PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pablo Moro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Kikkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabriel Kikkeli will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Moro
vs
Kikkeli

175 cm
22
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

202 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Pablo Moro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gabriel Kikkeli!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kikkeli throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Moro looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Kikkeli has Moro up against the cage in a clinch.

Kikkeli breaks the clinch.
Kikkeli lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Moro sprawling to the canvas. Kikkeli follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Moro hang on?

It looks like Pablo Moro has been cut.
Kikkeli trying to mount his opponent but Moro defends it.

Moro looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Moro looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kikkeli wants to take a breather but Moro is having none of it.

Kikkeli is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moro is refusing to be controlled, as Kikkeli sits in half guard.
Moro on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Moro tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moro punching from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kikkeli scores with the left hand. Moro knows he should have avoided that one.
Kikkeli fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kikkeli is looking to clinch but Moro is avoiding it.
Moro keeps the fight on the outside.
Danga de danga de dang - Kikkeli scores with a four punch combination!
Kikkeli throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Kikkeli clinches up with Moro and pushes him back against the cage.
Kikkeli drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Moro gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kikkeli manages to pull guard.
Moro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kikkeli wants to stand up but Moro is controlling him.
Moro throws a strike but Kikkeli rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Moro has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kikkeli can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kikkeli controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kikkeli wants to control from the top but Moro keeps moving.

Moro is looking for a triangle here but Kikkeli uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Moro 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.

Kikkeli decides to stand back up. Kikkeli steps back and let's Moro get back to his feet.
Moro swats away the attempt to clinch by Kikkeli.
Kikkeli connects with a high kick.
Kikkeli closes this distance looking for a takedown but Moro circles away.
Kikkeli wants to clinch.
Kikkeli throws a series of punches but Moro avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kikkeli throws a head kick but Moro moves out of range.
Kikkeli tries to clinch but Moro is having none of it.
Kikkeli tries to clinch but Moro moves out of range.
Kikkeli misses with a head kick.

Moro scores a takedown into full mount!

Moro goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kikkeli is on top in guard.
Kikkeli wants to get up but he can't break Moro's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Moro working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kikkeli has passed into half guard!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Kikkeli dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kikkeli with a lazy takedown attempt

and Moro counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kikkeli's guard now.
Moro throwing strikes but missing.

Moro drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kikkeli dives on top into guard.

Moro throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kikkeli uses it to pass to side control.
Moro throws a few strikes from the bottom but Kikkeli takes advantage and mounts!
Moro tries to strike from the bottom but he's left himself exposed and Kikkeli has taken his back.
Moro is really stuck here.
Kikkeli really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Moro.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kikkeli throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Moro!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moro tries to escape but Kikkeli has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Kikkeli trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Moro manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kikkeli's guard. Nice work there by Moro.
Moro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Moro cracks Kikkeli with a solid left hand.
Kikkeli working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Moro.
Moro lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Moro's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two 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.
Moro postures up and lands a big shot to Kikkeli's brow.
Moro throws a big right hand that misses.
Moro throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Moro working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Moro drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kikkeli manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Moro has Kikkeli in his guard.

Moro looking for a guillotine here but Kikkeli defends easily.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moro throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kikkeli escapes and throws Moro's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Moro misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Moro tries to bench press Kikkeli off him but Kikkeli keeps the position.
Kikkeli tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Moro manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Moro looking for subs from the bottom but Kikkeli mounts him!
Moro is looking to improve his position but Kikkeli isn't that keen on the idea.
Moro sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Pablo Moro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Moro wants to improve his position but Kikkeli is controlling well.

Moro looking for submissions off his back.

Moro looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pablo Moro dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kikkeli stuffs the takedown attempt from Moro. Moro gets slowly back to his feet.
Kikkeli misses with a takedown attempt

and Moro counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kikkeli's guard now.
Kikkeli controls Moro momentarily but Moro frees himself.
Moro postures up in Kikkeli's guard and throws a big left but Kikkeli blocks it.

Moro drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kikkeli manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Moro has Kikkeli in his guard.

Moro is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Moro looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moro is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Moro looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kikkeli wants to pass the guard but Moro is keeping the position.

Kikkeli avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Moro is looking for a triangle but Kikkeli pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kikkeli clinches.
Kikkeli can't find room to land a body shot as Moro controls the action.
Moro is trying to drag Kikkeli to the mat but Kikkeli just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Kikkeli pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kikkeli is looking to clinch.
Kikkeli fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Moro fails with the takedown
and Kikkeli counters with a three punch combo that has Moro backing up. Moro nods at Kikkeli to acknowledge the strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pablo Moro. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Kikkeli. No joy for Moro on that attempt.
Kikkeli closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Moro takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nice takedown defense from Kikkeli. No joy for Moro on that attempt.
Moro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kikkeli tries for a takedown but Moro circles away easily

and Moro counters with a takedown into side control.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moro lands a few punches from side control.
Moro throwing strikes but Kikkeli manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Kikkeli blocks the strikes from Moro.
Kikkeli wants to stand but Moro is controlling his arm.
Moro tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kikkeli wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Moro sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Moro flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Moro with the active half guard here but Kikkeli passes nicely into side control.
Moro is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pablo Moro showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Moro has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pablo Moro!