PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Asser Toropainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and ATJ Lucko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Toropainen comes to the cage accompanied by Paleface-Syntynyt rellestää. Lucko has chosen Wild Boys as his entrance music. Asser Toropainen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Toropainen
vs
Lucko

188 cm
23
210 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
215 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Balco Boys - Hilo
Hades ®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Asser Toropainen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, ATJ Lucko!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toropainen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Lucko's calf.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lucko enables Toropainen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lucko manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Toropainen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lucko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Toropainen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Toropainen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Toropainen looking to sit in guard and control but Lucko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Toropainen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Toropainen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lucko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Toropainen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lucko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Toropainen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lucko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Toropainen is striking from the bottom but Lucko uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Lucko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toropainen trying to control from the bottom.
Lucko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Toropainen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Toropainen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Toropainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Toropainen working for submissions but it's allowed Lucko to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toropainen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Toropainen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Toropainen has his foot on Lucko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lucko works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucko wants to get up but he can't break Toropainen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Toropainen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Toropainen landing strikes, looking to finish!

Toropainen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Toropainen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lucko is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lucko and Toropainen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asser Toropainen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A low kick from Toropainen is predictable there
and Lucko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Toropainen scoring well with a low kick there.
Lucko slips a straight right by Toropainen.
Lucko throws a head kick but Toropainen moves out of range.
Lucko misses with a low kick.
An inside leg kick from Toropainen misses.
Toropainen misses with a combination
and Lucko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Toropainen misses with a lunging right hand
and Lucko counters with a head kick. That will keep Toropainen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Toropainen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lucko paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Toropainen misses with a series of wild punches.
A low kick from Toropainen is predictable there
and Lucko counters with a good low kick that Toropainen was not able to check.
Lucko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Toropainen connects with a looping right hand.
Toropainen lands a nice shot that snaps Lucko's head back.
Toropainen thuds his right hand into Lucko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucko throws a sloppy head kick and Toropainen moves out of range easily.
Lucko on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Asser Toropainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Toropainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Lucko blocking the ground and pound.
Toropainen looking to finish Lucko with some ground and pound. This is bad for Lucko!
Toropainen punching from mount but Lucko doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Toropainen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lucko is squirming around, avoiding Toropainen's attempts to control the action.
Toropainen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toropainen looking to ground and pound but Lucko is blocking nicely.
Lucko is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Toropainen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Toropainen is stalling here but it's allowed Lucko to get half guard.
Toropainen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Toropainen is trying to control. Lucko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Toropainen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Lucko is staying active underneath Toropainen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lucko is defending against the submission attempts here by Toropainen.
Toropainen drops an elbow to the side of Lucko's head.
Toropainen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Toropainen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Toropainen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Toropainen thows a huge punch but Lucko dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Toropainen throws an off balance right hand
and Lucko counters with a nice body kick.
A shot to the body from Toropainen misses
and Lucko counters with a low kick, right behind Toropainen 's knee.
Lucko misses the shot to the body.
Lucko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lucko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Toropainen takes a swing at Lucko's ribcage but misses.
A bone on bone clash there as Lucko blocks the leg kick.
Lucko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Asser Toropainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Toropainen lands a nice hook to Lucko's body. Lucko takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Toropainen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A head kick misses from Lucko.

Toropainen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Toropainen is looking for a kimura but Lucko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Toropainen to get the leverage.
Toropainen stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Toropainen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lucko is just riding it out for now. Toropainen eventually gives up the hold.

Toropainen is looking for a kimura but Lucko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Toropainen to get the leverage.

Toropainen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lucko wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Toropainen is working for a submission of some sort.

Toropainen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lucko defends it well.
Toropainen trying to control from Lucko's half guard. Lucko has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toropainen throwing strikes but missing.
Toropainen works over Lucko with some ground and pound from guard.
Toropainen controlling from the top position.
Toropainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Lucko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Toropainen wants to pass the guard but Lucko is keeping the position.

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.
Lucko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Toropainen controls the pace.

Toropainen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Toropainen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lucko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lucko trying to keep a closed guard but Toropainen is proving a slippery customer.
Toropainen trying to control but Lucko is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Asser Toropainen clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lucko blocks a jab.
Lucko throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Toropainen throws a leg kick
and Lucko counters with a nice kick to the body.
Toropainen misses with an uppercut
and Lucko counters with a big head kick but Toropainen shrugs it off.
Toropainen is looking to chop away at Lucko's legs.
Lucko takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Lucko lands a leg kick that knocks Toropainen off balance momentarily.
Toropainen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Toropainen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lucko counters with a flying knee. Nice.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Toropainen checks the leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Toropainen is defended easily by Lucko.
Lucko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Toropainen.
ATJ Lucko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lucko misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toropainen closes the distance and clinches up with Lucko, looking for a takedown. Toropainen pushes Lucko against the cage but Lucko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown by Toropainen or perhaps it was just good defense by Lucko which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asser Toropainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toropainen misses with a double jab
and Lucko counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Toropainen avoids the head kick by Lucko.
Toropainen fails to land the takedown.
A leg kick checked by Toropainen.
A low kick from Toropainen misses
and Lucko counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lucko.
Lucko throws a nice head kick!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lucko misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lucko throws a lazy right hand but Toropainen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Toropainen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lucko sprawls well. Lucko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Toropainen gets slowly back to his feet.
Lucko throws a head kick that half lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucko feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Toropainen's calf.
Toropainen misses with a lunging right hand
and Lucko counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Toropainen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Toropainen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lucko feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Toropainen's calf.
Toropainen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lucko can pounce on him.
Lucko shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lucko with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lucko lands a leg kick that knocks Toropainen off balance momentarily.
Toropainen moves out of range of the body kick from Lucko.
Lucko throws a nice inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Lucko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
ATJ Lucko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Toropainen moves out of range of the body kick.
Toropainen blocks a head kick by Lucko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toropainen blocks the body kick.
Toropainen blocks a leg kick.
Some wild striking there from Toropainen.
Toropainen misses with a leg kick
and Lucko counters with a slapping leg kick.
Lucko gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A low kick from Toropainen misses
and Lucko counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Toropainen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Lucko throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Lucko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lucko plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Toropainen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Toropainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Toropainen fails to land the takedown.
Lucko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Toropainen momentarily.
Donk. Lucko catches Toropainen right on the button with a cross.
Lucko fakes the leg kick and cracks Toropainen in the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A slapping body kick lands there for Lucko.
Lucko lands a front kick.
Lucko cracks the inside of Toropainen's front leg.
Lucko scores with a jab to the jaw.
Lucko connects with a solid leg kick.
Lucko throws a leg kick but Toropainen moved away.
Toropainen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Lucko throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Toropainen's head.
Toropainen throws a leg kick that is checked
and Lucko makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Toropainen really felt that one!
Lucko plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good leg kick by Lucko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Toropainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Toropainen is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Lucko tries to land a front kick but Toropainen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Toropainen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ATJ Lucko dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Toropainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Toropainen checks a low kick from Lucko.
Lucko lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Lucko throws a hook but Toropainen avoids it easily.
Lucko buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lucko feints and then cracks Toropainen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Toropainen down.
Toropainen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Decent striking displayed by Lucko there.
Nice body kick from Lucko.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lucko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Toropainen.
Toropainen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Lucko with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lucko lands an overhand right.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Lucko throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lucko feints and then cracks Toropainen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Toropainen down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucko tries a low kick but Toropainen avoids it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lucko.
Toropainen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Toropainen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
An inside leg kick lands from Lucko.
That kick from Lucko tenderised Toropainen's leg. Toropainen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Lucko fakes the leg kick and cracks Toropainen in the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Toropainen blocks the leg kick.
Toropainen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Toropainen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lucko.
Lucko lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lucko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Toropainen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lucko throws a shot from downtown. Toropainen moves away and avoids it.
Toropainen throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Asser Toropainen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lucko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Toropainen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Toropainen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Lucko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lucko chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lucko dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Toropainen. That did some damage!
Lucko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lucko throws a leg kick which misses Toropainen's front leg but catches the back leg as Toropainen tries to avoid it.
Lucko tries to clinch but Toropainen moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Toropainen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Lucko lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Toropainen checks a leg kick.
Toropainen blocks a leg kick.
A good leg kick by Lucko.
Toropainen shoots in looking for a takedown. Lucko tries to sprawl out of it but Toropainen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lucko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toropainen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Toropainen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lucko can pounce on him.
Lucko tries to clinch up.
Toropainen misses with a takedown attempt
and Lucko counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Toropainen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A good leg kick by Lucko.
Lucko tries to clinch but Toropainen is having none of it.
Lucko throws a leg kick but Toropainen sees it coming and moves out of range.
A low kick from Toropainen misses
and Lucko counters with a body kick that stops Toropainen in his tracks momentarily.
Lucko throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Lucko looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Toropainen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lucko lands a nice leg kick that just misses Toropainen's sensitive parts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lucko is looking to slow Toropainen down with leg kicks.
Lucko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lucko throws a leg kick but Toropainen moved away.
Toropainen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Toropainen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Toropainen throws a lazy uppercut
and Lucko counters with a stiff right hand.
Lucko connects with a solid leg kick.
Toropainen shoots and misses
and Lucko counters with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asser Toropainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Toropainen shoots in for a takedown but Lucko shows good takedown defense.
Lucko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Toropainen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
ATJ Lucko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Toropainen checks a low kick from Lucko.
Lucko lands with a kick to the ribs.
Lucko throws a half hearted mid kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
ATJ Lucko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Toropainen 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 46:47
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 46:47
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 46:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ATJ Lucko!
ATJ Lucko is the new light heavyweight champion!