PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between keijo kumi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kerry King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). King has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

kumi
vs
King

189 cm
18
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
22
285 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, keijo kumi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kerry King!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King shoots in but kumi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
King looks gassed!
kumi wants to clinch up but King keeps it at a distance.
kumi fails with the takedown

and King counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

King seems to be working for a kimura but kumi defends the submission attempt.
kumi tries to roll over but King keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King passes to side control.
kumi prevents King from moving into mount.

King is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. kumi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

King tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no King has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
King working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
King tries for a takedown but kumi circles away easily
and kumi counters with a low kick, right behind King 's knee.
kumi throws a leg kick but King moved away.
The crowd cheers as King lands an impressive looking overhand right. kumi doesn't seem phased though.
King swats away the attempt to clinch by kumi.
King shoots in but no luck this time.
keijo kumi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kerry King.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King thows a body shot but no joy.

King drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
kumi is not content to let King control the position.
King works to advance to full mount. kumi defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
King wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

King is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But kumi has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from kumi!

King has his foot on kumi's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. kumi works his way back into a safe position though.

King has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but kumi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
King has his hands on kumi's head, controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kerry King dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A slow jab from kumi misses its intended target.
King has a takedown stuffed.
King on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
kumi shoots and misses

and King counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by King.
King tries to free his leg and advance position but kumi is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! kumi is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of King, into his guard.

King is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
King 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.
King wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

King is looking for a triangle but kumi pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King tries to land a sweep but no joy.

King had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. kumi is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. King Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take kumi's back instead.

King looking to break kumi's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. kumi remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise King will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

King seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under kumi's chin but kumi turns very nicely into King's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by kumi.

King is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kumi trying to control but King is working from the bottom.

King escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. kumi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
kumi trying to control the position from guard on top but King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kerry King has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

kumi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
King avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

King shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. King showed some decent athleticism there.

King is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

King is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kerry King showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

King drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

King has gone for a leg lock! kumi slips out almost immediately though and dives into King's guard.

King looking for a guillotine here but kumi defends easily.

King throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

King looking for a guillotine here but kumi defends easily.
King manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
King fails to advance to kumi's back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King landing strikes from the mount and kumi is in trouble!

King working for a guillotine from mount but kumi is in no mood to give up.

King swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and kumi is now in King's guard. A big mistake from King there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

King working for a triangle but kumi defends it easily.
King tries to land a sweep but no joy.
King manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. kumi manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but kumi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King tries to free his leg and advance position but kumi is retaining full guard.

King thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
kumi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kerry King is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
kumi keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
King trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kerry King comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got King 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kerry King!