PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sami Salama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Urho Kukkamaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Salama
vs
Kukkamaa

180 cm
26
165 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

179 cm
27
165 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Salama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Urho Kukkamaa!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Salama fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kukkamaa lands a nice hook to Salama's body. Salama takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Salama misses with a left hand
and Kukkamaa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Salama misses with a leg kick.
Salama scores with a head kick. Kukkamaa tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Urho Kukkamaa has been cut.
Salama throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kukkamaa's head.
Salama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kukkamaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salama tries to close the distance and clinch but Kukkamaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Salama ducks right into an uppercut from Kukkamaa.
Salama falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kukkamaa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kukkamaa.
Kukkamaa pushes off an throws an elbow but Salama leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kukkamaa throws a head punch that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Salama blocks an elbow strike from Kukkamaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama missing with knees to the body.
Kukkamaa blocks an elbow strike from Salama.
Kukkamaa avoiding damage as Salama throws knees to the body.
Kukkamaa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kukkamaa lands an elbow that stopped Salama in his tracks for a moment.
Salama throws a head punch that misses.
Salama lands an elbow inside.
Kukkamaa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kukkamaa throws an elbow that misses.
Kukkamaa lands an elbow that stopped Salama in his tracks for a moment.
Kukkamaa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kukkamaa blocks an uppercut.
Salama is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kukkamaa is keeping busy.
Kukkamaa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Salama backwards.
Salama blocks an elbow strike.
Kukkamaa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Salama's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Salama avoids a wild elbow strike from Kukkamaa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Salama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kukkamaa is defending well for now.
Salama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kukkamaa lands with a left to the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kukkamaa throws an elbow but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kukkamaa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Salama's brow.
Salama throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kukkamaa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Salama lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Salama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kukkamaa blocks it with crossed arms.
Salama dodges an elbow strike from Kukkamaa.
A short right from Kukkamaa on the inside.
Kukkamaa blocking some punches.
Kukkamaa lands an elbow inside that Salama shrugs off.
Kukkamaa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Salama wants to break the clinch but can't.
Salama blocks an elbow strike from Kukkamaa.
Kukkamaa avoids the elbow strike from Salama, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Kukkamaa.
Kukkamaa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Salama backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama lands a nice elbow.
Kukkamaa lands an elbow inside that Salama shrugs off.
Kukkamaa prevents Salama from breaking the clinch.
Kukkamaa pushes off an throws an elbow but Salama leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A knee to the head by Salama.

That has opened up Urho Kukkamaa's cut even more.
Salama tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Salama avoids the elbow strike from Kukkamaa, against the cage.
Kukkamaa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Salama just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kukkamaa's brow.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Salama just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kukkamaa's brow.
Kukkamaa lands with a left to the head.
Salama is trying to break free.
Salama throws a knee to the head but misses.
Salama misses with the head strike.
Salama blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kukkamaa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Salama's brow.
Kukkamaa pushes off an throws an elbow but Salama leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Salama tries a knee to the head but Kukkamaa blocks it.
Salama misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkamaa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kukkamaa blocks the elbow strike.
Kukkamaa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Salama blocks an elbow strike.
Kukkamaa lands a hook that snaps the head of Salama backwards.
Salama unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kukkamaa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kukkamaa lands an elbow inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kukkamaa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Salama's brow.
Kukkamaa throws an elbow that misses.
Salama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kukkamaa blocks it with crossed arms.
Salama avoids a wild elbow strike from Kukkamaa.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kukkamaa.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kukkamaa throws an elbow but misses.
Salama tries to circle away but Kukkamaa has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kukkamaa lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Salama backwards.
Salama blocks an elbow strike from Kukkamaa.
Kukkamaa avoids a wild elbow strike from Salama.
Salama looks to throw an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Urho Kukkamaa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Urho Kukkamaa's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kukkamaa scores with a decent looking hook.
Kukkamaa has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kukkamaa there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kukkamaa misses with a looping right.
Salama connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kukkamaa's hands.
Salama swats away the attempt to clinch by Kukkamaa.
Salama tries to clinch up but Kukkamaa circles away and keeps his distance.
Salama tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kukkamaa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Salama looks for the body kick but Kukkamaa saw that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Salama looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Salama throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kukkamaa moves into range and clinches up with Salama.
Salama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kukkamaa lands an elbow that stopped Salama in his tracks for a moment.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kukkamaa.
Salama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Salama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Salama with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Salama trying to land knees to the body.
Salama lands an elbow inside that Kukkamaa shrugs off.
Salama dodges an elbow strike from Kukkamaa.
Kukkamaa avoids a wild elbow strike from Salama.
Urho Kukkamaa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kukkamaa takes an elbow to the forehead.

The cut above Urho Kukkamaa's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Salama lands an elbow inside that Kukkamaa shrugs off.
Kukkamaa takes an elbow to the forehead.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kukkamaa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kukkamaa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukkamaa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kukkamaa throws an elbow but misses.
Salama lands a left hand.
Salama tries to break free but Kukkamaa pushes him back against the cage.
Kukkamaa working aggressively here.
Salama avoids a wild elbow strike from Kukkamaa.
Salama lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Salama avoids the elbow strike from Kukkamaa, against the cage.
Salama avoids a wild elbow strike from Kukkamaa.
Salama pushes off an throws an elbow but Kukkamaa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Salama avoids the elbow strike from Kukkamaa, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kukkamaa.
Salama working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kukkamaa lands a damaging elbow.
Kukkamaa keeps control of Salama as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kukkamaa lands an elbow inside that Salama shrugs off.
Nice elbow from Kukkamaa.
Nice elbow from Kukkamaa.
Kukkamaa blocks an elbow strike from Salama.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkamaa lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kukkamaa lands with a short shot to the head.
Salama lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Urho Kukkamaa's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Salama avoids a wild elbow strike from Kukkamaa.
Salama throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Salama comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Salama.

Salama breaks from the clinch.
Kukkamaa looks to land a combination. Salama sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Kukkamaa wants to clinch.
Kukkamaa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Salama attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama throws a wild body kick that Kukkamaa sees coming a mile off.
Kukkamaa checks a leg kick.
Kukkamaa keeps the fight on the outside.
Salama throws a series of punches but Kukkamaa moves out of range.
Salama stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Urho Kukkamaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kukkamaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Salama.
Sami Salama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kukkamaa moves in looking to clinch but Salama pushes him off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kukkamaa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Salama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kukkamaa blocks it with crossed arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sami Salama will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Urho Kukkamaa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Salama misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Salama motions for Kukkamaa to come forward. Salama throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kukkamaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sami Salama is winning the standup battle so far.
Kukkamaa doesn't manage to clinch there - Salama circles away.
Kukkamaa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Salama momentarily.
Kukkamaa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Salama throws a head kick that misses.
Salama jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kukkamaa tries to clinch there but Salama circles away.
Salama misses with a body kick.
Kukkamaa avoids the head kick by Salama.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkamaa on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kukkamaa is looking to clinch but Salama is avoiding it.
Salama misses with a low kick.

Salama darts in and clinches Kukkamaa up against the cage.
Kukkamaa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Salama pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kukkamaa blocks a jab.
Kukkamaa throws a hook to the side of Salama's head but Salama sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Salama walks into a stiff left hand from Kukkamaa.
Salama swats away the attempt to clinch by Kukkamaa.
Kukkamaa wants to clinch up but Salama keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salama misses with a head kick.
Kukkamaa blocks a jab.
Kukkamaa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Salama misses with an attempted mid kick.
Salama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Salama misses with a low kick.
Kukkamaa takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kukkamaa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Salama feints and then cracks Kukkamaa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kukkamaa down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kukkamaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salama pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kukkamaa is out of range and Salama settles back down.
Salama throws a shot from downtown. Kukkamaa moves away and avoids it.
Salama avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Salama doesn't manage to clinch there - Kukkamaa circles away.
A big left from Kukkamaa misses.
Salama with a nice cross.
Salama lands with a slapping head kick.
Salama tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kukkamaa counters with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkamaa takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Salama ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kukkamaa moves away.
Salama cracks a nice hook into Kukkamaa's ribs.
Kukkamaa scores with a jab. Salama acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kukkamaa tries to clinch there but Salama circles away.
Salama tries to close the distance and clinch but Kukkamaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kukkamaa avoids the body shot from Salama.
Kukkamaa blocks a head kick by Salama.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salama misses with a straight left.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Salama showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Salama has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 30:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sami Salama!