PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kalle Kuikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kastriot Skenderbeu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuikka's entrance music is kotiteollisuus valtakunta. A fine choice. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kuikka
vs
Skenderbeu

205 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

187 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

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 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kalle Kuikka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kastriot Skenderbeu!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Hirohito Nitta and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Skenderbeu drives through with a takedown into guard.

Skenderbeu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kuikka dives on top into guard.
Skenderbeu looking for a sweep. Not yet Skenderbeu, not yet.
Kuikka stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skenderbeu swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Skenderbeu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kuikka slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kuikka preventing the sweep.
Kuikka slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Skenderbeu is looking for a triangle but Kuikka pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skenderbeu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Skenderbeu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kuikka stands and steps away. Skenderbeu gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Skenderbeu looks gassed!

Kuikka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kuikka scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kuikka controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Skenderbeu looking for a sweep. Not yet Skenderbeu, not yet.
Kuikka trying to control but Skenderbeu is working from the bottom.
Skenderbeu wants to control but Kuikka passes easily into half guard.
Skenderbeu should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Skenderbeu wants to get back to full guard.
Kuikka slows the pace down in half guard.
Skenderbeu is refusing to be controlled, as Kuikka sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skenderbeu is trying to stand up here but Kuikka is controlling him well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Kuikka looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Skenderbeu!
Skenderbeu is trying to escape the mount.
Skenderbeu is trying to stand up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Skenderbeu regains half guard.
Skenderbeu tries to roll over but Kuikka keeps him under control.
Skenderbeu is trying to stand.
Skenderbeu is looking to improve his position.

Skenderbeu makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Skenderbeu throws a head kick but Kuikka moves out of range.
Skenderbeu checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skenderbeu lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Skenderbeu stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuikka. Kuikka gets slowly back to his feet.
Horrible takedown by Kuikka or perhaps it was just good defense by Skenderbeu which made him look bad.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kuikka.

Kuikka decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kastriot Skenderbeu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skenderbeu looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Skenderbeu misses with a wild combination.
Kuikka tries to clinch there but Skenderbeu circles away.

Kuikka drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kuikka postures up.
Skenderbeu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Skenderbeu is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Skenderbeu had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Kuikka is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Skenderbeu Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Kuikka's back instead.
Will Skenderbeu go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Skenderbeu has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Skenderbeu has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Kuikka has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kuikka is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Skenderbeu gets his way!

Skenderbeu is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Skenderbeu tries to get the hooks in deep but Kuikka pushed the leg off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
I would not like to be Kuikka right now.
Kuikka is trying to break free.
Skenderbeu is trying to stick to Kuikka's back but Kuikka is turning into Skenderbeu. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Skenderbeu's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kuikka.
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 Kalle Kuikka will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Skenderbeu swats away the attempt to clinch by Kuikka.
Kuikka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kuikka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Skenderbeu is trying to maintain the position but Kuikka is very close to passing his half guard.
Skenderbeu is trying to get back to full guard.
Kuikka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Skenderbeu does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Skenderbeu is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Kuikka jumps into side control!

Kuikka has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Skenderbeu fails to land the takedown.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A left and a right from Skenderbeu both land. Nice combination.
Skenderbeu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kuikka pinned against the cage. Kuikka gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kalle Kuikka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kastriot Skenderbeu.
Skenderbeu throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skenderbeu looks for a takedown but Kuikka sprawls well.
Skenderbeu is breathing heavily.
Skenderbeu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kuikka tries to avoid it but Skenderbeu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kuikka to the ground. Kuikka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Skenderbeu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuikka moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kuikka tries to clinch up.
Kuikka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Skenderbeu swivels and escapes.
Kuikka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Skenderbeu is fending him off so far but Kuikka persists. Nope, Skenderbeu circles away and we're back to standing.
Kuikka scores with a leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuikka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Skenderbeu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Skenderbeu closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kuikka circles away.
Skenderbeu doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kuikka counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Skenderbeu wants to get back to full guard.
Skenderbeu is trying to control but can't.

Skenderbeu pushes Kuikka off and gets back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Skenderbeu.
Kuikka fails with an attempt to clinch.
Skenderbeu misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Skenderbeu misses with a jab, cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Skenderbeu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skenderbeu tries a head kick but it misses.
Skenderbeu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kuikka counters with a shoot takedown. Skenderbeu fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Skenderbeu working for a triangle but Kuikka defends it easily.

Skenderbeu is working an open guard so Kuikka takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Skenderbeu stuffs the takedown.
Skenderbeu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kuikka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuikka shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Skenderbeu pinned against the cage. Skenderbeu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Skenderbeu's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Skenderbeu duly obliges.

Skenderbeu drives through with a takedown into guard.
Skenderbeu wants to control from the top but Kuikka keeps moving.

Skenderbeu decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kuikka, up you get!
Skenderbeu misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuikka wants to clinch up but Skenderbeu keeps it at a distance.
Skenderbeu checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kuikka tries to close the distance and clinch but Skenderbeu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kuikka misses with a head kick.
Skenderbeu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Kuikka moves into range and clinches up with Skenderbeu.
Kuikka can't break the clinch.

Kuikka is trying to trip Skenderbeu. He has hold of a leg but Skenderbeu is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kuikka persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Kuikka trying to control the position from guard on top but Skenderbeu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuikka prevents Skenderbeu from getting back to his feet.
Skenderbeu keeping moving, preventing Kuikka from controlling successfully.

Skenderbeu working for a triangle but Kuikka defends it easily.

Skenderbeu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Skenderbeu controls Kuikka momentarily but Kuikka frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuikka trying to control but Skenderbeu is working from the bottom.

Skenderbeu pushes a forearm under Kuikka's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Kuikka is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kastriot Skenderbeu!