PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaylond Jones (ranked 5729 p4p, 631 weight class) and Aapo Kukkanen (ranked 7440 p4p, 0 weight class). Jaylond Jones could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Aapo Kukkanen's chin.

Jones
vs
Kukkanen

202 cm
25
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
20
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jaylond Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aapo Kukkanen!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kukkanen counters with a straight right hand.
Kukkanen pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Jones back to the cage. Kukkanen follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kukkanen lands a jab-cross combination.
Jones tries a head kick but it misses.
Jones tries to clinch but Kukkanen moves away
and Kukkanen counters with a three punch combo that has Jones backing up. Jones nods at Kukkanen to acknowledge the strikes.
Jones closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kukkanen circles away.
Jones tries to clinch but Kukkanen is having none of it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jones.
Kukkanen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kukkanen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaylond Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kukkanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kukkanen misses with a wild combination.
Jones darts in trying to clinch
and Kukkanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kukkanen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Aapo Kukkanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Jones closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kukkanen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jones has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Jones breaks the clinch.
Jones has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kukkanen finds it's way round the side to connect with Jones's head.
Jones tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kukkanen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kukkanen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jones tries to clinch but Kukkanen is having none of it.
Jones gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jones goes for a double leg but Kukkanen avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kukkanen continues to drive forward.
Kukkanen lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kukkanen stuffs the takedown attempt from Jones. Jones gets slowly back to his feet.
Jones moves to clinch but Kukkanen breaks away
and Kukkanen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kukkanen misses with a hook. Jones ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Kukkanen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kukkanen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kukkanen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Jones is breathing heavily.
Kukkanen scores with a jab. Jones acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Jaylond Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Jones closes the distance and clinches.
Kukkanen is trying to break the clinch but Jones is controlling him.
Jones fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Jones breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kukkanen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Jones in his tracks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kukkanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aapo Kukkanen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jones shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kukkanen pinned against the cage. Kukkanen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kukkanen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kukkanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Kukkanen sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Good shot there by Kukkanen.
Jones ducks under a wild hook from Kukkanen.
Jones 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 swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kukkanen lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kukkanen tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kukkanen to the ground. Kukkanen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kukkanen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaylond Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kukkanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kukkanen! But no joy.
Jones fails with the takedown.
It seemed like Kukkanen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Jaylond Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kukkanen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jones has time to react.
Kukkanen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kukkanen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Jones fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Good standup being displayed there by Kukkanen as he connects with a hook.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kukkanen throws out a counter right but Jones avoids it with no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Jones was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Kukkanen misses with a wild body shot.
Jones is looking to clinch.
Jones fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kukkanen connects with a looping right hand.
Jones throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kukkanen.
Jones showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kukkanen.
Jones shoots in and drives through. Kukkanen sprawls well.
A right-left combo lands from Jones.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kukkanen misses with a wild combination.
Kukkanen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Kukkanen sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Aapo Kukkanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jones dodges the punch combination from Kukkanen.
Jones doesn't manage to clinch there - Kukkanen circles away.
Kukkanen connects with a crisp jab.
Jones tried to score with a low kick but Kukkanen checks it.
Donk. Kukkanen catches Jones right on the button with a cross.
Kukkanen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Jones on the side of the head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kukkanen.
Jones walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Kukkanen.
Jones tries to clinch up.
Kukkanen scores with a sloppy right hand. Jones should have avoided that one.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Kukkanen sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jones takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Kukkanen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kukkanen works Jones's body with a nice hook.
Kukkanen misses with the combination.
Jones has his takedown stuffed
letting Kukkanen counter with a right hand.
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.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jones fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kukkanen avoids it really well and circles away.
Kukkanen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kukkanen misses with a wild body shot.
Kukkanen misses with a wild body shot.
As Kukkanen tries to get set, Jones tries to push him back and clinch up but Kukkanen manages to avoid the attempt.
Kukkanen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kukkanen catches Jones with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jones throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kukkanen's waist but Kukkanen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jones off to one side.
It seemed like Kukkanen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones shoots for a double leg takedown but Kukkanen sprawls well. He's pushed Jones's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaylond Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones tries to move into range but Kukkanen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kukkanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jones tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kukkanen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jones somewhat.
Kukkanen works over Jones's head and body with a nice combination.

Kukkanen gets tackled into the cage by Jones. Jones maintains the clinch.
Jones slowing the pace effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkanen has had enough of the clinch but Jones keeps him there for the moment.
A hook to the body from Jones.
Jones tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kukkanen's elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kukkanen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jones is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kukkanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jones dives in for a single leg takedown but Kukkanen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kukkanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kukkanen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kukkanen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Jones was well out of range. Poor timing from Kukkanen.
Jones tries to counter by clinching up but Kukkanen breaks away and moves out of range.
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Kukkanen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kukkanen scores with a decent looking hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jones or perhaps it was just good defense by Kukkanen, which made it look bad.
Kukkanen tries to bum rush Jones with a series of wild strikes but Jones uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sloppy strikes from Kukkanen. Those never looked like landing.
Kukkanen cracks Jones with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jones looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kukkanen is fending him off so far but Jones persists. Nope, Kukkanen circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Jones takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A punch lands to the side of Jones 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kukkanen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Jones. Jones circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kukkanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jones moves away.
As Kukkanen tries to get set, Jones tries to push him back and clinch up but Kukkanen manages to avoid the attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aapo Kukkanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kukkanen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aapo Kukkanen!