PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rokki Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karri Koira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kukko comes to the cage accompanied by Rokki puts asses in the seats!. Rokki Kukko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kukko
vs
Koira

176 cm
25
176 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Darkness
Perkele!

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rokki Kukko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karri Koira!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Koira.
Koira misses with a low kick.
We've been hearing reports that Kukko has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Kukko looks to throw the jab but Koira is out of range.
Koira swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Koira tries to clinch but Kukko is having none of it.
A big left from Kukko misses.
Kukko scores with a kick to the midsection.
Koira lands a leg kick that knocks Kukko off balance momentarily.
Koira throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Koira moves into the clinch.

Koira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Koira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kukko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kukko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Koira slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kukko takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A clash of legs there as Koira blocks the low kick.
A little jabbing left from Koira on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kukko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Karri Koira has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short right from Kukko on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koira.
Kukko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Koira breaks the clinch.
Koira jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kukko on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Koira rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kukko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kukko slips under a jab.
Kukko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Koira is out of range.
Kukko misses with a hook. Koira ducked under it nicely.
Koira cracks a nice hook into Kukko's ribs.
Kukko ducks right into an uppercut from Koira.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Koira tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kukko is able to avoid easily.
A cross from Kukko lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A good leg kick by Kukko.
Koira cracks the inside of Kukko's front leg.
Koira lands a head shot.
Koira misses with a lunging right hand

and Kukko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Koira won't be happy with that.
Koira is trying to control Kukko's posture but Kukko avoids it.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Kukko moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Kukko tries for a kimura but Koira is defending well.
Kukko postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Koira is trying to control Kukko's posture but Kukko avoids it.
The strikes coming from Kukko are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koira manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kukko's best efforts.
Koira is trying to control but can't.
Kukko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Koira defending well though.
Koira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Koira blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kukko.
Kukko prevents Koira from improving his position.
Kukko wants to take a breather but Koira is having none of it.
Koira is positioning himself well to prevent Kukko advancing to mount.
Koira is trying to control but can't.
Koira is concentrating on defense, preventing Kukko from advancing position.
Koira trying to control here.
Koira holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Koira tries to roll over but Kukko keeps him under control.
Kukko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Koira trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kukko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Koira sees it coming and defends easily.
Koira is looking to escape.
Koira keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kukko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kukko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Koira's head.
Koira controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Koira gets back to full guard.
Koira wants to sweep but no luck.
Koira working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukko preventing the sweep.
Kukko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kukko trying to control but Koira is working from the bottom.
Koira working a defensive guard here.
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 Rokki Kukko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Karri Koira's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Koira 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.
Kukko cracks Koira with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Koira tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kukko darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Koira misses with a leg kick

and Kukko counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Koira!
Koira sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kukko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kukko is thwarting Koira's attempts to control the position.
Kukko wants to take a breather but Koira is having none of it.
Kukko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Koira can do to turn this around?
Kukko moves nicely into side control.
Kukko prevents Koira from escaping the position.

Kukko tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kukko has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koira is trying to control Kukko's posture but Kukko avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Koira keeps working.
Rokki Kukko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Koira wants to control but Kukko postures up.
Kukko scores with punches from side control.
The ground and pound from Kukko seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kukko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Koira keeps Kukko under control for a moment.
The ground and pound from Kukko seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kukko working away.
Koira dodges the ground and pound from Kukko.
Koira wants to control but Kukko postures up.
Koira tries to buck Kukko off but Kukko is having none of it.
Kukko lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Koira down.
Kukko working away.

Kukko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Koira, who protects the arm well.
Koira is holding Kukko down, trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koira manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Koira works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kukko is squirming around, avoiding Koira's attempts to control the action.
Koira tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kukko is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kukko sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kukko is looking for a sweep. Koira is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koira is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Koira wants to stand but Kukko has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Koira is keen to just control but Kukko is a slippery customer.
Koira performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Koira is continuing to stall.
Koira wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kukko keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kukko gets back to full guard.
Kukko keeping full guard, as Koira tries to pass.
Koira trying to control but Kukko is working from the bottom.
Kukko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Koira controls the pace.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
My spies in The Jungle Elite MMA inform me that Koira has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Koira's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kukko takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rokki Kukko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Karri Koira's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kukko cracks Koira with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
That kick from Kukko tenderised Koira's leg. Koira is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kukko lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Koira tries to clinch but Kukko is having none of it.
Kukko half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Koira circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab from Koira misses.

Koira clinches with his opponent.

Koira breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice cross by Kukko.
Koira misses the shot to the body.
Koira throws out a leg kick but Kukko moves out of range and Koira only half commits.
Karri Koira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kukko scores with a shot to the body.
Koira tries to clinch there but Kukko circles away.
Koira misses with a body shot.
Kukko connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koira drives through and clinches with Kukko against the cage.
Kukko is working Koira over against the cage.
Koira digs a right hand into Kukko's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kukko's gas tank.
Koira tries to break free but Kukko pushes him back against the cage.
Koira working aggressively here.
Koira tries to break free but Kukko pushes him back against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Kukko.
Koira has a couple of punches blocked by Kukko.
Kukko lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Kukko breaks from the clinch.
Kukko slips under a jab from Koira.
Kukko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koira.
Kukko feinted with a counter takedown.
Kukko misses with a body kick.
Koira throws the left hand but Kukko avoids the punch easily.
Koira wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koira scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Koira misses with a wild body shot.

Kukko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kukko lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kukko stops Koira from standing up.
Koira pulls Kukko in close to prevent any damage.
Kukko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Koira is pulling down on Kukko's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko is in close to Koira's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Koira wants to sweep here but Kukko controlling him for the moment.
Kukko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Koira's guard.

Kukko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Koira defends it well.
Koira is looking for a sweep. Kukko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Koira is not content to let Kukko control the position.
Koira is looking for a sweep. Kukko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Koira is trying is best to control the position here.
Koira trying to control from the bottom.
Kukko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kukko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Koira keeps working.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but Koira defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Koira is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kukko is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Koira tries to lock up and control but Kukko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kukko punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kukko cracks Koira with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rokki Kukko!
Rokki Kukko retains his welterweight title!
A very excited looking Rokki Kukko rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.