PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Muhammad Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joku Kuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Muhammad Ali has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Ali
vs
Kuka

196 cm
20
250 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

192 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Muhammad Ali!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joku Kuka!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ali throws a right and a left that Kuka avoids nicely.
Kuka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ali is fending him off so far but Kuka persists. Nope, Ali circles away and we're back to standing.
Ali throws a series of punches but Kuka avoids them all with ease.
Kuka displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ali throws out the jab.
A punch combination from Ali misses.
Ali lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ali.
Some wild striking there from Ali.
Kuka will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ali throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuka shoots in looking for a takedown. Ali tries to sprawl out of it but Kuka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ali manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Muhammad Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joku Kuka.
Ali cracks Kuka with a big right hand and Kuka goes down!

Kuka is rocked!
Kuka has a closed guard, preventing Ali from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuka throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Ali wants to pass the guard but Kuka is keeping the position.
Ali wants to get up but he can't break Kuka's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Kuka working for a triangle but Ali defends it easily.
Kuka looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuka, not yet.
Kuka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ali!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kuka lands a big shot there that rocks Ali but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kuka looking to ground and pound but Ali is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ali tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kuka unloads with some shots from mount but Ali bucks and avoids them well.
Ali can't escape the position.
Ali is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Ali holds on to Kuka as tight as he can, avoiding damage.

Kuka jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ali is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ali and Kuka has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Kuka looks gassed!
Ali wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali struggling a bit here.

Kuka looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ali trying his best to control but Kuka has mounted him.

Kuka jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ali manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Ali is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kuka is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ali knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Ali's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ali misses with a wild combination.
Kuka misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Muhammad Ali seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kuka looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammad Ali dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ali scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Ali closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Ali fails to land with a series of punches.
Ali throws a series of punches but Kuka avoids them all with ease.
Kuka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ali swivels and escapes.
Ali throws a series of punches but Kuka moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Ali.
Ali jabs at Kuka's body.
Kuka closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ali circles away.
Kuka fails to land the takedown.
Muhammad Ali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joku Kuka.
Ali throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Muhammad Ali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ali scores with a jab to the head.
Ali fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuka fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kuka is breathing heavily.
Ali throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ali throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuka.
Ali walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kuka checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ali stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuka. Kuka gets slowly back to his feet.
Ali pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ali lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Ali shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kuka shoots in but Ali avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kuka takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Ali thuds a left hand into Kuka's body.
A bone on bone clash there as Kuka blocks the leg kick.
Ali throws a right hand that Kuka ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuka also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ali misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Ali.
Ali misses with a wild combination.
Kuka closes the distance and clinches up with Ali, looking for a takedown. Kuka pushes Ali against the cage but Ali circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ali scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Muhammad Ali is winning the standup battle so far.
Ali stalks Kuka and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kuka's face. Kuka staggers backwards, shaken.
Kuka is still on wobbly legs! Can Ali finish him?
Ali throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuka seems to have recovered his senses.

Kuka bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kuka tries to advance to mount but can't.
Ali is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Kuka is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali stops Kuka from passing to mount.
Ali is trying to buck Kuka off.
Kuka tries to advance to mount but Ali denies him.
Ali tries to buck Kuka off but Kuka is having none of it.

Kuka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Ali, who protects the arm well.
Ali is pushing Kuka's head away, looking to escape. Kuka manages to hold on to the position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ali misses with a series of wild punches.
Muhammad Ali is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ali throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuka.
Nice sprawl there from Ali as Kuka shoots in.
Ali throws a series of punches but Kuka moves out of range.
Ali swinging wilding here.
Ali fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Ali tries to bum rush Kuka with a series of wild strikes but Kuka uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kuka shoots in looking for a takedown. Ali tries to sprawl out of it but Kuka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ali manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Kuka as Ali shoots in.
Kuka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ali but Ali pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ali lands a jab to Kuka's midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammad Ali dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ali throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Ali looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ali.
Kuka dodges the punch combination from Ali.
Ali lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Kuka shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kuka showed some decent athleticism there.
Ground and pound from Kuka.
Kuka is keen to just control but Ali is a slippery customer.

Kuka seems to be looking for submissions.
Ali has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kuka is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuka passes to full mount!

Kuka working for a submission but Ali is keeping him at bay.

Kuka looking to isolate an arm here. Ali doesn't see it coming and as Kuka extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Kuka!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:42 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joku Kuka!
Joku Kuka is the new heavyweight champion!