PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Georges Moxley (ranked 1278 p4p, 1257 weight class) and Kaino Ukkonen (ranked 168 p4p, 166 weight class). Moxley's entrance music is Andre Nickatina - Color of the Benz. A fine choice. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Moxley
vs
Ukkonen

189 cm
27
158
11 - 6 - 1

180 cm
24
163
8 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Georges Moxley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaino Ukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Joseph Jones and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Moxley looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Moxley working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Moxley wants to control from the top but Ukkonen keeps moving.
Ukkonen controls Moxley momentarily but Moxley frees himself.
Ukkonen keeping moving, preventing Moxley from controlling successfully.
Moxley trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ukkonen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Moxley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ukkonen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ukkonen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ukkonen scoring with some ground and pound.
Ukkonen is looking to work some ground and pound but Moxley has wrist control.

Moxley looking for a guillotine here but Ukkonen defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Moxley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Moxley keeping moving, preventing Ukkonen from controlling successfully.
Ukkonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Moxley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Moxley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ukkonen defends it easily.
Ukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Moxley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ukkonen postures up.

That's two 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.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Moxley isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ukkonen stacks Moxley on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ukkonen!
Ukkonen has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Moxley!
Ukkonen with shots to the head and body - Moxley looks very uncomfortable down there.
A nice elbow there by Ukkonen.
Moxley's coaches at High Kicks have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Ukkonen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Moxley hang on?
Moxley taking shots to the head.
Ukkonen scoring with strikes but Moxley is staying in there.
Moxley is trying desperately to improve position.

Ukkonen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Ukkonen wants to control the pace but Moxley is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moxley is trying to escape the mount.
Ukkonen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Moxley hang on?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ukkonen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Moxley is looking to escape.
Moxley is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Moxley is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moxley slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ukkonen uses his free foot to push down on Moxley's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Moxley.
Ukkonen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ukkonen trying to control but Moxley is having none of it.
Moxley regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Moxley manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ukkonen advances to half guard.
Ukkonen prevents Moxley from improving his position.
Moxley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ukkonen is working away from the top position though.
Ukkonen moves nicely into side control.
Moxley gets back to half guard.
Ukkonen winds up and cracks Moxley with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ukkonen is keen to just control but Moxley is a slippery customer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Moxley wants to improve his position but Ukkonen is controlling well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaino Ukkonen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Moxley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ukkonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Moxley.
Ukkonen with the counter takedown but Moxley avoids it easily.
Moxley really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

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

Moxley is looking for a triangle but Ukkonen pushes his legs off easily.

Moxley working for a triangle but Ukkonen defends it easily.
Ukkonen postures up and lands a big shot to Moxley's brow.
Ukkonen distracts Moxley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ukkonen landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ukkonen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ukkonen wants to control from the top but Moxley keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukkonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Moxley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Moxley avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Moxley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ukkonen.

Moxley had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ukkonen defends it easily.
Ukkonen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Moxley has his foot on Ukkonen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ukkonen works his way back into a safe position though.
Ukkonen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Moxley's head.
Ukkonen working some strikes from top position.

Moxley has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ukkonen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ukkonen cracks Moxley with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Moxley is looking for a triangle but Ukkonen pushes his legs off easily.
Ukkonen trying to control but Moxley is working from the bottom.
Ukkonen scoring with some ground and pound.
Ukkonen with a nice head shot there.
Moxley looking to control.
Ukkonen working some strikes from top position.
Moxley keeping moving, preventing Ukkonen from controlling successfully.
Moxley is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ukkonen stopping the sweep attempt from Moxley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Moxley is trying to control the position but Ukkonen postures up.
Ukkonen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Moxley's head.
Moxley wants to control the position but Ukkonen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Moxley regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ukkonen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Moxley has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ukkonen has managed to get both his arms back between Moxley's legs - danger averted.
Moxley tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ukkonen stands up over Moxley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ukkonen passes into half guard.
Ukkonen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ukkonen wants to pass the guard but Moxley is defending well.

Moxley actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Moxley does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ukkonen lands with a punch from half guard.
Ukkonen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Ukkonen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Moxley sees it coming and defends easily.
Ukkonen is thwarting Moxley's attempts to control the position.
Ukkonen stalling.
Ukkonen tries to pass to full mount but Moxley defends it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moxley is refusing to be controlled, as Ukkonen sits in half guard.
Moxley is looking for a sweep. Ukkonen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
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.
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. This is the final round!

Ukkonen scores with a takedown into Moxley's guard.

Moxley is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ukkonen is aware though and is defending well.
Ukkonen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ukkonen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Moxley is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kaino Ukkonen has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Moxley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moxley controls Ukkonen momentarily but Ukkonen frees himself.
Ukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Moxley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukkonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Moxley swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ukkonen wants to control from the top but Moxley keeps moving.
Ukkonen landing some decent shots from guard.
Moxley is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Moxley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Moxley looking to control.
Ukkonen lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Moxley is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Ukkonen frees his head nicely. Oh but Moxley has switched to an armbar! Ukkonen is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Georges Moxley!
Georges Moxley decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.