PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tulinen Janne Ensio (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.

Kalervo Kukkonen
vs
Janne Ensio

175 cm
18
191 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Only 160Q supps!)

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tulinen Janne Ensio!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Janne Ensio missing with a left hand there. Kukkonen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Kukkonen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kukkonen showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kukkonen content to control rather than advance.
Janne Ensio wants to get back to full guard.
Janne Ensio trying to control from the bottom.
Janne Ensio tries to roll over but Kukkonen keeps him under control.
Kukkonen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Janne Ensio is trying to maintain the position but Kukkonen is very close to passing his half guard.
Kukkonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nice strikes from Kukkonen there.
Kukkonen wants to control but Janne Ensio is keeping him busy.
Kukkonen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Janne Ensio defending well though.
Kukkonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Janne Ensio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkonen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kukkonen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kukkonen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kukkonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Janne Ensio keeps working.
Kukkonen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kukkonen prevents Janne Ensio from improving his position.
Janne Ensio keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kukkonen is nestled in close to Janne Ensio, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kukkonen lands a nice short elbow.
Kukkonen throwing shots but Janne Ensio is blocking nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kukkonen connects with a nice short shot to Janne Ensio's temple.
Kukkonen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kukkonen 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.
Janne Ensio taking some punishment here, with Kukkonen in his half guard.
Janne Ensio is looking for a sweep. Kukkonen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kukkonen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Janne Ensio wants to improve his position but Kukkonen is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kukkonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Janne Ensio is controlling Kukkonen's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Janne Ensio really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kukkonen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kukkonen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kukkonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Janne Ensio keeps working.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kukkonen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kukkonen moves into full mount! Janne Ensio won't be happy about that!
Janne Ensio is trying desperately to improve position.
Kukkonen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Janne Ensio hang on?

Kukkonen is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Janne Ensio to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Janne Ensio shrugs it off.
Janne Ensio is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen scoring with strikes but Janne Ensio is staying in there.
Janne Ensio can't escape the position.
Kukkonen landing shots from mount.
Janne Ensio can't escape the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kukkonen dominating with strikes here.
Kukkonen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Kukkonen stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Janne Ensio avoids the body shot from Kukkonen.
Kukkonen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Janne Ensio moves forwards but Kukkonen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Janne Ensio slips a straight right by Kukkonen.
Kukkonen throws a low kick but it's checked well by Janne Ensio.
Janne Ensio just misses with a punch to the body.
Janne Ensio uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kukkonen.
Nice jab there from Kukkonen.
Tulinen Janne Ensio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kukkonen loads up on a big right hand but Janne Ensio slips the punch.
Kukkonen misses with a wild body shot.
Kukkonen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Janne Ensio misses with a right hand
and Kukkonen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Janne Ensio misses with an uppercut.
Janne Ensio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kukkonen manages to avoid it.
Janne Ensio wants to clinch up but Kukkonen keeps it at a distance.
Janne Ensio has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kukkonen finds it's way round the side to connect with Janne Ensio's head.
Kukkonen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A big left from Janne Ensio misses.

Janne Ensio gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kukkonen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Janne Ensio is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Janne Ensio missing with a left hand there. Kukkonen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Janne Ensio misses with an uppercut. Kukkonen saw that one coming.
Janne Ensio connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kukkonen momentarily.
Janne Ensio misses with a straight right.
Kukkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Janne Ensio swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Janne Ensio throws a jab but it's blocked by Kukkonen.
Janne Ensio throws a right hand that misses
and Kukkonen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kukkonen misses with a takedown
and Janne Ensio counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Janne Ensio moves out of range as Kukkonen strikes.
Kukkonen slips a jab from Janne Ensio.
Janne Ensio throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Janne Ensio throws a body punch but Kukkonen moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Janne Ensio bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Janne Ensio throws out a loose jab but Kukkonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kukkonen moves away from the strike by Janne Ensio.
Janne Ensio tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Kukkonen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Janne Ensio keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Janne Ensio throws a jab but it's blocked by Kukkonen.
Kukkonen misses with a wild body shot.
Janne Ensio throws a shot from downtown. Kukkonen moves away and avoids it.
Kukkonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kukkonen slips under a jab from Janne Ensio.
Kukkonen slips a jab from Janne Ensio.
Kukkonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Janne Ensio.
A jab from Janne Ensio misses.
Kukkonen misses with a leg kick.
Janne Ensio looks to throw the jab but Kukkonen is out of range.
Janne Ensio missing with a left hand there. Kukkonen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kukkonen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Janne Ensio under the eye.
Kukkonen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kukkonen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Janne Ensio tries to avoid it but Kukkonen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Janne Ensio to the ground. Janne Ensio escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Janne Ensio is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Kukkonen moves out of range of the strikes.
Janne Ensio misses with a straight right.
Janne Ensio moves in looking to clinch but Kukkonen pushes him off.
Tulinen Janne Ensio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Janne Ensio throws a shot from downtown. Kukkonen moves away and avoids it.
Janne Ensio throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kukkonen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Janne Ensio throws a jab but it's blocked by Kukkonen.
Kukkonen drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kukkonen shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kukkonen has a takedown stuffed.
Tulinen Janne Ensio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Janne Ensio throws a right hand that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kukkonen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A shot to the liver by Janne Ensio. Beautiful body shot.
Kukkonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Janne Ensio moves away.
Kukkonen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Janne Ensio misses with a hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Janne Ensio misses the target.
Kukkonen looks for a takedown but Janne Ensio sprawls well.
Kukkonen shoots in for a takedown but Janne Ensio shows good takedown defense.
Janne Ensio thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kukkonen tries to clinch but Janne Ensio moves out of range.
Janne Ensio might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Janne Ensio lands the left hand.
Janne Ensio dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen blocks a jab.
Kukkonen looks for a takedown but Janne Ensio sprawls well.
Janne Ensio throws a hook but Kukkonen avoids it easily.
Janne Ensio works Kukkonen's body with a nice hook.
Janne Ensio ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kukkonen moves away.
Janne Ensio misses with a hook.
Kukkonen avoids the body shot from Janne Ensio.
Kukkonen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Nice defenses there by Kukkonen.
Kukkonen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Janne Ensio.
Kukkonen tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Janne Ensio manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Janne Ensio thuds a left hand into Kukkonen's body.
Janne Ensio connects with a nice looking jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Janne Ensio cracks Kukkonen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Janne Ensio throws a hook but Kukkonen avoids it easily.
Kukkonen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Janne Ensio throws a shot from downtown. Kukkonen moves away and avoids it.
Janne Ensio throws a looping overhand right but Kukkonen ducks down to avoid it.
Janne Ensio misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Kukkonen to counter with a crisp jab.
Janne Ensio blocks a jab.
Janne Ensio throws the left hand but Kukkonen avoids the punch easily.
Kukkonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Janne Ensio misses the jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kukkonen.
Janne Ensio changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kukkonen ducks under a wild hook from Janne Ensio.
Jab, jab by Janne Ensio - just one landing.
Kukkonen will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kukkonen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kukkonen scores with a jab.
Janne Ensio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kukkonen.
Kukkonen keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tulinen Janne Ensio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kukkonen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Janne Ensio pinned against the ropes. Janne Ensio gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kukkonen missing with a left hand there. Janne Ensio was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Janne Ensio listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
The fighters circling - Janne Ensio throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Janne Ensio chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kukkonen can pounce on him.

Kukkonen rushes Janne Ensio and presses him up against the ropes.
Janne Ensio blocks an uppercut.
Kukkonen lands a right hand.
Janne Ensio blocking some punches.
Janne Ensio lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Janne Ensio pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Janne Ensio lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kukkonen backwards.
Kukkonen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kukkonen tries to score a body lock takedown but Janne Ensio shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Janne Ensio tries to break free but Kukkonen pushes him back against the ropes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Janne Ensio has had enough of the clinch but Kukkonen keeps him there for the moment.
Kukkonen managing to block the knees to the body from Janne Ensio.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kukkonen.
Kukkonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kukkonen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Janne Ensio is looking to take this one to the mat.
Janne Ensio stalls.
Janne Ensio tries to circle away but Kukkonen has him pinned against the ropes.
Kukkonen lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Janne Ensio is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kukkonen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Janne Ensio misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kukkonen trying to control the position but instead, Janne Ensio has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kukkonen into the ropes.
Kukkonen lands a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Janne Ensio tries to stall but Kukkonen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kukkonen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Still in the clinch, Janne Ensio scores with a nice short uppercut.
Kukkonen working aggressively here.
Janne Ensio stalling in the clinch but Kukkonen improves position.
Kukkonen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kukkonen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Janne Ensio tries a body shot but Kukkonen blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kukkonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kukkonen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kukkonen lands with a short shot to the head.
Janne Ensio tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kukkonen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Janne Ensio makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Janne Ensio swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Janne Ensio jumps into guard, dragging Kukkonen to the mat.
Kukkonen throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Janne Ensio has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kukkonen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Janne Ensio has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kukkonen has passed into side control.
Janne Ensio tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kukkonen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kukkonen working away.

Kukkonen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kukkonen is working Janne Ensio over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kukkonen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Janne Ensio regains half guard.
Kukkonen is keen to just control but Janne Ensio is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kukkonen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Janne Ensio is trying to control but can't.
Janne Ensio moves into full guard.

Janne Ensio is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kukkonen with a flurry of punches that miss.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Janne Ensio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kukkonen scoring with punches to the head and body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Janne Ensio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Janne Ensio is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen.
I think Kukkonen 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Tulinen Janne Ensio!

The fight ends as a draw!