PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between jussi holmes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joku Kuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

holmes
vs
Kuka

215 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, jussi holmes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joku Kuka!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

holmes darts in and clinches Kuka up against the cage.

holmes jumps guard.

holmes had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Kuka is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. holmes Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Kuka's back instead.
Kuka manages to reverse the position and now he's in holmes's guard. Nice work there by Kuka.
Kuka trying to control but holmes is working from the bottom.
holmes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
holmes looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuka looking to pass the guard.
Kuka controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kuka passes holmes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
holmes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kuka scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kuka wants to lay and pray for a moment but holmes keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuka passes to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuka content just to control the position here.
Kuka blocks holmes's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
holmes tries to lock up and control but Kuka gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
holmes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

holmes defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kuka.
holmes tries to hold on but Kuka pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuka stands up from mount. Strange move.
holmes is breathing heavily.

Kuka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kuka trying to control the position from guard on top but holmes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
holmes trying to control the position here.

holmes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kuka trying to control but holmes is working from the bottom.
Kuka is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kuka drops back looking for a leg! holmes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and holmes manages to kick Kuka off! Kuka jumps back into holmes's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuka advances position into side control!

Kuka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Kuka is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. holmes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
holmes gets back to half guard.
holmes tries to get to full guard but Kuka has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuka keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kuka is thwarting holmes's attempts to control the position.

Kuka is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
holmes is pressing down on Kuka's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
holmes wants to control the position but Kuka says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
holmes tries to get to full guard but Kuka has control of the leg.
holmes is working hard here to advance position.
holmes is trying to stand.
Kuka trying to control the action but holmes is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joku Kuka dominated that round.
That's time! holmes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

holmes has closed the distance and engaged Kuka in a clinch.
Kuka tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. holmes smiles and moves away.

holmes shoots in and bounces Kuka off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Kuka had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. holmes is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kuka Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take holmes's back instead.

Kuka tightening his grip on holmes, looking for the choke.

Kuka patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
holmes tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kuka scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish holmes?

Kuka is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but holmes is surviving well by controlling Kuka's body position as best he can.

Kuka looking to secure an arm triangle but holmes defends it well.
Kuka trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Kuka is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. holmes can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
holmes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kuka takes holmes's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuka working for a choke but holmes is defending well.
holmes rolls, trying to escape but Kuka keeps control of the position.
Kuka is trying to stick to holmes's back but holmes is turning into Kuka. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kuka's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by holmes.
holmes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kuka looking for a guillotine here but holmes defends easily.

Kuka has his foot on holmes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. holmes works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuka trying to keep a closed guard but holmes is proving a slippery customer.
holmes tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuka is retaining full guard.
Kuka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for holmes!
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!
holmes tries to hold on but Kuka pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuka tries to control but holmes wriggling away.
Kuka with good strikes from the mount here!
Kuka looking to control but holmes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
holmes wants to control but Kuka is having none of it.
Kuka prevents holmes from getting the reversal.
holmes tries to hold on but Kuka postures up.
Kuka working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kuka lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
holmes wants to hold on but Kuka pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
holmes is looking to get to half guard.

Kuka has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! holmes is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joku Kuka!