PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Julle Kuikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarkko Kulmala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Kuikka
vs
Kulmala

175 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

183 cm
18
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Julle Kuikka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Kulmala!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulmala shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kuikka as he jumps to the side.
Kuikka looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Kuikka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kulmala gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Kulmala escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kuikka gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kuikka forces his way into half guard.
Kuikka thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kuikka content to control rather than advance.
Kulmala tries to get to full guard but Kuikka has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulmala is trying to control but Kuikka passes into side control!
Kulmala can't do much from the bottom here.
Kulmala manages to get back to half guard.
Kulmala scores with a few weak punches.
Kulmala tries to roll over but Kuikka keeps him under control.

Kulmala is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kuikka pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kuikka prevents Kulmala from improving his position.
Kuikka working Kulmala over with strikes.
Kuikka trying to pass the guard but Kulmala defending well.
Kulmala is looking to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kuikka scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kulmala works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuikka passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Kuikka wants to control but Kulmala is keeping him busy.
Kulmala has hold of Kuikka's hands but Kuikka slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kuikka is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kulmala is looking to improve his position.
Kuikka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kulmala keeps working.

Kulmala actively working from the bottom here.

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.
Kulmala has a hand on Kuikka's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kuikka takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kulmala tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kulmala slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kulmala moves into full guard.
Kulmala is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kulmala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuikka is one step ahead there.

Kulmala had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Kuikka is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kulmala Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Kuikka's back instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jarkko Kulmala will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kuikka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kulmala looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kulmala is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Kulmala is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Kuikka still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Kuikka has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Kulmala tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kuikka trying to control the position but Kulmala is working away.
Kulmala struggling a bit here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulmala tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kuikka presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Kulmala can't escape the position.
Kulmala gets back to half guard.
Kuikka tries to stand and escape but Kulmala is controlling the position.
Kulmala wants to improve his position but Kuikka is controlling well.
Kuikka looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kulmala with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
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. Kuikka connects with a nice short shot to Kulmala's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kulmala looking for submissions off his back.
Jarkko Kulmala has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kulmala looking for a kimura from the bottom but Kuikka passes into side control!
Kulmala wants to control but Kuikka postures up.
Kulmala tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kuikka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kulmala sneaks back into half guard.

Kulmala actively working from the bottom here.
Kulmala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuikka passes into side control, despite Kulmala's attempt to control the position.
Kulmala is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kuikka's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kuikka prevents Kulmala from improving his position.
Kuikka drops an elbow to the side of Kulmala's head.
Kulmala is trying to maintain the position but Kuikka is very close to passing his half guard.
Kulmala pushes Kuikka off looking to stand but Kuikka dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kuikka is looking to take a break and control but Kulmala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuikka prevents Kulmala from improving his position.
Kulmala is in trouble now - Kuikka has advanced to mount!
Kuikka working Kulmala over with strikes here.
Kuikka with shots to the head and body - Kulmala looks very uncomfortable down there.
Kuikka controlling the position easily from mount.
Kulmala tries to get back to half guard but can't.
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 Julle Kuikka will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kuikka decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kulmala gets full guard.

Kulmala has his feet on Kuikka's thighs here. He's pushed Kuikka off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Kuikka screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jarkko Kulmala!