PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aapo Kukkanen (ranked 7776 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryu Machida (ranked 6228 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida has chosen Holy water and snake oil-by PARKWAY DRIVE as his entrance music. Aapo Kukkanen has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kukkanen
vs
Machida

210 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aapo Kukkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ryu Machida!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukkanen avoids a kick to the body.
Machida lands with an overhand left.
Kukkanen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Ryu Machida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That kick from Machida tenderised Kukkanen's leg. Kukkanen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kukkanen connects with the punch.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kukkanen is looking to counter punch.
Kukkanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Machida.
Machida tries to clinch but Kukkanen is having none of it.
Machida takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida ducks under a wild hook from Kukkanen.
Machida moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kukkanen misses with a few strikes there.
Machida misses with a body kick.
Kukkanen misses with a hook. Machida ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is looking to clinch.
Machida is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kukkanen.
Kukkanen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Sloppy strikes from Machida. Those never looked like landing.
A little feinted left hand from Kukkanen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Machida lands a body shot.
Machida steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kukkanen.
Machida tries a head kick but it misses.

Machida clinches with his opponent.
Machida working aggressively here.
Machida wants to get back to striking at distance but Kukkanen won't allow it.
Machida is working Kukkanen over against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kukkanen.
Machida misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Machida pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kukkanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Kukkanen moves out of range easily.
Kukkanen has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Machida.
Machida tries to clinch up.
Machida takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Machida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kukkanen throws a jab but it's blocked by Machida.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice inside leg kick there by Machida. That's going to slow Kukkanen down.
Kukkanen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Machida should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Machida looks winded!
Kukkanen just misses with a punch to the body.
Machida uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kukkanen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kukkanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Machida is looking to clinch.
It looked like Kukkanen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Machida pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Machida has managed to clinch.
Kukkanen has Machida pressed against the cage, preventing Machida from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Machida escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A combination from Kukkanen does no damage.
A head kick misses from Machida.
Kukkanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Machida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Machida fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kukkanen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Kukkanen misses its intended target.
Kukkanen stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Kukkanen moves out of range easily.
Good work by Kukkanen as he checks the leg kick.
It looked like Kukkanen was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Machida tries to clinch up but Kukkanen circles away and keeps his distance.
Kukkanen misses with a body shot.
Machida ducks under a wild hook from Kukkanen.
Kukkanen misses with a few strikes there.
Machida throws a body kick that misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Kukkanen misses the target.
Machida moves out of range as Kukkanen strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ryu Machida will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kukkanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Machida moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Machida throws a sloppy head kick and Kukkanen moves out of range easily.
Machida looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kukkanen avoids the head kick by Machida.
Machida goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kukkanen lands with a right hand.
Kukkanen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kukkanen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kukkanen throws a jab but it's blocked by Machida.
Kukkanen misses with a wild body shot.
Aapo Kukkanen is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kukkanen blocks a head kick by Machida.
Kukkanen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Kukkanen. Those never looked like landing.
Machida is breathing heavily.
A telegraphed right hand from Kukkanen misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Machida shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kukkanen throws a series of punches but Machida moves out of range.
Machida swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Machida walks into a straight right hand from Kukkanen.
Machida blocks a jab.

Machida rushes Kukkanen and presses him up against the cage.
Kukkanen blocks an uppercut.
Machida swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Machida working hard to break the clinch.
Kukkanen wants to get back to striking at distance but Machida won't allow it.
Machida fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Machida keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kukkanen's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Machida doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Machida throws a head punch that misses.
Machida prevents Kukkanen from breaking the clinch.
Machida looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Machida tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kukkanen's elbow.
Machida just leaning against Kukkanen, taking a breather.
Kukkanen is trying to force a seperation but Machida has the dominant position.
Machida misses with the head strike.
Kukkanen tries to break the clinch but Machida is controlling the position.
Machida is trying to break the clinch but Kukkanen has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Machida wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kukkanen as Machida tries to tie him up.
Kukkanen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch on the inside from Machida fails to land.
Machida working aggressively here.
Machida is pushing Kukkanen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Machida.
Machida misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kukkanen wants to break free but Machida has control.
Kukkanen is trying to force a seperation but Machida has the dominant position.
Kukkanen is trying to break the clinch but Machida is controlling him.

Machida breaks from the clinch.
Machida connects with a crisp jab.
Kukkanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kukkanen lands with a nice combination. Machida backs away looking to recover.
Aapo Kukkanen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Machida tries to clinch but Kukkanen moves out of range.
Machida bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kukkanen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Machida can pounce on him.
Kukkanen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A big right from Kukkanen misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Aapo Kukkanen will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kukkanen tries to bum rush Machida with a series of wild strikes but Machida uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Machida misses with a body shot.
No joy there for Machida, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kukkanen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Machida uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kukkanen.
Kukkanen works the jab nicely.
Kukkanen on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kukkanen misses with a double jab.
Machida throws a push kick but Kukkanen slaps the foot to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida is looking to chop away at Kukkanen's legs.
Machida takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A bone on bone clash there as Kukkanen blocks the leg kick.
Kukkanen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Machida throws a body kick that misses.
Kukkanen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Machida throws a nice looking combination but Kukkanen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kukkanen checks a leg kick.
Machida is looking to clinch but Kukkanen is avoiding it.
Kukkanen misses with an uppercut. Machida saw that one coming.
A big right from Kukkanen misses.
Machida gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kukkanen.
Nice defenses there by Machida.
A low kick from Machida misses
and Kukkanen counters with a nice body shot.
Machida takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Machida uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kukkanen.
Machida is looking for the big counter here.
Kukkanen looks to land a combination but Machida avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kukkanen throws a hook to the side of Machida's head but Machida sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Nice jab there from Kukkanen.
Kukkanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Machida takes a swing at Kukkanen's ribcage but misses.
Kukkanen throws a looping overhand right but Machida ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kukkanen blocks a low kick nicely.
Kukkanen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kukkanen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice defenses there by Machida.
Kukkanen scores with a jab. Machida acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kukkanen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen misses with a straight left.
Kukkanen misses with a straight left.
Machida tries a quick counter leg kick but Kukkanen is wise to it.
Machida thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kukkanen blocks a head kick by Machida.
Kukkanen throws a jab when Machida was well out of range.
Machida throws a big counter head kick but Kukkanen avoids it with no problem.
A jab from Kukkanen misses.
Kukkanen misses with a wild body shot.
Kukkanen lands a glancing blow to the side of Machida's head.
Machida slips a straight right by Kukkanen.
Kukkanen misses with a straight left.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kukkanen appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen throws a hook but Machida avoids it easily.
Kukkanen throws a series of punches but Machida moves out of range.
Kukkanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Machida manages to avoid it.
Kukkanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Machida throws a big counter head kick but Kukkanen avoids it with no problem.
Kukkanen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Machida's head.
Kukkanen misses with the combination.
Kukkanen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kukkanen takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kukkanen looks to land a combination but Machida avoids it well.
Kukkanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aapo Kukkanen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kukkanen 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aapo Kukkanen!
In defeat, Ryu Machida stepped up to the mic, saying 'He greased up...BS'.