PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Harri Vahva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pera Kuukkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vahva comes into the arena with Hammerfall - Let the Hammer Fall blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vahva
vs
Kuukkeli

198 cm
21
280 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

188 cm
21
250 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Vahva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pera Kuukkeli!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vahva lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Vahva looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vahva lands with an overhand left.
Harri Vahva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kuukkeli is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Vahva's half guard.
Vahva is trying to get back to full guard.

Kuukkeli is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vahva has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kuukkeli stalling.
Vahva is refusing to be controlled, as Kuukkeli sits in half guard.

Kuukkeli looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Vahva trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukkeli trying to control from half guard but Vahva is working away.
Vahva manages to get to full guard.
Kuukkeli's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Vahva trying to control the position here.
Vahva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vahva is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

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.
Vahva is trying to control the position but Kuukkeli postures up.
Vahva looking for a sweep. Not yet Vahva, not yet.
Kuukkeli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vahva is keeping the position for now.
Kuukkeli trying to control but Vahva is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vahva scores with a jab to the head.
Vahva throws a series of punches but Kuukkeli avoids them all with ease.

Kuukkeli drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Vahva manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kuukkeli manages to get himself to full guard.
Kuukkeli keeping moving, preventing Vahva from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuukkeli is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vahva is aware though and is defending well.
Vahva throws a big right hand that misses.
Vahva trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuukkeli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kuukkeli is looking for a triangle but Vahva pushes his legs off easily.
Vahva with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kuukkeli wants to get back to his feet but Vahva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Vahva trying to control but Kuukkeli is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuukkeli throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kuukkeli bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vahva's guard.
Vahva bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kuukkeli's guard.
Vahva throwing strikes from guard but Kuukkeli blocks nicely.
Vahva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kuukkeli manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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 Harri Vahva will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vahva throws a body punch but Kuukkeli moves out of range.
Vahva throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vahva misses with a wild combination.

Kuukkeli looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Vahva is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuukkeli controlling the action here.
Kuukkeli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vahva keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukkeli is nestled in close to Vahva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kuukkeli not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vahva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Kuukkeli is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vahva is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vahva has escaped and now he's on top!
Vahva throwing strikes but missing.

Kuukkeli throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Vahva escapes and throws Kuukkeli's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli tries to bench press Vahva off him but Vahva keeps the position.
Vahva is looking to take a break and control but Kuukkeli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuukkeli trying his best to control but Vahva has mounted him.
Vahva landing shots from mount.
Vahva wants to control the pace but Kuukkeli is squirming around nicely.
Kuukkeli regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli gets back to full guard.
Kuukkeli is trying to control the position but Vahva postures up.
Vahva distracts Kuukkeli with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vahva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kuukkeli has momentary wrist control but Vahva slips an elbow through the middle.
Kuukkeli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vahva chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuukkeli controlling the position.
Kuukkeli working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vahva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vahva scoring with some ground and pound.
Vahva with a nice head shot there.
Vahva landing some decent shots from guard.
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!
Vahva working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kuukkeli's head.
Vahva trying to control but Kuukkeli is working from the bottom.
Kuukkeli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuukkeli looking to control.
Vahva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Vahva misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Vahva looks to land a combination but Kuukkeli avoids it well.
Kuukkeli swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Vahva counters with a left to the body.
Vahva doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kuukkeli counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Kuukkeli is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Kuukkeli is looking for a kimura here.
Vahva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kuukkeli's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kuukkeli's back!
Harri Vahva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuukkeli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vahva gets his hands free as Kuukkeli looks to control.
Kuukkeli is really stuck here.
Kuukkeli grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Vahva is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Kuukkeli up.
The referee is taking a good look at Kuukkeli as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Vahva!
Vahva scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Kuukkeli is looking for a way out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vahva lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Kuukkeli hold on?!
Pera Kuukkeli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli breaks Vahva's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Vahva on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Vahva tries to get out of the position.
Kuukkeli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vahva pulls Kuukkeli in close to prevent any damage.
Vahva keeping moving, preventing Kuukkeli from controlling successfully.
Kuukkeli stopping the sweep attempt from Vahva.
Kuukkeli distracts Vahva with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kuukkeli trying to control but Vahva is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vahva looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuukkeli is one step ahead there.
Vahva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Kuukkeli has gone for a leg lock! Vahva slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kuukkeli's guard.
Vahva is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vahva with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Harri Vahva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vahva throws a strike but Kuukkeli rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Vahva wants to sweep here but Kuukkeli controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vahva trying to control the position.
Kuukkeli missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kuukkeli working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vahva avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuukkeli trying to control the position from guard on top but Vahva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuukkeli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuukkeli with a flurry of punches that miss.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kuukkeli misses with a hook to the body
and Vahva counters with a lovely shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harri Vahva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vahva 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harri Vahva!