PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wanderlei Machida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ville Kuukkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Machida comes to the cage accompanied by Concrete Schoolyard. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Machida
vs
Kuukkeli

185 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
20
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Likes ground

Biobonds Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wanderlei Machida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ville Kuukkeli!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuukkeli swats away the attempt to clinch by Machida.
Nice takedown defense from Kuukkeli. No joy for Machida on that attempt.
Machida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Machida shoots in and drives through. Kuukkeli sprawls well.
Machida tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kuukkeli drives through and clinches with Machida against the cage.
Machida can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wanderlei Machida. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kuukkeli jumps guard and drags Machida to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kuukkeli looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Machida postures up in Kuukkeli's guard and throws a big left but Kuukkeli blocks it.
Machida is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kuukkeli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Machida gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukkeli working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Machida trying to control but Kuukkeli is working from the bottom.
Kuukkeli is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kuukkeli wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kuukkeli looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuukkeli, not yet.
Machida tries to stand but Kuukkeli is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kuukkeli wants to sweep here but Machida controlling him for the moment.
Kuukkeli is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kuukkeli closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kuukkeli lands in his opponent's guard.
Kuukkeli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Machida is keeping the position for now.
Kuukkeli trying to control the position from guard on top but Machida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Machida lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kuukkeli!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli is controlling an arm, preventing Machida from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Machida is breathing heavily.
Kuukkeli is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kuukkeli sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kuukkeli trying to hold on to Machida's head to control him but Machida postures up.

Machida is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Machida prevents Kuukkeli from improving his position.
Kuukkeli moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Machida postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuukkeli looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuukkeli, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kuukkeli is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kuukkeli feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Machida looking for subs off his back but Kuukkeli has passed one foot through into half guard.
Kuukkeli seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Kuukkeli is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukkeli is looking to take a break and control but Machida is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuukkeli looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Machida with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kuukkeli is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Machida keeping moving, preventing Kuukkeli from controlling successfully.
Kuukkeli postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kuukkeli thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kuukkeli tries to free his leg and advance position but Machida is retaining full guard.
Kuukkeli stands and throws Machida's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kuukkeli working the ground and pound.
Kuukkeli controls the position.
Kuukkeli trying to control the action but Machida is working from the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Kuukkeli.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli working away.
Kuukkeli controls the position from side control.
Kuukkeli trying to control the position but Machida is working away.
Kuukkeli in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kuukkeli working the ground and pound.

Kuukkeli tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kuukkeli has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Machida can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Kuukkeli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Machida's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kuukkeli rushes Machida and presses him up against the cage.
Machida is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kuukkeli holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Kuukkeli escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Machida shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kuukkeli counters with a takedown into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuukkeli controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Machida is looking for a sweep.

Kuukkeli is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Machida has escaped the position, nice work there.

Kuukkeli wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Machida, who protects the arm well.
Machida is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Kuukkeli is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Machida is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli trying to control the position but Machida is working away.
Kuukkeli advances nicely into full mount.
Kuukkeli punishing his opponent with strikes.

Kuukkeli looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kuukkeli looking to control but Machida is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kuukkeli unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli wants to control the pace but Machida is squirming around nicely.
Kuukkeli unloading with bombs!
Kuukkeli looking to control and managing it successfully.
Machida is trying to escape the mount.
Kuukkeli sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kuukkeli trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kuukkeli in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kuukkeli lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kuukkeli lands with some strikes.
Wanderlei Machida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kuukkeli is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Machida is surviving well by controlling Kuukkeli's body position as best he can.
Ville Kuukkeli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Machida throws a strike from the bottom but Kuukkeli uses the opportunity to take his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ville Kuukkeli comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kuukkeli has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ville Kuukkeli!