PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stephen James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akseli Kukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kukkonen has chosen Fintelligens - Kaikki Peliin as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
Kukkonen

185 cm
22
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Control Nutrition

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stephen James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Akseli Kukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kukkonen looking to pass the guard.
Kukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kukkonen thows a big elbow that misses.
James wants to get back to his feet but Kukkonen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kukkonen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kukkonen is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
James tries to clinch but Kukkonen is having none of it.
Kukkonen fails with the takedown.
James misses with a takedown

and Kukkonen counters with a takedown into side control.
James managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kukkonen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kukkonen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kukkonen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James is not content to let Kukkonen control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear James down.
Kukkonen lands a nice forearm strike.
The ground and pound from Kukkonen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
James wants to get back to his feet but Kukkonen drags him back down.
James is breathing heavily.
Kukkonen trying to control the position but James is working away.
An elbow from Kukkonen crashes against the mat.
James is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Kukkonen has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Kukkonen's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Kukkonen tries to score with some ground and pound. James controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kukkonen with a poor takedown

and James counters with a single leg into guard. Kukkonen didn't expect that.
Kukkonen pulls James in close to his closed guard and prevents James from doing any damage or advancing position.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
James thows a big elbow that misses.

James postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kukkonen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of James, into his guard.
James keeping moving, preventing Kukkonen from controlling successfully.
Kukkonen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kukkonen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kukkonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kukkonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akseli Kukkonen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

James with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kukkonen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kukkonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed James's head.
Kukkonen trying to control from half guard but James is working away.

Kukkonen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

James pushes Kukkonen off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkonen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.
James throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kukkonen's waist but Kukkonen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing James off to one side.

James gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kukkonen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kukkonen trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

Kukkonen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but James manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kukkonen has James in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kukkonen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but James can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
James working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
James trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

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

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kukkonen has his hands on James's head, controlling the position.
Kukkonen working a defensive guard here.
James makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
James postures up.
James stands up over Kukkonen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kukkonen controlling the position.
Let's hope that Kukkonen has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Kukkonen is retaining full 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.
James makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
James landing some decent shots from guard.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kukkonen is keeping the position for now.
James throwing strikes but missing.
Kukkonen looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kukkonen shoots and misses
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
James tries for a takedown but Kukkonen circles away easily

and Kukkonen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephen James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James keeping moving, preventing Kukkonen from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akseli Kukkonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

James will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Stephen James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kukkonen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
James misses with a takedown

and Kukkonen counters with a nice double leg into side control. James won't be happy with that.
Kukkonen controlling the position.
Kukkonen working the body and head with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kukkonen trying to control the position but James is working away.
Kukkonen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James parries the strikes from Kukkonen easily there. Kukkonen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable James to escape.
Kukkonen cracks James with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kukkonen works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kukkonen lands some shots froms side control.
James managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kukkonen.
James is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

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.

Kukkonen decides to take the fight back to the feet.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kukkonen's guard.
James pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kukkonen is keeping the position for now.
James postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
James with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kukkonen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Kukkonen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. James gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kukkonen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kukkonen throwing shots but James is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James is trying to stand back up but Kukkonen is controlling him

James makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kukkonen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
James tries to close the distance and clinch but Kukkonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kukkonen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
James avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kukkonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kukkonen is looking to take a break and control but James is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kukkonen scores with a couple of short elbows.
Stephen James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Akseli Kukkonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kukkonen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused James some visible discomfort.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akseli Kukkonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kukkonen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akseli Kukkonen!