PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Derek Moye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Lasi Kukko has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kukko
vs
Moye

185 cm
26
194 lbs
12 - 3 - 2

183 cm
28
200 lbs
17 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Counter striker
Powerful

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 12 - 3 - 2, fighting out of London, Lasi Kukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Derek Moye!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Kukko slams his shin into Moye's torso.
Kukko misses with a body shot

and Moye counters with a shoot takedown. Kukko fights it but they end up in guard.
Kukko is pulling down on Moye's head to control his posture.
Moye pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kukko is keeping the position for now.
Moye missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Moye trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Kukko manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Kukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Moye swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Moye is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Moye seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kukko looking to sit in guard and control but Moye gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kukko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kukko is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Moye got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kukko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Moye has managed to get both his arms back between Kukko's legs - danger averted.

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.
Moye wants to control from the top but Kukko keeps moving.
Kukko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Moye wants to pass the guard but Kukko is keeping the position.
Moye wants to control from the top but Kukko keeps moving.
Moye stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kukko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Moye won't allow Kukko to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko is adopting a defensive guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Moye scores with a hook.
Moye shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kukko sprawls well. Kukko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Moye gets slowly back to his feet.
Kukko attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kukko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Moye.
Moye looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A jab from Kukko finds it's way through Moye's defenses.

It looks like Derek Moye has been cut.
Kukko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Moye circles away quickly and effectively.

Moye gets the takedown into side control.
Kukko tries to buck Moye off but Moye is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moye tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Moye advances to full mount.
Kukko wants to hold on but Moye pushes him away.
Kukko manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kukko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kukko is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Derek Moye will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Derek Moye's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Moye moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lasi Kukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Moye gets tackled into the cage by Kukko. Kukko maintains the clinch.
Moye is trying to drag Kukko to the mat but Kukko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Moye stalling in the clinch.
Kukko is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kukko can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moye has Kukko pushed against the cage.
Moye throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kukko taking a breather.
Kukko controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moye is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Moye taking a breather.

Kukko works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Kukko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kukko is fighting to break Moye's control of his arms but Moye is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko wants to pass the guard but Moye is keeping the position.
Kukko looking to sit in guard and control but Moye gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kukko is pulling down on Moye's head to control his posture.
Kukko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kukko trying to control the action but Moye is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moye wants to get back to his feet.
Moye gets full guard.
Moye keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.
Moye trying to keep a closed guard but Kukko is proving a slippery customer.

That's four 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 referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Moye is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kukko trying to control but Moye is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lasi Kukko just wasn't active enough.
Kukko tries for a takedown but Moye circles away easily

and Moye counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kukko's guard now.
Moye tries to free his leg and advance position but Kukko is retaining full guard.
Moye looking to sit in guard and control but Kukko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kukko tries to free his leg and advance position but Moye is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Derek Moye will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Derek Moye's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kukko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Moye moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kukko looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Moye fails with a takedown attempt.
Kukko thuds his right hand into Moye's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Moye blocks a jab.

Kukko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Moye is looking to control Kukko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Moye avoid being mounted?
Kukko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Moye moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kukko controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Moye is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kukko is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Lasi Kukko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kukko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kukko throws a leg kick which misses Moye's front leg but catches the back leg as Moye tries to avoid it.

Kukko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Derek Moye is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko tries to pull guard but Moye holds him up against the cage and eventually Kukko drops back down to his feet.
Kukko has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Moye is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Come on Kukko - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Moye lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kukko backwards.
Kukko stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moye tries for a takedown but Kukko manages to get underhooks.
Kukko works on Moye's body with a couple of short punches.
Lasi Kukko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kukko just leaning against Moye, taking a breather.
Kukko is trying to maintain a safe position but Moye gets an underhook and turns Kukko into the cage.
Moye blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A bit of stalling here from Kukko.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Lasi Kukko.
Kukko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Moye ducks under a wild hook from Kukko.

That's four 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.
No luck for Moye with that takedown attempt.
Lasi Kukko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Derek Moye.
Moye ducks under a wild hook from Kukko.
Sloppy strikes from Kukko. Those never looked like landing.
Kukko wants to land a leg kick but Moye is out of range.
Kukko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Moye counters with a shoot takedown. Kukko fights it but they end up in guard.
Kukko looking for a sweep. Not yet Kukko, not yet.
Kukko is trying to keep Moye in close.

Kukko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lasi Kukko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Moye 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Derek Moye!