PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Bessmertin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kalervo Kukkonen
vs
Bessmertin

175 cm
23
191 lbs
12 - 3 - 1

189 cm
23
183 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Perkele!

DJs Locker
Project Mayhem

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artem Bessmertin!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bessmertin misses with a hook
and Kukkonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bessmertin lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Kukkonen drives through and clinches with Bessmertin against the cage.
Kukkonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bessmertin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kukkonen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bessmertin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bessmertin tries to throw a body punch but Kukkonen avoids it by throwing Bessmertin back against the cage.
Kukkonen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kukkonen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bessmertin misses with a hook to the ribs.

Kukkonen gets control of Bessmertin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kukkonen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bessmertin postures up in Kukkonen's guard and throws a big left but Kukkonen blocks it.
Kukkonen working a defensive guard here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kukkonen is pulling down on Bessmertin's head. It's preventing any offense from Bessmertin, at least for the moment.
Bessmertin wants to control from the top but Kukkonen keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kukkonen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kukkonen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bessmertin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kukkonen is keeping the position for now.
Bessmertin trying to control but Kukkonen is working from the bottom.
Kukkonen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kukkonen trying to keep a closed guard but Bessmertin is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kukkonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bessmertin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen fails with the takedown
and Bessmertin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
An inside leg kick from Kukkonen misses.
Bessmertin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Kukkonen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kukkonen trying to control the action but Bessmertin is working from the bottom.
Kukkonen throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Bessmertin works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Bessmertin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen is thwarting Bessmertin's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bessmertin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kukkonen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kukkonen is fighting to break Bessmertin's control of his arms but Bessmertin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Bessmertin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kukkonen passes Bessmertin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kukkonen lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bessmertin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kukkonen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kukkonen's back!
Kukkonen is trying to break free.
Bessmertin is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Kukkonen is really stuck here.
Kukkonen turns into Bessmertin and is now in his guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kukkonen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bessmertin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kukkonen manages to get himself to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bessmertin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bessmertin postures up in Kukkonen's guard and throws a big left but Kukkonen blocks it.
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 Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kukkonen swings for the body but Bessmertin moves out of range.
Kukkonen missing with a left hand there. Bessmertin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Bessmertin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kukkonen did well to prevent Bessmertin getting side control.
Bessmertin drops an elbow to the side of Kukkonen's head.

Kukkonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kukkonen moves into full guard.
Kukkonen keeping moving, preventing Bessmertin from controlling successfully.
Kukkonen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kukkonen looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Bessmertin has picked Kukkonen up and slammed him! Kukkonen can't keep hold of the triangle and Bessmertin manages to pass to side control!
Kukkonen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kukkonen taking a bit of punishment here - Bessmertin scoring with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Kukkonen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Artem Bessmertin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kukkonen is not content to let Bessmertin control the position.
Bessmertin tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Bessmertin working the head and body with strikes.
Kukkonen tries to buck Bessmertin off but Bessmertin is having none of it.
Kukkonen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Bessmertin misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen tries to buck Bessmertin off but Bessmertin is having none of it.
Kukkonen tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Bessmertin presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Kukkonen is looking to get to half guard.
Bessmertin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kukkonen regains half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kukkonen gets full guard.

Kukkonen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bessmertin defends it easily.
Kukkonen wants to sweep here but Bessmertin controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen is pulling down on Bessmertin's head. It's preventing any offense from Bessmertin, at least for the moment.
Kukkonen is trying to control the position but Bessmertin postures up.
Kukkonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bessmertin wants to pass the guard but Kukkonen is keeping the position.
Kukkonen is trying to hold Bessmertin in close to prevent damage but Bessmertin has managed to pass into half guard.
Kukkonen is trying to maintain the position but Bessmertin is very close to passing his half guard.

Kukkonen has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Bessmertin escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Bessmertin!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Bessmertin is looking to take a break and control but Kukkonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kukkonen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Bessmertin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kukkonen is working away from the top position though.

Kukkonen wants to work for an arm triangle but Bessmertin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bessmertin is looking to improve his position.
Kukkonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Artem Bessmertin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kukkonen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Bessmertin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kukkonen.
Kukkonen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Bessmertin is not content to let Kukkonen control the position.
Bessmertin is looking for a sweep.
Bessmertin struggling a bit here.
Bessmertin is looking for a sweep.
Kukkonen trying to control the action but Bessmertin is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Bessmertin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkonen trying to control the position but Bessmertin is working away.
Bessmertin is looking to reverse the position.
Kukkonen trying to control the action but Bessmertin is working from the bottom.

Kukkonen tries for a kimura but Bessmertin is defending well.
Sloppy strikes there by Kukkonen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bessmertin keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Bessmertin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bessmertin tries to buck Kukkonen off but Kukkonen is having none of it.
Kukkonen working away.
Kukkonen lands an elbow.

Kukkonen in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Bessmertin is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen!
Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen is the new middleweight champion!
After winning the bout, Rambo Kalervo Kukkonen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.