PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Bolton (ranked 22347 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aimo Kankkunen (ranked 6702 p4p, 0 weight class). Aimo Kankkunen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bolton
vs
Kankkunen

193 cm
21
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
21
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jeff Bolton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aimo Kankkunen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bolton shoots in but Kankkunen avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Kankkunen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kankkunen prevents Bolton from improving his position.
Kankkunen prevents Bolton from standing back up.
Bolton moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Bolton is looking for a triangle but Kankkunen pushes his legs off easily.

Bolton looking for a guillotine here but Kankkunen defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kankkunen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kankkunen wants to control from the top but Bolton keeps moving.

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

Bolton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

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

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

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

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bolton working for a triangle but Kankkunen defends it easily.
Kankkunen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kankkunen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bolton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bolton throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Bolton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bolton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kankkunen manages to get himself to full guard.

Kankkunen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bolton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bolton gets to his feet - Kankkunen follows without any prompting.
Kankkunen throws a chopping leg kick but Bolton manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kankkunen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kankkunen looks winded!

Kankkunen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bolton is trying to get back to full guard.
Bolton taking some punishment here, with Kankkunen in his half guard.
Bolton missing with punches from the bottom.
Bolton is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen is trying to control. Bolton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kankkunen blocks the strikes from Bolton.
Bolton gets back to full guard.

Bolton is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Kankkunen has his hands clasped together but Bolton extends and breaks Kankkunen's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Bolton.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jeff Bolton!