PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Florencio Lara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janne Kahko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Janne Kahko has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Florencio Lara's chin.

Lara
vs
Kahko

155 cm
24
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
130 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Florencio Lara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Janne Kahko!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kahko rushes Lara and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Lara tightens his grip and picks Kahko up, before dumping him to the ground. Kahko manages to land in guard.
Lara wants to control from the top but Kahko keeps moving.
Kahko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lara controls the pace.
Kahko managing to control the position.
Kahko keeping moving, preventing Lara from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kahko wants to stand and escape but Lara is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lara controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kahko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lara napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lara tries to control but Kahko manages to take his back.
Kahko struggling to land strikes to the head as Lara covers up.
Kahko is trying to stick to Lara's back but Lara is turning into Kahko. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kahko's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Lara.
Lara trying to control but Kahko is working from the bottom.
Lara won't allow Kahko to get back to his feet.
Lara won't allow Kahko to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lara wants to control from the top but Kahko keeps moving.
Lara throws a strike but Kahko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Kahko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lara could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kahko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lara tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kahko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lara thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Lara looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Lara wants to improve his position but instead Kahko has moved into half guard.
Lara gets back to full guard.
Kahko is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
An inside leg kick from Kahko misses.
Kahko wants to clinch up but Lara keeps it at a distance.
Kahko tries a head kick but it misses.
Kahko swats away the attempt to clinch by Lara.
Despite the aggression on Kahko's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Lara slips a jab and a cross from Kahko.

Kahko drives through with a takedown into Lara's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kahko trying to control but Lara is working from the bottom.
Kahko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janne Kahko dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kahko gets a double leg takedown into Lara's guard.
Kahko forces his way into half guard.
Kahko trying to control from half guard but Lara is working away.
Lara is trying to maintain the position but Kahko is very close to passing his half guard.
Kahko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kahko works his way into full mount!
Kahko throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahko looking to control but Lara is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lara wants to hold on but Kahko pushes him away.
Lara is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kahko controlling the position easily from mount.
Kahko's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Lara is desperately trying to improve his position but Kahko has a good base and remains in mount.
Lara might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kahko trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kahko manages to capitalize on a mistake by Lara to take his back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

Lara is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Kahko throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Lara 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 Kahko gets his way!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahko throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Lara looking very determined here, making life difficult for Kahko.

Lara defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Janne Kahko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lara wants to get back to his feet.
Kahko really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Lara.

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.
Lara tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Lara is desperately trying to improve his position but Kahko has a good base and remains in mount.
Kahko looking to finish with strikes here!
Kahko looking to finish with strikes here!
Kahko controlling his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lara can't escape the position.
Kahko thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janne Kahko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lara's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Lara clinches up with Kahko and pushes him back against the cage.

Kahko has clasped his hands together around Lara's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kahko is staying tight to Lara's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Kahko trying to control the action but Lara is working from the bottom.
Lara tries to bench press Kahko off him but Kahko keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lara is not content to let Kahko control the position.

Kahko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lara, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kahko working away.
Lara is trying to buck Kahko off.
Lara tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kahko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Lara is working hard here to advance position.
Lara sneaks back into half guard.
Lara keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Still in half guard, Kahko seems content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
More stalling from Kahko.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lara fails with an attempt to clinch.
And Kahko tries to counter it with a takedown but Lara pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lara tries to clinch up.

Kahko shoots in and gets a takedown into Lara's guard.
Lara will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Lara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kahko is one step ahead there.
Kahko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Lara is striking from the bottom but Kahko uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lara defending well though.
Kahko throwing shots but Lara is blocking nicely.
Kahko controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Kahko 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.
Lara avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kahko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kahko.
Lara is looking to get back to full guard here but Kahko has managed to pass to side control instead.
Lara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Kahko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janne Kahko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kahko has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Janne Kahko!
A determined Janne Kahko didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!