PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joeseph Michael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otto Kaikkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaikkonen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Duran Duran - WIld Boys. Otto Kaikkonen acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Michael
vs
Kaikkonen

180 cm
24
209 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

187 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joeseph Michael!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Otto Kaikkonen!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Michael tries to bum rush Kaikkonen with a series of wild strikes but Kaikkonen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Michael throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Kaikkonen moves into the clinch.
Michael is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The referee calls for Michael to work.

Kaikkonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Michael throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Michael closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Michael lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kaikkonen down.
Michael creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Michael trying to control the action but Kaikkonen is working from the bottom.
Michael is staying tight to Kaikkonen's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Kaikkonen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Michael asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Kaikkonen is looking to regain half guard here but Michael keeps moving and retains side control.
Kaikkonen tries to escape but Michael is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Michael's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Michael looks up at the clock and then as Kaikkonen takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Michael smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Michael lands a few punches from side control.
Kaikkonen is trying to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kaikkonen explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Kaikkonen is looking to clinch but Michael is avoiding it.
Kaikkonen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Michael stuffs the takedown attempt from Kaikkonen. Kaikkonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Kaikkonen looks gassed!

Michael scores with a takedown into Kaikkonen's guard.
Kaikkonen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Michael is controlling him.
Michael postures up and lands a big shot to Kaikkonen's brow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen wants to stand and escape but Michael is having none of it.
Michael slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Michael stands up from Kaikkonen's guard - Michael perhaps looking for a knockout.
Michael scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Kaikkonen slips a jab and a cross from Michael.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch up.

Michael drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Michael stops Kaikkonen from standing up.
Michael is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Michael has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kaikkonen is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen wants to stand and escape but Michael is having none of it.

Kaikkonen wriggles free and stands up.

Kaikkonen takes the fight into the clinch.
Kaikkonen wants to get back to striking at distance but Michael won't allow it.
Michael wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kaikkonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Michael's face.
Michael blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Michael avoiding damage.
Kaikkonen with a knee to the head.
Kaikkonen lands a shot to the body.
Michael wants to break free but Kaikkonen has control.

Kaikkonen manages to break the clinch.
Kaikkonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Michael circles away.
Michael on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kaikkonen. Kaikkonen obviously looking to wear him down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch up but Michael circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Kaikkonen misses.
Kaikkonen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Michael throws a sloppy head kick

and Kaikkonen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Michael is looking for a sweep. Kaikkonen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Michael is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kaikkonen scores with a couple of nice shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaikkonen seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Michael pushes Kaikkonen off looking to stand but Kaikkonen dives back in and keeps control.
Michael has his hands clasped together around Kaikkonen's back. He's all about the action.
Kaikkonen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Michael.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Michael is trying to maintain the position but Kaikkonen is very close to passing his half guard.
Kaikkonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Michael does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeseph Michael dominated that round.
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.

Michael moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Kaikkonen clinches with his opponent.
Kaikkonen keeps control of Michael as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kaikkonen tries to land a knee to the head but Michael blocks with his arms.

Michael breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Michael keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Michael moves out of range.
Michael throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kaikkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Michael paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice cross by Michael.
Michael looks to land a combination but Kaikkonen avoids it well.
Joeseph Michael is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kaikkonen with a poor takedown
and Michael counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Otto Kaikkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Michael circles away from the clinch attempt
and Michael connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kaikkonen tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Michael counters with a shoot takedown. Kaikkonen fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michael looking to sit in guard and control but Kaikkonen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kaikkonen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Michael's head.
Kaikkonen is looking to stand up but Michael won't let him.
Michael wants to sweep here but Kaikkonen controlling him for the moment.

Kaikkonen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Michael throws a right and a left that Kaikkonen avoids nicely.
Michael cracks Kaikkonen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kaikkonen shoots and misses

and Michael counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Joeseph Michael has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otto Kaikkonen.
Kaikkonen pushes Michael off looking to stand but Michael dives back in and keeps control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michael looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kaikkonen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kaikkonen punching from the bottom.

Michael stands up out of the half guard.
Kaikkonen shoots in but no luck this time.
Michael drops his hands momentarily and Kaikkonen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Michael looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Michael with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Michael decides to return to a standing position.
Michael swats away the attempt to clinch by Kaikkonen.
Kaikkonen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kaikkonen is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michael tries a head kick but it misses.
Kaikkonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Kaikkonen darts in trying to clinch
and Michael counters with a straight right hand.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Michael moves away
and Michael counters with a one-two to the body.
Kaikkonen stalks Michael and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Michael's face. Michael staggers backwards, shaken.
Kaikkonen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kaikkonen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Michael.
Michael swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Michael counter with a right hand.
Kaikkonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Michael circles away.
Kaikkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Michael swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kaikkonen closes the distance and clinches up with Michael, looking for a takedown. Kaikkonen pushes Michael against the cage but Michael circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kaikkonen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Michael counters with a series of strikes. Kaikkonen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Michael is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Michael misses.
Michael has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch up
and Michael counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Michael with a poor takedown
and Kaikkonen counters with a low kick, right behind Michael 's knee.
Kaikkonen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kaikkonen moves into range and connects with a jab.

Michael shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kaikkonen's guard.
Kaikkonen throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Kaikkonen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Michael off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kaikkonen looks to clinch
and Michael counters with a three punch combo that has Kaikkonen backing up. Kaikkonen nods at Michael to acknowledge the strikes.
Kaikkonen tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Michael counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joeseph Michael dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Michael fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kaikkonen shoots for a double leg takedown but Michael sprawls well. He's pushed Kaikkonen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kaikkonen darts in trying to clinch
and Michael counters with a one-two to the body.
Kaikkonen wants to clinch but Michael slips to the side

and Michael counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Michael.

Kaikkonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kaikkonen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Michael circles away from the clinch attempt
and Michael counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Michael as Kaikkonen shoots in.
Kaikkonen closes the distance and clinches up with Michael, looking for a takedown. Kaikkonen pushes Michael against the cage but Michael circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Joeseph Michael has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otto Kaikkonen.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaikkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Michael paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kaikkonen throws a right hand that Michael ducks under and follows up with a left that Michael also avoids with ease.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Michael moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch there but Michael circles away.
Michael throws a head kick that misses

and Kaikkonen counters by moving into the clinch.
Kaikkonen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Michael escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Michael is having none of it.
Kaikkonen throws a right hand that Michael ducks under and follows up with a left that Michael also avoids with ease.

Kaikkonen gets caught flat footed, as Michael shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Kaikkonen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Kaikkonen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Michael has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Michael throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kaikkonens head.
Michael wants to break free but Kaikkonen has control.
Kaikkonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kaikkonen trying to control the position but instead, Michael has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kaikkonen into the cage.
Michael wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Michael is trying to break free.

Kaikkonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch up but Michael circles away and keeps his distance.
Jab by Kaikkonen.
Michael swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kaikkonen stuffs the takedown attempt from Michael. Michael gets slowly back to his feet.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Michael moves out of range.
Kaikkonen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch up
and Kaikkonen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kaikkonen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Michael but Michael pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Michael clinches up against the cage.
Kaikkonen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kaikkonen scores with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kaikkonen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kaikkonen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Michael pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kaikkonen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Michael tries to avoid it but Kaikkonen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Michael to the ground. Michael escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Michael cracks Kaikkonen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kaikkonen closes the distance looking to clinch

and Michael decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kaikkonen's guard.
Michael won't allow Kaikkonen to get back to his feet.
Michael stopping the sweep attempt from Kaikkonen.
Kaikkonen wants to stand but Michael is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kaikkonen wriggles free and stands up.
Michael misses with a double jab
and Kaikkonen counters with a big head kick but Michael shrugs it off.
Kaikkonen doesn't manage to clinch there - Michael circles away.
Kaikkonen is looking to clinch.
A punch combination from Kaikkonen misses.
Kaikkonen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kaikkonen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Otto Kaikkonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kaikkonen on the side of the head.
Michael keeps the fight on the outside.
Joeseph Michael is winning the standup battle so far.
Michael scores with a three punch combo!
Michael throws a head kick that misses.
Kaikkonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Kaikkonen scores with a jab to the head.
Joeseph Michael is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Michael gets the takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joeseph Michael showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Michael, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joeseph Michael!