PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Burt Wharf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Veikko Kulkunen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Veikko Kulkunen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Wharf
vs
Kulkunen

170 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

164 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Burt Wharf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Veikko Kulkunen!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Colin Fotheringham and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulkunen shoots in for a takedown but Wharf shows good takedown defense.

Kulkunen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Wharf is trying to control but can't.

Wharf is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kulkunen pulls his head out easily.
Wharf wants to improve his position but Kulkunen is controlling well.
Wharf could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Wharf is doing well to control the position and prevent Kulkunen from advancing to side control.
Wharf is looking to control Kulkunen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wharf avoid being mounted?
Kulkunen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kulkunen trying to control the action but Wharf is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice sprawl there from Kulkunen as Wharf shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kulkunen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Kulkunen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Wharf is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kulkunen pulls his head out easily.
Wharf gets back to full guard.
Kulkunen is stalling in the full guard.
Kulkunen pushing down on Wharf's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulkunen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wharf wants to get back to full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Wharf's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kulkunen is just content to waste time from the top position. Wharf takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wharf is on top in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kulkunen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kulkunen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wharf is looking to pass into half guard but Kulkunen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kulkunen is in guard.
Kulkunen stays in close to Wharf's body and controls the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kulkunen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wharf wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kulkunen is now in half guard.
Kulkunen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kulkunen moves nicely into side control.
A lull in the action here as Kulkunen stalls from top position.
Wharf sneaks back into half guard.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulkunen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Kulkunen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wharf is staying active underneath Kulkunen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Wharf is trying to maintain the position but Kulkunen is very close to passing his half guard.
Wharf is refusing to be controlled, as Kulkunen sits in half guard.
Wharf tries to get to full guard but Kulkunen has control of the leg.
Kulkunen trying to control from half guard but Wharf is working away.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Kulkunen is looking for a kimura but Wharf is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kulkunen to get the leverage.
Kulkunen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Wharf is looking to control Kulkunen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wharf avoid being mounted?
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kulkunen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Let's hope that Kulkunen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Veikko Kulkunen.

Wharf closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wharf is looking to pass Kulkunen's guard but actually Kulkunen recovers to full guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Kulkunen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wharf can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kulkunen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wharf has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kulkunen keeping moving, preventing Wharf from controlling successfully.

Kulkunen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wharf trying to control the position from guard on top but Kulkunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kulkunen has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Gangsterdamage. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Wharf trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kulkunen keeping moving, preventing Wharf from controlling successfully.

Kulkunen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wharf looking to sit in guard and control but Kulkunen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Wharf being controlled here, momentarily.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Wharf had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kulkunen defends it easily.
Kulkunen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Kulkunen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kulkunen passes Wharf's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kulkunen uses his free foot to push down on Wharf's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Wharf.
Wharf manages to control the position for a moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wharf is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Wharf wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Kulkunen looking to break Wharf's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Wharf remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Kulkunen will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kulkunen's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
I really don't envy Wharf right now.
Wharf is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Kulkunen.

Kulkunen has got one arm under Wharf's chin. This could be trouble... Wharf trying to control the other hand but Kulkunen gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Wharf has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 9:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Veikko Kulkunen!