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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marco Rusti (ranked 5409 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aapo Kukkanen (ranked 6542 p4p, 0 weight class). Aapo Kukkanen will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.
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| 170 cm
25
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0 |
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210 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Hates pizza |
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BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup |
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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 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marco Rusti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aapo Kukkanen!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Josh West.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rusti shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kukkanen as he jumps to the side.
Kukkanen lands a really nice looking cross but Rusti seems unphased.
Kukkanen blocks a head kick by Rusti.
Rusti throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kukkanen cracks Rusti with a good jab.
Kukkanen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rusti counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rusti definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusti is keen to just control but Kukkanen is a slippery customer.
Kukkanen won't allow Rusti to pass to mount.
Kukkanen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rusti's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rusti's back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rusti tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusti manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rusti might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rusti keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Rusti is looking to control Kukkanen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rusti avoid being mounted?
Kukkanen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rusti moves into full guard.
Kukkanen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kukkanen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rusti keeping moving, preventing Kukkanen from controlling successfully.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rusti is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rusti isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kukkanen stacks Rusti on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kukkanen!
Rusti tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
Kukkanen working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kukkanen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rusti has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kukkanen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rusti gets back to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Kukkanen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rusti wants to control the action here but instead Kukkanen manages to pass to full mount!
Rusti regains half guard.
Kukkanen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kukkanen trying to pass the guard but Rusti defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusti is refusing to be controlled, as Kukkanen sits in half guard.
Rusti could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rusti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rusti actively working from the bottom here.
Rusti is looking to control Kukkanen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rusti avoid being mounted?
Kukkanen looks to land a strike but Rusti avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kukkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Rusti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Aapo Kukkanen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Rusti is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kukkanen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kukkanen throws a combination. Rusti tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Rusti shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kukkanen pinned against the cage. Kukkanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kukkanen thuds his right hand into Rusti's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kukkanen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusti has his takedown stuffed
and Kukkanen counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Rusti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusti shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kukkanen but Kukkanen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kukkanen!
Kukkanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rusti manages to avoid it.
Rusti falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kukkanen counters with a stiff right hand.
Rusti takes one to the chin there.
Kukkanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kukkanen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A punch lands to the side of Rusti 's head but he takes it in his stride.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen's corner calls for a 1-2. Kukkanen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rusti with a poor takedown
and Kukkanen counters with a right hand to the body.
Kukkanen lands with a right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kukkanen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rusti misses with a takedown
and Kukkanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Marco Rusti is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kukkanen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rusti on the side of the head.
Kukkanen digs a good body shot into Rusti's ribs.
Kukkanen lands with an uppercut that bounces Rusti off the cage and back into range.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen misses with a body shot.
A punch combination from Rusti misses.
Nice sprawl there from Kukkanen as Rusti shoots in.
As Rusti backs off Kukkanen throws a huge counter combo but Rusti manages to avoid it all.
Kukkanen lands with a nice body punch.
Kukkanen scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rusti doesn't seem bothered though.
Kukkanen scores with a sloppy right hand. Rusti should have avoided that one.
Rusti tries for a takedown but Kukkanen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jab by Kukkanen.
Kukkanen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rusti walks into a left hand.
Kukkanen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rusti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kukkanen.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rusti.
A left lands for Kukkanen.
Kukkanen throws a series of strikes that have Rusti backpedaling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Aapo Kukkanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!
Some bone on bone action there as Kukkanen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kukkanen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kukkanen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kukkanen tests Rusti's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kukkanen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rusti on the side of the head.
Kukkanen misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rusti wants to clinch up but Kukkanen keeps it at a distance.
Rusti closes the distance and clinches up with Kukkanen, looking for a takedown. Rusti pushes Kukkanen against the cage but Kukkanen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rusti shoots for a double leg takedown but Kukkanen sprawls well. He's pushed Rusti's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kukkanen leaves Rusti with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Rusti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice uppercut lands for Kukkanen. That snapped Rusti's head back.
Rusti throws an off balance right hand
and Kukkanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kukkanen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rustis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Aapo Kukkanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kukkanen misses with a jab to the body
and Rusti counters with a two punch combo.
Kukkanen punishes Rusti's body with a nice straight punch.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen tests Rusti's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rusti fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Kukkanen as Rusti shoots in.
Kukkanen tests Rusti's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rusti looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kukkanen is trying is best to control the position here.
Kukkanen wants to get back to full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen has his hands clasped together around Rusti's back. He's all about the action.
Rusti tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kukkanen controls his leg.
Rusti is trying to control the action in half guard but Kukkanen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rusti passes to side control.
Rusti working away.
Rusti has an Americana. Kukkanen didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Rusti is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Rusti hooks up with any of them at the after show party.
Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Marco Rusti!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
54% |
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