PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pera Kuukkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Volmar Wikstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kuukkeli
vs
Wikstrom

188 cm
22
250 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

191 cm
27
265 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pera Kuukkeli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Volmar Wikstrom!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuukkeli is looking to clinch but Wikstrom is avoiding it.
Wikstrom is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kuukkeli.

It looks like Volmar Wikstrom has been cut.
Wikstrom blocks the body kick.

Kuukkeli scores a takedown into full mount!
Poor strikes thrown by Kuukkeli there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Kuukkeli swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Wikstrom is now in Kuukkeli's guard. A big mistake from Kuukkeli there, giving up the dominant position!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuukkeli is pulling down on Wikstrom's head. It's preventing any offense from Wikstrom, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wikstrom trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuukkeli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wikstrom controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Kuukkeli looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kuukkeli wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuukkeli has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wikstrom can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kuukkeli tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuukkeli is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kuukkeli looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuukkeli, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pera Kuukkeli dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Volmar Wikstrom's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wikstrom throws a series of punches but Kuukkeli avoids them all with ease.
Kuukkeli throws a combination that misses
and Wikstrom counters with a one-two to the body.
Kuukkeli does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kuukkeli throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wikstrom fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Pera Kuukkeli is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuukkeli misses with a straight left.
Wikstrom takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Kuukkeli scores a takedown into full mount!

Kuukkeli wants to finish this one by submission but Wikstrom is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kuukkeli.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukkeli pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kuukkeli looking to finish with strikes here!
Kuukkeli cracks Wikstrom with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Kuukkeli moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Wikstrom has worked his arm free - good work by Wikstrom!
Wikstrom parries the strikes from Kuukkeli easily there. Kuukkeli is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Wikstrom to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kuukkeli wants to control but Wikstrom is keeping him busy.

Kuukkeli is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Wikstrom has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kuukkeli creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kuukkeli seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Wikstrom for as long as he can get away with.
Kuukkeli trying to control the action but Wikstrom is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kuukkeli lands some shots froms side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kuukkeli tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kuukkeli has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pera Kuukkeli dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Volmar Wikstrom's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Wikstrom uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuukkeli.
Wikstrom slips under a jab.
Kuukkeli looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kuukkeli throws a left and a right that both miss
and Wikstrom counters with a left to the body.
Kuukkeli with a lazy takedown attempt

and Wikstrom counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kuukkeli won't be happy with that.
Kuukkeli is trying to control Wikstrom's posture but Wikstrom avoids it.
Wikstrom really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuukkeli. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kuukkeli regains half guard there - taking advantage of Wikstrom's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukkeli tries to roll over but Wikstrom keeps him under control.
Volmar Wikstrom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kuukkeli blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wikstrom.
Wikstrom is trying to control the action in half guard but Kuukkeli is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kuukkeli makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kuukkeli.
Wikstrom must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kuukkeli working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wikstrom manages to get himself to full guard.
Kuukkeli slips nicely into half guard.
Kuukkeli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wikstrom keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wikstrom blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kuukkeli.
Kuukkeli throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kuukkeli moves into full mount! Wikstrom won't be happy about that!
Kuukkeli trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Kuukkeli is working for a guillotine from mount but Wikstrom frees his head quite easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Volmar Wikstrom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuukkeli has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pera Kuukkeli!