PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Kuosmanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Urho Kukkamaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kuosmanen
vs
Kukkamaa

160 cm
28
167 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

179 cm
25
165 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keijo Kuosmanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Urho Kukkamaa!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukkamaa darts in trying to clinch
and Kuosmanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Kukkamaa clinches up against the cage.
Kuosmanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kukkamaa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kuosmanen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kukkamaa just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kuosmanen jumps into guard, dragging Kukkamaa to the mat.
Kukkamaa wants to get up but he can't break Kuosmanen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Kuosmanen is looking for a triangle but Kukkamaa pushes his legs off easily.

Kuosmanen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kukkamaa is aware though and is defending well.
Kuosmanen controls Kukkamaa momentarily but Kukkamaa frees himself.
Kukkamaa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuosmanen is pulling down on Kukkamaa's head. It's preventing any offense from Kukkamaa, at least for the moment.
Kukkamaa wanted to stand there but Kuosmanen had control of the position.
Kuosmanen wants to sweep here but Kukkamaa controlling him for the moment.

Kuosmanen is looking for a triangle but Kukkamaa pushes his legs off easily.
Kuosmanen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

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.
Kuosmanen is trying to control the position but Kukkamaa postures up.
Kuosmanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kuosmanen looking for a guillotine here but Kukkamaa defends easily.
Kukkamaa wants to stand but Kuosmanen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kuosmanen trying to keep a closed guard but Kukkamaa is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuosmanen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kukkamaa puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Kuosmanen tries to roll over but Kukkamaa keeps him under control.
Kuosmanen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kuosmanen wants to improve his position but Kukkamaa is controlling well.

That's four 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.

Kuosmanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kuosmanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kuosmanen has a hand on Kukkamaa's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kukkamaa takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

Kukkamaa is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuosmanen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kukkamaa.

Kuosmanen gets a clinch.
Kuosmanen blocks an elbow strike from Kukkamaa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Urho Kukkamaa will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kukkamaa throws a good cross that connects.
Kukkamaa closes the distance but Kuosmanen moves to the side

and Kuosmanen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kukkamaa's guard now.

Kukkamaa kicks Kuosmanen off and gets to his feet.
Kukkamaa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kuosmanen dives in and grabs Kukkamaa's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kukkamaa pushes down on Kuosmanen's head and hops out.
Kukkamaa stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keijo Kuosmanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kuosmanen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kukkamaa to the mat! Kukkamaa manages to get full guard.

Kukkamaa pushes Kuosmanen off and gets back to his feet.

Kukkamaa moves into the clinch successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuosmanen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kukkamaa walks away with a smile on his face. Kuosmanen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kukkamaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Kuosmanen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kukkamaa manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kukkamaa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkamaa wants to stand up but Kuosmanen is controlling him.
Kuosmanen is looking to advance position but Kukkamaa has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kuosmanen throwing hammer fists to the chest of Kukkamaa. What's that going to do exactly?
Kuosmanen is looking to get to half guard.

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.

Kukkamaa stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Kukkamaa wants to clinch

and Kuosmanen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kukkamaa's guard now.
Kukkamaa wants to stand up but Kuosmanen is controlling him.
Kuosmanen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kuosmanen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kuosmanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuosmanen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kuosmanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kukkamaa keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuosmanen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kuosmanen trying to control the position but Kukkamaa is working away.
Kukkamaa is trying to buck Kuosmanen off.

Kuosmanen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kuosmanen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kukkamaa regains half guard, as Kuosmanen was trying to land strikes.

That's four 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.
Kukkamaa is not content to let Kuosmanen control the position.
Kuosmanen throwing shots but Kukkamaa is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuosmanen thows a huge punch but Kukkamaa dodges it nicely.
Kukkamaa 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.

Keijo Kuosmanen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kukkamaa tries to clinch but Kuosmanen moves away

and Kuosmanen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kukkamaa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuosmanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Keijo Kuosmanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuosmanen tries to free his leg and advance position but Kukkamaa is retaining full guard.
Kuosmanen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kukkamaa is looking to stand up but Kuosmanen isn't so interested in that idea.
Kuosmanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kukkamaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuosmanen landing with the ground and pound.
Kukkamaa wants to stand but Kuosmanen is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkamaa keeping moving, preventing Kuosmanen from controlling successfully.
Kuosmanen postures up in Kukkamaa's guard and throws a big left but Kukkamaa blocks it.
Kuosmanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kukkamaa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuosmanen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kukkamaa's head.
Kuosmanen trying to control but Kukkamaa is working from the bottom.
Kukkamaa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Kuosmanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kukkamaa is keeping the position for now.
Kuosmanen 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.
Kuosmanen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuosmanen trying to control but Kukkamaa is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuosmanen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kukkamaa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Keijo Kuosmanen wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Kukkamaa as Kuosmanen shoots in.
Urho Kukkamaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuosmanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kukkamaa just misses with a punch to the body.
Kukkamaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuosmanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kukkamaa goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kuosmanen misses with a takedown attempt - Kukkamaa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kukkamaa tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kuosmanen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kukkamaa!

Kuosmanen swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kukkamaa is now in Kuosmanen's guard. A big mistake from Kuosmanen there, giving up the dominant position!
Kukkamaa is looking to stand up but Kuosmanen won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuosmanen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kukkamaa passes into half guard.

Kuosmanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kukkamaa is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Kuosmanen is looking for a sweep. Kukkamaa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keijo Kuosmanen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuosmanen 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keijo Kuosmanen!