PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rokki Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy McLarnin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rokki Kukko could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jimmy McLarnin's chin.

Kukko
vs
McLarnin

176 cm
34
171 lbs
25 - 21 - 2

182 cm
31
183 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 25 - 21 - 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 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jimmy McLarnin!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Phil Schofield and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukko fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches McLarnin on the side of the head.
Kukko throws a leg kick

and McLarnin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kukko wants to improve his position but McLarnin is controlling well.
McLarnin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kukko is looking to improve his position.
Kukko wants to control but McLarnin is keeping busy.
McLarnin prevents Kukko from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLarnin is taking a breather. Kukko says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
McLarnin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kukko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kukko trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko is trying to escape the mount.
McLarnin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kukko is looking to escape.
McLarnin controlling the position easily from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McLarnin misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kukko is desperately trying to improve his position but McLarnin has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLarnin landing strikes from the mount.
Kukko tries to hold on but McLarnin postures up.
Kukko is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
McLarnin working Kukko over with strikes here.
Kukko tries to hold on but McLarnin postures up.
McLarnin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kukko working to try and regain half guard.
Kukko regains half guard.
Kukko is not content to let McLarnin control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLarnin wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Kukko uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
McLarnin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kukko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McLarnin works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

McLarnin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kukko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kukko holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's four 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.
McLarnin passes into side control, despite Kukko's attempt to control the position.
Kukko is looking for a sweep.
Kukko struggling a bit here.
Kukko tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but McLarnin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kukko is being controlled here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kukko wants to control but McLarnin postures up.

McLarnin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kukko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy McLarnin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kukko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McLarnin lands with a nice body punch.
McLarnin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kukko throws a leg kick that is checked
letting McLarnin counter with a right hand.
Kukko throws a head kick that misses.
Kukko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. McLarnin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Kukko throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. McLarnin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kukko is in McLarnin's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLarnin trying to control the position.
We've been hearing that Kukko has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
McLarnin is looking to stand up but Kukko isn't so interested in that idea.

McLarnin looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kukko has picked McLarnin up and slammed him! McLarnin can't keep hold of the triangle and Kukko manages to pass to side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko is chipping away with strikes.
McLarnin tries to escape but Kukko is in control.
McLarnin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McLarnin is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kukko off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukko is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Kukko is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
McLarnin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kukko trying to control the hands but McLarnin breaks the grip.

McLarnin tightening his grip on Kukko, looking for the choke.
McLarnin punishes Kukko with strikes from the back mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko tries to break free.
Kukko looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Kukko can't escape the position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Kukko manages to reverse the position and now he's in McLarnin's guard. Nice work there by Kukko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McLarnin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kukko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kukko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

McLarnin is looking for a triangle but Kukko pushes his legs off easily.
Kukko's corner is telling him to maintain position.

McLarnin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kukko working some strikes from top position.

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.
McLarnin wants to get back to his feet but Kukko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

McLarnin looking for subs off his back but Kukko has passed one foot through into half guard.
McLarnin is looking to improve his position.
Jimmy McLarnin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kukko thows a huge punch but McLarnin dodges it nicely.
McLarnin is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kukko stops McLarnin from getting back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Kukko.
McLarnin wants to control but Kukko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jimmy McLarnin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kukko throws a right and a left that McLarnin avoids nicely.
McLarnin appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kukko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McLarnin throws out the jab.
It looked like Kukko was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
McLarnin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from McLarnin there as he acknowledges the shot.
Nice uppercut there from Kukko.
McLarnin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kukko.

McLarnin is rocked!
McLarnin darts in looking for a takedown but Kukko gets double underhooks and turns McLarnin into the cage.
McLarnin is still on wobbly legs! Can Kukko finish him?
McLarnin shoots in looking for a takedown. Kukko tries to sprawl out of it but McLarnin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kukko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
McLarnin seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLarnin checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

McLarnin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kukko is trying to get back to full guard.
Kukko is refusing to be controlled, as McLarnin sits in half guard.
Kukko wants to improve his position but McLarnin is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLarnin trying to control from half guard but Kukko is working away.
McLarnin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kukko is trying to stand.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kukko lands an overhand right.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McLarnin.
Rokki Kukko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy McLarnin.
McLarnin misses with the body kick

so Kukko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McLarnin is wriggling around but Kukko manages to pass to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McLarnin is not content to let Kukko control the position.
Kukko throwing shots but McLarnin is blocking nicely.
McLarnin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McLarnin is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kukko's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kukko's back!
Rokki Kukko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kukko manages to reverse the position and now he's in McLarnin's guard. Nice work there by Kukko.
Kukko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kukko postures up.
McLarnin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kukko manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McLarnin wants to control from the top but Kukko keeps moving.
McLarnin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kukko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kukko wants to sweep but no luck.
McLarnin looking to pass the guard.

Kukko is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. McLarnin presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kukko gets a trip takedown into half guard.

McLarnin kicks Kukko off and gets back to his feet.
Jimmy McLarnin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

McLarnin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kukko is trying to defend but McLarnin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rokki Kukko.
I think McLarnin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!