Mikkelsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Mikkelsen, 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tonny Mikkelsen!