PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rokki Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brutaali Pekka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kukko
vs
Pekka

176 cm
29
171 lbs
20 - 10 - 2

186 cm
29
180 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 20 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rokki Kukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Brutaali Pekka!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Pekka. That's going to slow Kukko down.
Pekka cracks Kukko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Kukko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pekka looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pekka is looking to regain half guard here but Kukko keeps moving and retains side control.
Kukko takes a little break here. Pekka wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Pekka is looking to reverse the position.
Pekka can't do much from the bottom here.

Kukko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pekka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Pekka wants to control but Kukko postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pekka is not content to let Kukko control the position.
Pekka regains half guard.
Kukko definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kukko wants to take a breather but Pekka is having none of it.
Pekka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Pekka is still trying to improve position.
Kukko is trying to control the action in half guard but Pekka is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Kukko is looking for a kimura here.
Pekka tries to roll over but Kukko keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kukko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Pekka with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Pekka desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kukko is keen to just control but Pekka is a slippery customer.
Kukko drops an elbow to the side of Pekka's head.
Kukko prevents Pekka from improving his position.
Pekka is looking to control Kukko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pekka avoid being mounted?
Kukko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pekka's head.
Kukko scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Pekka is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kukko scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kukko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kukko is looking for a kimura here.
Pekka is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kukko lands a nice short elbow.
Kukko wants to take a breather but Pekka is having none of it.
Pekka moves into full guard.
Kukko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pekka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kukko.
Kukko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pekka working for a triangle but Kukko defends it easily.
Pekka seems keen to control Kukko's posture.
Kukko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kukko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pekka is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kukko is aware though and is defending well.
Kukko lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rokki Kukko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kukko throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kukko shoots in for a takedown but Pekka shows good takedown defense.
Kukko throws a solid leg kick but Pekka takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kukko.
Kukko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Pekka misses.
Pekka slips under a jab from Kukko.
Kukko dives in for a single leg takedown but Pekka sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rokki Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice straight punches there by Pekka. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Pekka.
Pekka looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kukko closes the distance and clinches up with Pekka, looking for a takedown. Kukko pushes Pekka against the cage but Pekka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A lazy left from Pekka finds it's target.
Kukko closes the distance and clinches up with Pekka, looking for a takedown. Kukko pushes Pekka against the cage but Pekka circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kukko jabs Pekka right on the nose. Pekka blinks but takes it well.
Kukko misses the shot to the body.
Pekka appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Pekka throws a lazy body kick

and Kukko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Pekka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Pekka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kukko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko working some strikes from top position.
Kukko throws a big elbow that misses.
Kukko pushes down on Pekka's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pekka throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Pekka trying to control but Kukko postures up.
Kukko throwing shots but Pekka is blocking nicely.
Pekka is refusing to be controlled, as Kukko sits in half guard.
Pekka is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko lands strikes from half guard.
Kukko tries to pass to full mount but Pekka defends it.
Pekka is trying to control but can't.
Kukko lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pekka tries to get to full guard but Kukko has control of the leg.
Kukko thows a huge punch but Pekka dodges it nicely.
Kukko working Pekka over with strikes.

Pekka looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kukko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pekka is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kukko pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Kukko.
Kukko working over Pekka with some ground and pound. Pekka looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pekka trying to control here.
Kukko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rokki Kukko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kukko winds up and cracks Pekka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kukko is nestled in close to Pekka, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Pekka is rocked!

Kukko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kukko is nestled in close to Pekka, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Pekka is still in real trouble! Can Kukko finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko controlling the pace.
Pekka seems to have recovered his senses.
Kukko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kukko is thwarting Pekka's attempts to control the position.
Kukko tries to pass to full mount but Pekka defends it.
Pekka is not content to let Kukko control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kukko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pekka sees it coming and defends easily.
Kukko winds up and cracks Pekka with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rokki Kukko dominated that second round.
That's time! Kukko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kukko gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Pekka.
Kukko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pekka circles away quickly and effectively.
Pekka connects with a body shot that sends Kukko's belly button to the back.
Kukko misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kukko moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Brutaali Pekka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kukko misses with a right hand
and Pekka counters with a slapping leg kick.

Kukko gets a takedown into half guard.
Pekka trying to control but Kukko postures up.
Kukko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Pekka is looking to control Kukko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pekka avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kukko lands a nice short elbow.
Kukko slips a nice elbow through Pekka's hands, connecting with Pekka's forehead.
Pekka wants to get back to full guard.
Pekka wants to control but Kukko is keeping busy.
Pekka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kukko frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Pekka wants to control but Kukko is having none of it.
Kukko breaks from Pekka's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Brutaali Pekka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pekka is looking to improve his position but Kukko isn't that keen on the idea.
Kukko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pekka is looking to escape.
Kukko landing shots from mount.

Pekka is rocked!
Kukko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Pekka is still in real trouble! Can Kukko finish him?
Pekka keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pekka seems to have recovered his senses.
Kukko lands a big shot to the head and Pekka winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Rokki Kukko!
After the fight, Rokki Kukko was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.