PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Herbert Dean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jouko Kukkonen (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.

Dean
vs
Kukkonen

186 cm
19
193 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

192 cm
19
190 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Hellbent, Inc.
Hellbent, Inc.

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Herbert Dean!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jouko Kukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukkonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kukkonen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dean as he jumps to the side.

Kukkonen gets the takedown into side control.
Dean tries to bench press Kukkonen off him but Kukkonen keeps the position.
Kukkonen working away.
Dean gets back to half guard.
It looks like Kukkonen is going to stand back up.
Dean tries to get to full guard but Kukkonen has control of the leg.
Dean is working hard here to advance position.
Dean punching from the bottom.
Dean is looking for a sweep. Kukkonen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Dean scores with a takedown into Kukkonen's guard.
Dean trying to control the position from guard on top but Kukkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dean advances position into side control!
Kukkonen wants to get back to his feet.
Dean works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kukkonen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dean. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dean is looking to take a break and control but Kukkonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
An elbow from Dean crashes against the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Dean trying to control the position but Kukkonen is working away.

Dean looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dean is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kukkonen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dean wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kukkonen keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen prevents Dean from improving position.
Dean working away.
Kukkonen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kukkonen takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kukkonen is not content to let Dean control the position.

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.
Dean cracks Kukkonen with a big right hand but Kukkonen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Dean working the ground and pound but Kukkonen is defending the strikes.

Dean tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dean passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Kukkonen!
Dean lands with some strikes.
Dean controlling the position easily from mount.
Kukkonen tries to control the position but Dean now has his back.
Kukkonen looks gassed!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen is trying to stand back up.

Dean looking to break Kukkonen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Kukkonen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Dean will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Kukkonen trying to control the hands but Dean breaks the grip.
Kukkonen is taking damage to the body and head.

Dean has both hooks in and is working for a choke. Kukkonen is in real trouble here. Dean gets an arm under the chin and tightens the submission attempt... is this the end? Yes, Kukkonen is tapping out! Dean wins by rear naked choke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Herbert Dean!
Herbert Dean retains his middleweight title!