PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joel Kuokkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rogerio Mazuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuokkanen has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Joel Kuokkanen has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kuokkanen
vs
Mazuki

170 cm
18
174 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

170 cm
20
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent knees
Determined

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joel Kuokkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rogerio Mazuki!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mazuki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Mazuki.
Mazuki misses with a knee strike.
Mazuki is trying to maintain a safe position but Kuokkanen gets an underhook and turns Mazuki into the cage.
Mazuki misses with a knee strike.
Mazuki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuokkanen blocks it with crossed arms.
Mazuki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuokkanen's face.
Mazuki looks gassed!

Kuokkanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mazuki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rogerio Mazuki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mazuki tries to clinch there but Kuokkanen circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kuokkanen.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mazuki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuokkanen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mazuki tries to clinch but Kuokkanen moves out of range.
Mazuki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kuokkanen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Mazuki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mazuki wants to clinch.
Mazuki tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuokkanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Mazuki rushes Kuokkanen and presses him up against the cage.
Kuokkanen tries to pull guard but Mazuki holds him up against the cage and eventually Kuokkanen drops back down to his feet.
Mazuki misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mazuki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuokkanen lands a shoulder strike.
Mazuki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuokkanen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuokkanen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mazuki.
A knee to the head by Mazuki.

It looks like Joel Kuokkanen has been cut.

Mazuki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mazuki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuokkanen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Mazuki swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Kuokkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mazuki throws a sloppy head kick and Kuokkanen moves out of range easily.
Horrible takedown by Kuokkanen or perhaps it was just good defense by Mazuki which made him look bad.
Mazuki is looking to clinch but Kuokkanen is avoiding it.
Mazuki is looking to clinch but Kuokkanen is avoiding it.
Mazuki throws a combination that misses
and Kuokkanen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mazuki thinking.

Mazuki pushes Kuokkanen up against the cage in a clinch.
Mazuki landing knees to the head.
Mazuki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mazuki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuokkanen's face.
Mazuki misses with a knee to the head.
Mazuki misses with a knee to the head.
Kuokkanen tries to score a body lock takedown but Mazuki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mazuki with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Mazuki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Mazuki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A shot to de liver by Mazuki. Beautiful body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuokkanen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mazuki tries to avoid it but Kuokkanen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mazuki to the ground. Mazuki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kuokkanen takes one to the chin there.
Mazuki darts in trying to clinch

and Kuokkanen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mazuki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mazuki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Mazuki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mazuki fails in his attempt to clinch.

Mazuki clinches up with Kuokkanen and pushes him back against the cage.
Mazuki taking a breather.
Mazuki tries a knee to the head but Kuokkanen blocks it.
Mazuki misses with a knee to the head.
Kuokkanen trying to stall but Mazuki improves his position.
Mazuki looking to throw knees to the head but Kuokkanen is blocking nicely.
Kuokkanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Mazuki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuokkanen's face.
Mazuki lands a knee to the head.
Mazuki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mazuki tries to land a knee to the head but Kuokkanen blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Mazuki.

Joel Kuokkanen's cut is getting worse.
Kuokkanen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Mazuki smiles and moves away.
Mazuki scores with the left hand. Kuokkanen knows he should have avoided that one.
Kuokkanen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuokkanen tries to clinch up.

Mazuki has Kuokkanen up against the cage in a clinch.
Mazuki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mazuki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Mazuki misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Mazuki.
Mazuki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mazuki throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuokkanen blocks it with crossed arms.
Mazuki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mazuki tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuokkanen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Mazuki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mazuki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuokkanen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Mazuki escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kuokkanen clinches.
Mazuki tries a knee to the head but Kuokkanen blocks it.
Kuokkanen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Mazuki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mazuki is trying to stall.
Mazuki lands a knee to the head.
Mazuki holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Mazuki with a knee to the head.
Mazuki wants to get back to striking at distance but Kuokkanen won't allow it.
Mazuki misses with a knee strike.
Mazuki misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuokkanen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mazuki is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kuokkanen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mazuki landing knees to the head.

Mazuki manages to break the clinch.
Mazuki throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kuokkanen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kuokkanen fails with the takedown.
Kuokkanen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kuokkanen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mazuki pinned against the cage. Mazuki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rogerio Mazuki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mazuki wants to clinch
and Kuokkanen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mazuki thinking.
An inside leg kick lands from Mazuki.
Mazuki swats away the attempt to clinch by Kuokkanen.
Kuokkanen lands a nice shot to the body.

Kuokkanen clinches up against the cage.
Kuokkanen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuokkanen prevents Mazuki from breaking the clinch.
A knee to the head by Mazuki.
Kuokkanen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mazuki tries to land a knee to the head but Kuokkanen blocks with his arms.
Kuokkanen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Mazuki avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Mazuki.
Mazuki throws a knee to the head but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rogerio Mazuki dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joel Kuokkanen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Kuokkanen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mazuki goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mazuki tries to clinch but Kuokkanen moves away
and Kuokkanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Mazuki closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Mazuki looking to throw knees to the head but Kuokkanen is blocking nicely.
Mazuki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuokkanen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuokkanen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Mazuki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Mazuki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuokkanen's face.
A knee to the head by Mazuki.

Mazuki breaks the clinch.
Mazuki darts in trying to clinch
and Kuokkanen counters with a two punch combo.
Mazuki lands a head kick!
Mazuki throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kuokkanen.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kuokkanen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Mazuki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mazuki seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuokkanen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kuokkanen is controlling Mazuki's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Mazuki tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kuokkanen controls his leg.

Mazuki stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Kuokkanen to get to his feet.

Mazuki clinches.

Mazuki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mazuki wants to clinch but Kuokkanen slips to the side
letting Kuokkanen counter with a right hand.
A head kick by Mazuki misses

and Kuokkanen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mazuki!
Mazuki is desperately trying to improve his position but Kuokkanen has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuokkanen breaks from Mazuki's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kuokkanen avoids the attempt from Mazuki to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mazuki is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kuokkanen tries to control but Mazuki wriggling away.
Kuokkanen prevents Mazuki from getting the reversal.
Kuokkanen controlling his opponent.
Mazuki is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Kuokkanen has taken his back!
Kuokkanen keeps control of the position as Mazuki tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mazuki breaks Kuokkanen's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Mazuki gets to his feet - Kuokkanen follows without any prompting.
Mazuki misses with a left hand
and Kuokkanen counters with a right hand to the body.
Mazuki throws a combination that misses
and Kuokkanen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mazuki tries to clinch but Kuokkanen moves away
and Kuokkanen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mazuki tries to work over Kuokkanen's front leg with a kick but Kuokkanen checks it.
Mazuki throws a lazy head kick
and Kuokkanen counters with a nice leg kick.
Kuokkanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mazuki tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kuokkanen counters with a big head kick but Mazuki shrugs it off.
Kuokkanen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Mazuki throws a head kick that Kuokkanen semi-blocks.
Mazuki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Mazuki there as he acknowledges the shot.
Mazuki tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuokkanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kuokkanen closes the distance and clinches up with Mazuki, looking for a takedown. Kuokkanen pushes Mazuki against the cage but Mazuki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Kuokkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kuokkanen.
Mazuki manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mazuki has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Kuokkanen works to full guard.
Mazuki preventing the sweep.
Mazuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuokkanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mazuki wanted to stand there but Kuokkanen had control of the position.
Kuokkanen controlling the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mazuki trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuokkanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mazuki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuokkanen is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joel Kuokkanen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Joel Kuokkanen's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Mazuki doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuokkanen circles away.
Mazuki shoots in and drives through. Kuokkanen sprawls well.
Mazuki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mazuki throws a lazy head kick

and Kuokkanen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Mazuki!
Mazuki sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kuokkanen in particular looking to stall.
Mazuki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kuokkanen is working away from the top position though.
Kuokkanen blocks the strikes from Mazuki.
Mazuki trying to control but Kuokkanen postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mazuki is looking to improve his position.
Mazuki is pressing down on Kuokkanen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mazuki wants to stand up but Kuokkanen is controlling him.
Kuokkanen stays in close to Mazuki's body and controls the position.
Kuokkanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mazuki swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuokkanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mazuki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kuokkanen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mazuki wants to get back to his feet but Kuokkanen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kuokkanen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Mazuki controls Kuokkanen momentarily but Kuokkanen frees himself.
Kuokkanen stops Mazuki from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kuokkanen wants to clinch.
Mazuki tries to clinch but Kuokkanen is having none of it.
Kuokkanen throws a shot to the body.
Mazuki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mazuki tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kuokkanen counters with a three punch combo that has Mazuki backing up. Mazuki nods at Kuokkanen to acknowledge the strikes.
Mazuki wants to clinch

and Kuokkanen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kuokkanen.
Kuokkanen looking to slow down the pace here.
Mazuki lands a knee to the head.
Mazuki gets underhooks to prevent Kuokkanen's takedown attempt.
Mazuki looking to throw knees to the head but Kuokkanen is blocking nicely.
Kuokkanen pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kuokkanen throws a head punch that misses.
A knee to the head by Mazuki.
Mazuki tries to land a knee to the head but Kuokkanen blocks with his arms.
Mazuki lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Mazuki misses with a knee to the head.

Mazuki breaks from the clinch.
Rogerio Mazuki seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A thudding body kick lands there by Mazuki!
Mazuki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Mazuki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuokkanen is looking to clinch.
Kuokkanen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Mazuki throws a lazy uppercut

and Kuokkanen counters by moving into the clinch.
Mazuki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Mazuki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuokkanen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Mazuki tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mazuki connects with a knee to the head.
Mazuki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kuokkanen goes for a takedown attempt but Mazuki pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mazuki darts in trying to clinch

and Kuokkanen counters by clinching up.
Kuokkanen takes a knee right on the jaw!

Kuokkanen is rocked!
Mazuki connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuokkanen's face.
Oh Kuokkanen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Joel Kuokkanen's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Rogerio Mazuki seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Mazuki throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kuokkanen can't break the clinch.

Mazuki breaks the clinch.
Mazuki wants to clinch but Kuokkanen slips to the side
and Kuokkanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kuokkanen fails to land the takedown.
Kuokkanen seems to have got his legs back now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Kuokkanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mazuki wants to clinch but Kuokkanen slips to the side

and Kuokkanen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Mazuki scores with a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kuokkanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kuokkanen can't break the clinch.
Mazuki throws a knee to the head but misses.

Mazuki breaks the clinch.
Kuokkanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuokkanen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mazuki as he avoids it easily.
Mazuki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kuokkanen counters with a stiff right hand.
Mazuki tries to clinch up
and Kuokkanen counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joel Kuokkanen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuokkanen 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joel Kuokkanen!