PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Volodymyr Pravda (ranked 2905 p4p, 2258 weight class) and Kaino Ukkonen (ranked 325 p4p, 253 weight class). Pravda comes to the cage accompanied by Korobushka. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Pravda
vs
Ukkonen

173 cm
22
143
5 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
165
4 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Volodymyr Pravda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaino Ukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ukkonen jabs at Pravda's body.
Ukkonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Pravda is just out of range.
Kaino Ukkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ukkonen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Pravda. Pravda circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Pravda shoots in for a double leg but Ukkonen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pravda throws a nice looking combination but Ukkonen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ukkonen looks to land a combination but Pravda avoids it well.
Ukkonen's corner calls for a 1-2. Ukkonen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Pravda darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ukkonen trying to control but Pravda postures up.
Pravda wants to pass to mount but Ukkonen is defending the position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pravda is keen to just control but Ukkonen is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukkonen wants to control but Pravda is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pravda is taking a breather. Ukkonen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ukkonen tries to get to full guard but Pravda has control of the leg.
Pravda looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Ukkonen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Pravda pulls his head out easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ukkonen is looking to improve his position.
Pravda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ukkonen keeps working.
Pravda not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two 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.

Ukkonen looking for submissions off his back.
Pravda seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Ukkonen actively working from the bottom here.
Pravda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ukkonen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ukkonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Ukkonen throws an overhand right that lands on Pravda's shoulder, as Pravda tries to avoid the shot.

Pravda clinches.

Ukkonen has picked Pravda up - he's going for a ride! Ukkonen dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Ukkonen is trying to control. Pravda wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen trying to pass the guard but Pravda defending well.
Pravda gets back to full guard.
Ukkonen passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pravda wants to get back to full guard.
Ukkonen drops an elbow to the side of Pravda's head.

Ukkonen is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen working over Pravda with some ground and pound. Pravda looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Pravda is looking to control Ukkonen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Pravda avoid being mounted?
Pravda wants to control but Ukkonen passes into side.
Pravda can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pravda gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Pravda wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaino Ukkonen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Pravda moves out of range as Ukkonen strikes.
Pravda closes the distance and clinches up with Ukkonen, looking for a takedown. Pravda pushes Ukkonen against the cage but Ukkonen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Ukkonen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kaino Ukkonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ukkonen blocks the strikes from Pravda.
Pravda is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ukkonen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ukkonen's back!
Ukkonen rolls, trying to escape but Pravda keeps control of the position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Pravda trying to control momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pravda controlling the position well here. Ukkonen rolled but Pravda kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Ukkonen wants to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pravda biding his time, looking for the opening.
Pravda wants to control but Ukkonen is keeping busy.
Ukkonen breaks Pravda's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Pravda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pravda keeping moving, preventing Ukkonen from controlling successfully.
Pravda has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ukkonen wants to control from the top but Pravda keeps moving.
Ukkonen is pushing down on Pravda's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pravda is fighting to maintain full guard but Ukkonen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Pravda has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ukkonen is working away from the top position though.
Pravda wants to get back to full guard.
Ukkonen works his way into full mount!
Pravda holds on to Ukkonen as tight as he can, avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pravda is wriggling around trying to escape.

Ukkonen is working for a guillotine from mount but Pravda frees his head quite easily.
BOOM! Ukkonen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ukkonen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pravda is looking to escape.
Pravda really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ukkonen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Pravda?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pravda wants to control but Ukkonen is having none of it.
Ukkonen lands a nice shot to the head.
Pravda is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ukkonen looking to control but Pravda is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Pravda regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ukkonen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pravda defending well though.
Ukkonen tries to pass to full mount but Pravda defends it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaino Ukkonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Ukkonen. Pravda does a little dance to reset his feet.
Pravda shoots for a takedown but Ukkonen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ukkonen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ukkonen cracks Pravda with an open hand slap.

Ukkonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ukkonen wants to control from the top but Pravda keeps moving.
Pravda controls Ukkonen momentarily but Ukkonen frees himself.
Ukkonen stopping the sweep attempt from Pravda.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ukkonen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Pravda works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ukkonen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ukkonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ukkonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pravda swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukkonen postures up and lands a big shot to Pravda's brow.
Ukkonen won't allow Pravda to get back to his feet.
Ukkonen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Ukkonen is looking to work some ground and pound but Pravda has wrist control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ukkonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pravda swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ukkonen scores with a jab.
Ukkonen throws a jab when Pravda was well out of range.
Pravda on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ukkonen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Pravda fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ukkonen sprawls well initially but Pravda persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pravda tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ukkonen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Pravda wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ukkonen keeps working.
It looks like Pravda is going to stand back up.
Pravda trying to control from half guard but Ukkonen is working away.

Ukkonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Pravda prevents Ukkonen from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pravda's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pravda's back!
Volodymyr Pravda has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Ukkonen is persistently looking for the submission but Pravda is defending it well.

Ukkonen is working for a rear naked choke. Pravda is not defending it well and Ukkonen has tightened it up quickly! This could be all over! Pravda refuses to tap and goes to sleep, forcing the referee to intervene. A little trickle of blood came out of Pravda's nose as his head slumped to the floor. That is naaaasty!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kaino Ukkonen!
Kaino Ukkonen thanked the fans post fight for their support.