PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Antti Kokko (ranked 819 p4p, 1776 weight class) and Conor Pena (ranked 105 p4p, 240 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kokko
vs
Pena

183 cm
27
185
9 - 4 - 0

168 cm
26
210
6 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Savage Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Kokko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Conor Pena!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kokko lands a body shot.

Pena tries to keep at a distance but Kokko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kokko stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Pena escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kokko clinches.
Kokko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kokko tries to throw a body punch but Pena avoids it by throwing Kokko back against the cage.

Pena breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kokko with a hook.
Antti Kokko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pena tries to keep at a distance but Kokko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pena wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kokko has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pena breaks the clinch.

Kokko gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Pena breaks the clinch.
Kokko doesn't manage to clinch there - Pena circles away.
Kokko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pena swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pena doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena misses with a body shot.

Kokko clinches with his opponent.
Kokko prevents Pena from breaking the clinch.

Pena breaks the clinch.
Kokko wants to clinch.
Kokko lands a head shot.
Donk. Kokko catches Pena right on the button with a cross.
Kokko looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Kokko moves into the clinch successfully.
Pena has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kokko content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pena has had enough of the clinch but Kokko keeps him there for the moment.
Kokko scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pena is trying to break free.
Pena is looking to break free of the clinch but Kokko has double underhooks.
Kokko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pena's elbow.
Kokko can't find room to land a body shot as Pena controls the action.

Pena escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pena throws a body punch but Kokko moves out of range.

Kokko has Pena up against the cage in a clinch.
Pena tries to circle away but Kokko has him pinned against the cage.
Kokko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kokko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Pena escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pena misses the body punch
and Kokko counters with a stiff right hand.
Pena takes a swing at Kokko's ribcage but misses.
As Pena tries to get set, Kokko tries to push him back and clinch up but Pena manages to avoid the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kokko has managed to clinch.
Pena blocks an uppercut.
Pena misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kokko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Pena looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kokko lands a body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Kokko fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kokko.

Pena pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pena ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kokko moves away.
Kokko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pena swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kokko dips to his left and cracks Pena with an uppercut!
Kokko bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pena's head backwards.
Pena moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kokko tries to clinch but Pena is having none of it.
Pena with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kokko to score with a decent uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokko throws a poor cross that misses
and Pena counters with a series of strikes. Kokko will be more careful next time no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Kokko misses.
Kokko is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Pena misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kokko.
Kokko tries to clinch up but Pena circles away and keeps his distance.
Kokko is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Kokko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kokko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Pena is trying to maintain a safe position but Kokko gets an underhook and turns Pena into the cage.

Pena breaks the clinch.
Pena takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Kokko has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kokko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pena's elbow.
Kokko keeps control of Pena as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short left from Kokko.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pena pushes Kokko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Kokko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Pena takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Pena's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kokko connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Pena scrambles back to his feet.
Kokko tries to clinch there but Pena circles away.
Kokko avoids the body shot from Pena.
Kokko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kokko tries to clinch but Pena moves out of range.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kokko here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Pena throws a shot from downtown. Kokko moves away and avoids it.
Pena connects with a body shot.
Pena swats away the attempt to clinch by Kokko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot to the body from Kokko misses
enabling Pena to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Antti Kokko has been cut.
Kokko tries to clinch there but Pena circles away.
Nice shot lands for Kokko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kokko thuds a left hand into Pena's body.
Kokko tries to clinch up.
Pena swats away the attempt to clinch by Kokko.
Kokko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pena can do to turn this around?
Kokko throws a looping overhand right but Pena ducks down to avoid it.
Kokko moves in looking to clinch but Pena pushes him off.
Pena is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kokko with a body shot.
Kokko scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pena takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kokko uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Pena has time to react.

Kokko darts in and clinches Pena up against the cage.

Pena breaks from the clinch.
Kokko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Pena manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kokko looks to land a right hand but Pena moved out of range.
Antti Kokko is winning the standup battle so far.
Kokko moves out of range of the strikes.
Pena swings for the body but Kokko moves out of range.
Kokko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Pena.
Pena looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kokko tries to counter by clinching up but Pena breaks away and moves out of range.
Kokko lands a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kokko tries to clinch but Pena is having none of it.
Kokko lands with a straight right. Pena didn't see that one coming.
Kokko lands with a hook. Pena tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A jab from Kokko does it's job there.
Kokko tries to clinch but Pena moves out of range.
Pena misses with a few strikes there.
Kokko tries to counter by clinching up but Pena breaks away and moves out of range.
Pena moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Pena is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kokko rather than just go for the knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena misses the shot to the body.
Kokko is looking to counter the offense by Pena and move into the clinch.

Kokko rushes Pena and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kokko pushes Pena back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kokko misses with a punch to the body.
Kokko blocks a body shot from Pena.

Pena breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kokko wants to clinch but Pena slips to the side
and Pena counters with a nice body shot.
Kokko works the jab nicely.
Kokko takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Pena misses with a wild body shot.
Kokko throwing a counter right hand but Pena manages to avoid it.
Kokko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pena throws a jab but it's blocked by Kokko.
Kokko tries to clinch but Pena is having none of it.
Pena is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokko scores with a nice strike.
Kokko doesn't manage to clinch there - Pena circles away.
Kokko tries to clinch but Pena is having none of it.

Kokko takes the fight into the clinch.
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!
Pena is trying to maintain a safe position but Kokko gets an underhook and turns Pena into the cage.
Pena tries to break the clinch but Kokko is controlling the position.
Kokko can't find room to land a body shot as Pena controls the action.

Pena breaks from the clinch.
Kokko wants to clinch.
Kokko tries to clinch up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Antti Kokko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Antti Kokko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kokko tries to clinch but Pena moves away
and Pena connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pena on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kokko just misses with a punch to the body.
Kokko is looking to clinch but Pena is avoiding it.
Kokko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pena swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kokko has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Kokko has closed the distance and engaged Pena in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Pena.
Kokko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pena's elbow.
Kokko is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Pena breaks the clinch.
Kokko lands with a shot to the body.
Pena uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kokko.
Kokko cracks Pena with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pena just misses with a punch to the body.
Kokko is looking to clinch but Pena is avoiding it.
Pena swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kokko lands a head shot.

Kokko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Pena manages to break the clinch.
Kokko lands with an overhand left.
Kokko connects with a nice looking jab.
Pena avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pena takes a jab right on the kisser.

Kokko takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pena pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kokko closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Kokko fails to land.
Pena wants to break free but Kokko has control.
Pena wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kokko has him pressed against the cage.

Pena escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kokko wants to clinch up but Pena keeps it at a distance.
Kokko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Pena counters with a one-two to the body.
Kokko throws a good cross that connects.
Kokko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pena swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A countering left hand to the body from Pena misses.
Kokko wants to clinch up but Pena keeps it at a distance.
A countering left hand to the body from Pena misses.
Kokko tries to clinch but Pena moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kokko was well out of range. Poor timing from Pena.
Pena avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pena let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kokko lands a head shot.
Kokko tries to clinch but Pena moves out of range.
Pena appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kokko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kokko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pena just misses with a punch to the body.
Kokko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Pena misses with a two punch combination.
Kokko is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kokko doesn't manage to clinch there - Pena circles away.
Pena lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kokko throws a body shot but no joy.
Kokko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A countering left hand to the body from Pena misses.
Pena misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kokko.
Kokko tries to clinch but Pena is having none of it.
Pena misses with a body shot.
Pena walks into a left hand.
Kokko ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kokko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Kokko has Pena up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kokko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Conor Pena has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A short right from Pena on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Antti Kokko.
Well Kokko has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Kokko!