PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ville Kuukkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holden Rosenthal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuukkeli comes to the cage accompanied by a-ha - Take On Me. Rosenthal has chosen Rick Derringer - I Am a Real American as his entrance music. Holden Rosenthal acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kuukkeli
vs
Rosenthal

187 cm
27
205 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

185 cm
27
218 lbs
20 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Revolution Fatigues

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 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 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ville Kuukkeli!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Holden Rosenthal!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuukkeli showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rosenthal.
Rosenthal is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kuukkeli.
Kuukkeli ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rosenthal moves away.
Rosenthal shoots for a takedown but Kuukkeli saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rosenthal fails to land the takedown.
Kuukkeli lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rosenthal takes a step back to recover.
Rosenthal avoids the head kick by Kuukkeli.
Rosenthal shoots in but no luck this time.
Ville Kuukkeli has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Holden Rosenthal.

Rosenthal feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Rosenthal won't allow Kuukkeli to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukkeli working a defensive guard here.

Kuukkeli working for a triangle but Rosenthal defends it easily.
Kuukkeli wants to sweep but no luck.

Rosenthal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kuukkeli wants to sweep here but Rosenthal controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rosenthal advances position into side control!
Kuukkeli is trying to get back to half guard.
Rosenthal is looking to take a break and control but Kuukkeli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kuukkeli is not content to let Rosenthal control the position.
Rosenthal slows the pace down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli is looking to regain half guard here but Rosenthal keeps moving and retains side control.
Rosenthal trying to control the position but Kuukkeli is working away.
Kuukkeli is working to avoid the ground and pound but Rosenthal connects with a decent elbow.
Rosenthal working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rosenthal throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuukkeli is looking for a sweep.
Rosenthal is looking to take a break and control but Kuukkeli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ville Kuukkeli will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rosenthal slaps away a takedown attempt from Kuukkeli, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kuukkeli just misses with a punch to the body.
Rosenthal looks to throw the jab but Kuukkeli is out of range.
Rosenthal throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Kuukkeli scores with a shot to the body.
Rosenthal misses with a head kick.

Kuukkeli drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kuukkeli pushes down on Rosenthal's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rosenthal is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rosenthal is refusing to be controlled, as Kuukkeli sits in half guard.
Rosenthal moves into full guard.
Rosenthal wants to hit a switch here but Kuukkeli passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rosenthal there!
Kuukkeli wants to control the pace but Rosenthal is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Kuukkeli there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rosenthal is working to get back to half guard.
Kuukkeli trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Rosenthal takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli lands a big elbow.
Kuukkeli lands with some strikes.
Rosenthal keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rosenthal bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Kuukkeli has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rosenthal can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rosenthal trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuukkeli is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuukkeli has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rosenthal is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kuukkeli.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Kuukkeli is trying to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rosenthal scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kuukkeli to see if he's OK.
Kuukkeli is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Kuukkeli dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kuukkeli throws a hook but Rosenthal avoids it easily.
Kuukkeli lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rosenthal takes a step back to recover.
Rosenthal pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kuukkeli fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rosenthal to the ground. Kuukkeli is now in Rosenthal's guard.
Kuukkeli trying to control the position from guard on top but Rosenthal is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuukkeli throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Rosenthal has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Kuukkeli should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Rosenthal has tightened it up now! Kuukkeli should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Holden Rosenthal! Holden Rosenthal retains his light heavyweight title!
A victorious Holden Rosenthal thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.