PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keast Kanne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kanne comes to the cage accompanied by Snow - Informer. Lasi Kukko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kanne
vs
Kukko

182 cm
21
190 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
194 lbs
8 - 1 - 2

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Syndicate Drugs

MADE IN GERMANY
Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Keast Kanne!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 2, fighting out of London, Lasi Kukko!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukko tries a head kick but it misses.
Kanne checks a leg kick.
Kukko swats away the attempt to clinch by Kanne.
Kukko misses the shot to the body.

Kukko scores with a takedown into Kanne's guard.
Kanne on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kanne tries to get out of the position.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kanne utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Kanne keeps moving.
Kanne being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kanne preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kukko looking to pass the guard.
Kukko looking to sit in guard and control but Kanne gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kukko is looking for a triangle but Kanne pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanne wants to control from the top but Kukko keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukko wants to sweep but no luck.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kukko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kukko trying to control the position.
Kukko wants to sweep here but Kanne controlling him for the moment.

Kukko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kanne doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kanne manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kanne has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kanne postures up.
Kanne trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kukko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kanne's guard.
Kukko tries to free his leg and advance position but Kanne is retaining full guard.
Kukko pushes down on Kanne's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kanne is refusing to be controlled, as Kukko sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kanne moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Kukko tries to land a leg kick but Kanne saw it coming and moves away.
Kanne is looking to clinch.
Keast Kanne seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kukko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kanne was well out of range. Poor timing from Kukko.
Kukko checks a leg kick nicely.
Kukko throws a low kick, looking for Kanne's leg but Kanne calmly moves out of range.
Kanne checks a leg kick.
Kukko is looking to land body kicks.

Kukko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kukko is pushing down on Kanne's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kanne is fighting to maintain full guard but Kukko has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kukko throwing shots but Kanne is blocking nicely.
Kukko trying to control the action but Kanne is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko passes to side control.
Kukko trying to control the action but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kukko lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kukko trying to control the action but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kukko is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Kanne will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko tries to score with some ground and pound. Kanne controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kanne can't do much from the bottom here.
Kanne defending against the ground and pound.
Kukko postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko staying calm.

Kukko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kukko in side control, throwing shots but Kanne defends.
Kukko passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kanne!
Kanne knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kukko on the ground.

That's four 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.
Kukko wants to control the pace but Kanne is squirming around nicely.
Kukko throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kanne because Kukko loaded up on that one.
Kukko tries to control but Kanne wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kukko seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Kanne is holding on tight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kukko looking for a guillotine from mount but Kanne is having none of it.
Kanne blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kanne tries to clinch up but Kukko circles away and keeps his distance.
Kukko swats away the attempt to clinch by Kanne.
Kanne tries to close the distance and clinch but Kukko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kukko throws a sloppy head kick and Kanne moves out of range easily.
Kanne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kukko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kukko throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kanne counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kukko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kanne as he avoids it easily.
Kanne misses with a leg kick.
Kanne is looking to clinch but Kukko is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanne tries to clinch but Kukko moves out of range.
Kanne fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kanne tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kukko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kanne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kukko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kanne sprawls well. Kanne wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kukko gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanne tries to clinch up.
Kukko takes a swing at Kanne's ribcage but misses.
Kanne tries to clinch up but Kukko circles away and keeps his distance.
Kanne tries to clinch but Kukko moves out of range.
Kukko lands a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kanne looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kanne is looking to clinch but Kukko is avoiding it.
Kukko throws a sloppy head kick and Kanne moves out of range easily.
Kanne stuffs the takedown.
Keast Kanne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lasi Kukko.

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.
A low kick from Kanne is predictable there

and Kukko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kukko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kanne does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kukko thows a huge punch but Kanne dodges it nicely.
Kukko trying to control the action but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kanne is trying to stand up here but Kukko is controlling him well.
Kukko is thwarting Kanne's attempts to control the position.
Kukko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kanne defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko is looking to stall here but Kanne recovers full guard.
Kukko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kukko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kukko wants to pass the guard but Kanne is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kukko throwing strikes from guard but Kanne blocks nicely.

Kukko drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kanne dives on top into guard.

Kukko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kukko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kukko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck for Kukko with that takedown attempt.
Kanne looks to clinch
and Kukko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kukko throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kanne.
Kukko has his takedown stuffed

and Kanne counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kanne.
Kanne taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kukko fails to pull guard.
Keast Kanne has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lasi Kukko.
Kukko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kanne is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Kanne.

It looks like Lasi Kukko has been cut.
Kanne pushes off an throws an elbow but Kukko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kukko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kanne is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Kanne gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Keast Kanne.
Kanne tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kukko counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Kanne tries to clinch
and Kukko counters with a left to the body.
Kukko is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kanne rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kanne keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kukko.
Kanne tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kukko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kanne won't be happy with that.
Kanne is letting Kukko control him for a moment.
Kukko trying to control the action but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kukko scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko wants to control for a moment but Kanne uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Kukko wants to pass to mount but Kanne is defending the position.
Kanne is not content to let Kukko control the position.
Kukko might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kanne kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

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.

Kukko is working for a submission of some sort.
Kanne is refusing to be controlled, as Kukko sits in half guard.
Kanne keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Lasi Kukko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kukko throws a leg kick
and Kanne counters with a thumping low kick.
Kanne thows a leg kick but Kukko checks it

and Kukko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kukko stands and throws Kanne's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kukko looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kanne is avoiding damage well.
Kanne is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kukko wants to control but Kanne is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko tries to score with some ground and pound. Kanne controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kukko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kanne keeps working.
A lull in the action here.

Kukko has an Americana. Kanne didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Kukko is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Kukko hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Lasi Kukko!
Lasi Kukko is the new middleweight champion!