PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Son Wukong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teppo Karhu (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.

Wukong
vs
Karhu

177 cm
23
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Son Wukong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Karhu!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karhu showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wukong.
Wukong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Wukong scores a takedown into full mount!
Wukong wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

Karhu defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Wukong.
Karhu tries to hold on but Wukong pushes him away.
Karhu tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wukong takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

Karhu is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Wukong is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Karhu is defending well though. Wukong let's go of the attempt for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wukong is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Karhu trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Karhu is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Wukong gets his way!

Wukong is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Karhu is defending well though. Wukong let's go of the attempt for now.
Wukong is breathing heavily.
Wukong controlling well, preventing Karhu from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wukong doesn't have the hooks in and Karhu manages to turn into his guard.
Wukong wants to sweep but no luck.
Karhu wants to control from the top but Wukong keeps moving.
Karhu won't allow Wukong to sweep him here.
Wukong keeping moving, preventing Karhu from controlling successfully.
Karhu is stalling in the full guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karhu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wukong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Wukong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Karhu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Karhu pushes down on Wukong's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Wukong manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Karhu is looking to work some ground and pound but Wukong has wrist control.
Karhu wants to get up but he can't break Wukong's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Wukong strikes from his own guard.

Wukong has his foot on Karhu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Karhu works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wukong trying to control the position.
Karhu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Karhu trying to control but Wukong is working from the bottom.
Wukong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Karhu must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Wukong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Karhu is looking to stand up but Wukong won't let him.
Karhu tries to free his leg and advance position but Wukong is retaining full guard.
Wukong looking for a sweep. Not yet Wukong, not yet.

Wukong has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Karhu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Karhu trying to control but Wukong is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Son Wukong dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Wukong closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Karhu is trying to control but can't.
Karhu is trying to stand up here but Wukong is controlling him well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Karhu wants to control but Wukong is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wukong is trying to control the action in half guard but Karhu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Wukong is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Karhu wants to control but Wukong is keeping busy.
Wukong moves into full mount! Karhu won't be happy about that!

Wukong working for a guillotine from mount but Karhu is in no mood to give up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wukong avoids the attempt from Karhu to control.
Karhu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Karhu is trying to escape the mount but Wukong keeps good control and instead manages to take Karhu's back.

Karhu showing good submission defense here.

Wukong working for the choke.

Wukong is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Karhu defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wukong controlling well, preventing Karhu from escaping the position.

Wukong looking for the RNC.

Wukong looking for the choke but no joy.
Wukong keeps control of the position as Karhu tries to break free.
Wukong trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wukong looking for the RNC.
Wukong controlling well, preventing Karhu from escaping the position.

Wukong is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Karhu trying to control but not successfully.

Karhu is in a bad position with Wukong working for a choke. Karhu manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karhu is looking to work some ground and pound but Wukong has wrist control.

Wukong is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Karhu lands a couple of elbows.
Karhu has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wukong is proving hard to escape from.

Wukong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Wukong had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Karhu is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Wukong Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Karhu's back instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Karhu trying to control the position but Wukong manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Son Wukong dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Wukong drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wukong is looking to take a break and control but Karhu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Karhu misses with a strike from the bottom.
Karhu is looking for a sweep.

Wukong tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Wukong wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Karhu, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Wukong is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Karhu has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karhu throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Karhu throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
Karhu is trying to control Wukong's posture but Wukong avoids it.
Karhu is trying to improve his position.
Karhu struggling a bit here.

Wukong tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wukong has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Wukong is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Karhu has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two 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.
Wukong tries to move to mount but Karhu blocks the move with his legs.
Wukong trying to control the position but Karhu is working away.
Karhu is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Wukong wants to control but Karhu is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wukong tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Wukong tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wukong has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Karhu is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Karhu struggling a bit here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Karhu tries to clinch up but Wukong circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Wukong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Wukong closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Wukong is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Karhu looks calm but he's in trouble here. Wukong gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Karhu is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Wukong lets go of the hold and Karhu can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Son Wukong!