PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rubin Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carter comes to the cage accompanied by Hurricane. Rubin Carter has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Carter
vs
Kalervo Kukkonen

194 cm
21
197 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
21
191 lbs
6 - 2 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

The Choke´s On You

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Rubin Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukkonen thows a body shot but no joy.
Kukkonen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kukkonen throws a hook but Carter blocks it.
Carter slips under a jab from Kukkonen.
Carter throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
enabling Kukkonen to counter with a crisp jab.
Carter takes a swing at Kukkonen's ribcage but misses.
Kukkonen shoots in looking for a takedown. Carter tries to sprawl out of it but Kukkonen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Carter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kukkonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Carter was well out of range. Poor timing from Kukkonen.
Kukkonen shoots in but no luck this time.
Carter throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kukkonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Carter circles away.

Kukkonen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Carter manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Carter avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Carter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kukkonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Carter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kukkonen stopping the sweep attempt from Carter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Carter trying to keep a closed guard but Kukkonen is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Carter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kukkonen throwing strikes from guard but Carter blocks nicely.
Kukkonen sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kukkonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kukkonen is stalling in the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Carter, right into the meat.
Carter throws a head kick but Kukkonen moves out of range.
Carter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kukkonen manages to avoid it.
Kukkonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carter.
Carter lunges at Kukkonen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kukkonen's hand.
Carter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kukkonen looks for a takedown but Carter sprawls well.
Rubin Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen.
Carter throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Kukkonen. Beautiful body shot.
Kukkonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kukkonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kukkonen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Carter.
Kukkonen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A combination from Carter does no damage.
Carter's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Carter duly obliges.
Nice uppercut there from Kukkonen.
Carter loads up on a big right hand but Kukkonen slips the punch.
Carter takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carter misses with a looping left.
Kukkonen shoots in for a takedown but Carter shows good takedown defense.
A big right from Kukkonen misses.
Carter avoids the body shot from Kukkonen.
Carter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kukkonen scores with a jab to the body.
Carter misses with a hook. Kukkonen ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter cracks the inside of Kukkonen's front leg.
Carter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kukkonen circles away quickly and effectively.
Kukkonen throws a poor cross that misses
and Carter counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kukkonen's knee momentarily.
Carter checks the leg kick nicely there.
Kukkonen misses with a hook.
A good leg kick by Kukkonen.
Carter scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sloppy strikes from Carter. Those never looked like landing.
Carter staying out of range there.
Carter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kukkonen.
Kukkonen with a hook.
Kukkonen looks for the body kick but Carter saw that one coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kukkonen scores with a nice body kick.
Kukkonen tries for a takedown but Carter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Carter bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Nice defenses there by Kukkonen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Carter misses with a wild combination.
Carter bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kukkonen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Carter.
A swing and a miss from Kukkonen.
Carter throws a push kick but Kukkonen slaps the foot to one side.
Both fighters circling a little - Carter finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kukkonen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Carter tries to land a front kick but Kukkonen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kukkonen misses with a looping left.
Kukkonen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Carters jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Some wild striking there from Carter.
Carter fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Carter keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Carter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kukkonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Carter moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkonen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kukkonen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kukkonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Carter.

Carter gets in close and instigates a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kukkonen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Carter's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kukkonen is trying to trip Carter. He has hold of a leg but Carter is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Kukkonen persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Kukkonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Carter lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kukkonen!
Kukkonen is desperately trying to improve his position but Carter has a good base and remains in mount.
Carter manages to capitalize on a mistake by Kukkonen to take his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen turns into Carter and is now in his guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Carter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kukkonen throws a strike but Carter rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kukkonen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kukkonen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Carter!
Kukkonen tries to control but Carter wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen landing strikes from the mount and Carter is in trouble!
Carter working to try and regain half guard.
Kukkonen looking to ground and pound but Carter is blocking nicely.
Kukkonen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kukkonen with good strikes from the mount here!
Kukkonen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Carter can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Carter blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter is squirming around, avoiding Kukkonen's attempts to control the action.
Kukkonen looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kukkonen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Kukkonen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Carter is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Carter and Kukkonen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Carter wants to control but Kukkonen postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Carter takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Carter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kukkonen ducks under a wild hook from Carter.
Carter misses with a body kick.
Kukkonen misses with a shot to the body
and Carter counters with an outside leg kick.
Carter lands with a slapping head kick.
Carter looks to throw the jab but Kukkonen is out of range.
Kukkonen tries for a takedown but Carter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Carter throws a low kick but Kukkonen moves out of range easily.
Carter is looking to clinch.
Carter takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Carter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Carter looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kukkonen shoots in looking for a takedown but Carter manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kukkonen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Carter tries to clinch there but Kukkonen circles away.
Carter sizes up Kukkonen with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Carter slips under a jab from Kukkonen.
A combination from Carter does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kukkonen.
Rubin Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen.
Kukkonen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kukkonen slips a jab and a cross from Carter.
Kukkonen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Carter.
Kukkonen looks to land a left hand but Carter moved out of range nicely.
Kukkonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Carter looks for the body kick but Kukkonen saw that one coming.
Carter throws a hook but Kukkonen blocks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kukkonen. Carter does a little dance to reset his feet.

Kukkonen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kukkonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Carter's head.

Kukkonen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Carter sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Carter trying to hold on to Kukkonen's head to control him but Kukkonen postures up.
Ground and pound from Kukkonen.
Rubin Carter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kukkonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Carter tries to get to full guard but Kukkonen has control of the leg.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kukkonen trying to control from half guard but Carter is working away.
Kukkonen working Carter over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Carter keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kukkonen passes to side control.
Carter takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kukkonen in side control lands a decent elbow.
Carter is looking to reverse the position.
Kukkonen trying to control the action but Carter is working from the bottom.
The referee asks Kukkonen politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kukkonen prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen wants to control for a moment but Carter uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Kukkonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carter keeps working.
Kukkonen controlling the pace.
Kukkonen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kukkonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Carter's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kukkonen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kukkonen is nestled in close to Carter, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kukkonen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen!
An out of breath Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.