PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leuka Mononen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Cuervo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mononen comes to the cage accompanied by Kotiteollisuus - Graniitti. Leuka Mononen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mononen
vs
Cuervo

162 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
136 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

Dangerous GnP
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Crashforce Nutrition

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leuka Mononen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jose Cuervo!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mononen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cuervo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mononen.
Cuervo throws a body punch but Mononen moves out of range.
Mononen misses with a jab to the body
and Cuervo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mononen thinking.
Mononen throws a big shot that misses.
Cuervo throws a body punch but Mononen moves out of range.
Cuervo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mononen was well out of range. Poor timing from Cuervo.
Mononen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cuervo moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cuervo swats away the attempt to clinch by Mononen.
Cuervo just misses with a punch to the body.
Cuervo throws a predictable looking body shot
and Mononen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mononen dives in and grabs Cuervo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Cuervo pushes down on Mononen's head and hops out.
Cuervo takes a swing at Mononen's ribcage but misses.
Mononen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cuervo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mononen thinking.
Mononen just misses with a punch to the body.
Mononen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Cuervo misses with a wild body shot.
Mononen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cuervo was well out of range. Poor timing from Mononen.
Cuervo lands a nice shot to the body.
Mononen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cuervo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
A shot to the body from Mononen misses
and Cuervo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Nice takedown defense from Cuervo. No joy for Mononen on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leuka Mononen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Mononen or perhaps it was just good defense by Cuervo which made him look bad.
Cuervo thows a body shot but no joy.
Mononen misses with a few strikes there.
A shot to the body from Mononen misses
and Cuervo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mononen thinking.
Mononen misses with a combination
and Cuervo counters with a right hand to the body.
Cuervo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Cuervo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mononen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mononen with a poor takedown
and Cuervo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mononen fails with the takedown.
Leuka Mononen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mononen shoots in and drives through. Cuervo sprawls well.
Mononen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Cuervo misses with a wild body shot.
Cuervo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mononen manages to avoid it.
Mononen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mononen throws a right hand that misses
enabling Cuervo to counter with a crisp jab.
Mononen tries for a takedown but Cuervo circles away easily
and Cuervo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cuervo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mononen was well out of range. Poor timing from Cuervo.
Mononen throws a sloppy body shot
and Cuervo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mononen tries to move into range but Cuervo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Mononen misses with a hook to the body
and Cuervo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Cuervo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mononen doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cuervo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jose Cuervo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mononen swings widly with a right hand
and Cuervo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Cuervo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mononen misses with a hook
and Cuervo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mononen misses the body punch
and Cuervo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cuervo scores with a shot to the body.
Mononen shoots in and drives through. Cuervo sprawls well.
Mononen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cuervo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mononen misses with an uppercut
and Cuervo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mononen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cuervo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mononen tries to clinch up.
Mononen misses with a shot to the body
and Cuervo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mononen throws a lazy uppercut
and Cuervo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mononen thinking.
Mononen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cuervo avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuervo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cuervo wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leuka Mononen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mononen misses with a body shot
and Cuervo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mononen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cuervo circles away.
Mononen tries for a takedown but Cuervo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Cuervo lands with a good body shot.
Mononen misses with a hook to the body
and Cuervo counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Mononen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cuervo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice takedown defense from Cuervo. No joy for Mononen on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mononen misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Cuervo counters with a nice uppercut.
Mononen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cuervo pinned against the cage. Cuervo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mononen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Cuervo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mononen is looking to wear down Cuervo with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cuervo misses with a wild body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Cuervo. No joy for Mononen on that attempt.
Mononen misses with an uppercut
and Cuervo counters with a left to the body.

Mononen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mononen controlling from the full mount.
Mononen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuervo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Cuervo avoids a series of strikes thrown by Mononen.
Cuervo manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Cuervo trying to control but Mononen postures up.
Mononen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mononen is looking to take a break and control but Cuervo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mononen with the ground and pound but Cuervo uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Cuervo keeping full guard, as Mononen tries to pass.
Cuervo is controlling Mononen's posture.
Mononen throwing strikes but missing.
Cuervo trying to control the position.
Mononen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Cuervo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Mononen throws a right hand that misses
and Cuervo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Mononen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Mononen is trying to control the action in half guard but Cuervo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Mononen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mononen trying to control from Cuervo's half guard. Cuervo has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuervo working a defensive guard here.
Cuervo keeping moving, preventing Mononen from controlling successfully.
Mononen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mononen looking to pass the guard.
Cuervo looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Mononen drops back looking for a leg! Cuervo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Cuervo manages to kick Mononen off! Mononen jumps back into Cuervo's guard.
Mononen postures up.
Mononen trying to control but Cuervo is working from the bottom.
Cuervo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mononen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cuervo keeping full guard, as Mononen tries to pass.
Mononen being controlled here momentarily.
Mononen tries to free his leg and advance position but Cuervo is retaining full guard.
Mononen wants to control from the top but Cuervo keeps moving.
Mononen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mononen sitting in guard here, content to control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mononen misses with an uppercut.
Cuervo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mononen manages to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Mononen.
Mononen misses with a hook
and Cuervo counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mononen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cuervo sprawls well. Cuervo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mononen gets slowly back to his feet.
Cuervo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leuka Mononen clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mononen misses with a hook
and Cuervo counters with a left to the body.
Mononen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cuervo as he avoids it easily.
Cuervo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Horrible takedown by Mononen or perhaps it was just good defense by Cuervo which made him look bad.
Cuervo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mononen manages to avoid it.
Mononen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cuervo is fending him off so far but Mononen persists. Nope, Cuervo circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leuka Mononen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mononen has his takedown stuffed
and Cuervo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cuervo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mononen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cuervo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mononen.
Mononen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cuervo digs a good hook to Mononen's body.
Mononen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Cuervo was well out of range. Poor timing from Mononen.
Mononen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mononen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nice defenses there by Cuervo.
Cuervo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Mononen fails with the takedown
and Cuervo counters with a right hand to the body.
Mononen avoids the body shot from Cuervo.
Cuervo scores with a jab to the body.
Mononen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cuervo as he jumps to the side.
Mononen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Mononen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mononen swings widly with a right hand
and Cuervo counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cuervo lands with a straight right. Mononen didn't see that one coming.
Cuervo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mononen.
Mononen throws an off balance right hand
and Cuervo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Mononen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Cuervo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Mononen throws a lazy uppercut
and Cuervo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cuervo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Cuervo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mononen.
Mononen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mononen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cuervo throws a predictable looking body shot

and Mononen counters with a single leg into guard. Cuervo didn't expect that.
Mononen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Cuervo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Cuervo holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mononen wants to pass the guard but Cuervo is keeping the position.
Mononen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mononen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Cuervo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Cuervo dominated that fourth 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. This is the final round!

Mononen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mononen misses with a hook
and Cuervo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Cuervo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mononen.
Mononen is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Cuervo's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Cuervo stuffs the takedown.
Mononen misses with a jab to the body
and Cuervo counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Mononen thinking.
Cuervo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mononen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mononen misses with a jab to the body
and Mononen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Mononen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cuervo tries to avoid it but Mononen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cuervo to the ground. Cuervo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leuka Mononen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cuervo swings away with a body shot that misses

and Mononen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cuervo's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mononen trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Cuervo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Mononen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cuervo!
Mononen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cuervo is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Cuervo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Leuka Mononen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mononen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cuervo tries to reverse the position but Mononen maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mononen tries to control but Cuervo wriggling away.
Cuervo blocking the ground and pound.
Mononen punching from mount but Cuervo doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Mononen unloads with some shots from mount but Cuervo bucks and avoids them well.
Mononen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mononen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cuervo is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Mononen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Mononen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mononen throwing strikes here but Cuervo is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Mononen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Mononen sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cuervo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mononen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Leuka Mononen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cuervo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 47:48
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 47:48
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jose Cuervo!
Jose Cuervo is the new bantamweight champion!