PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ukko Kullervo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Crates (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kullervo's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Moonsorrow - Ukkosenjumalan Poika. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kullervo
vs
Crates

170 cm
18
136 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ukko Kullervo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Zach Crates!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Sosuke Kotani and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kullervo scores with a three punch combo!
Crates throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kullervo's waist but Kullervo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Crates off to one side.
Kullervo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Crates moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ukko Kullervo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kullervo throws a head kick that misses.
Kullervo with a lazy takedown attempt

and Crates holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Crates gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kullervo.
Kullervo is working for takedown but Crates is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ukko Kullervo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Crates can't get the takedown.

Crates jumps guard.
Kullervo won't allow Crates to sweep him here.
Crates preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Crates doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Crates is trying to control the position but Kullervo postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Crates looking for a guillotine here but Kullervo defends easily.

Kullervo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Crates, up you get!

Crates scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kullervo is not content to let Crates control the position.
Kullervo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kullervo.
Kullervo is breathing heavily.

Kullervo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Crates trying to control the position from guard on top but Kullervo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crates preventing the sweep.
Kullervo is working hard here to advance position.
Crates trying to control but Kullervo is working from the bottom.
Crates stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kullervo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

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.
Crates with a flurry of punches that miss.
Crates loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Kullervo. No joy for Crates on that attempt.
Kullervo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Kullervo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Crates is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kullervo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kullervo has control of Crates's left arm, preventing Crates from doing any damage.

Crates avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kullervo is working an open guard so Crates takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crates changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kullervo tries to avoid it but Crates manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kullervo to the ground. Kullervo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Crates tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kullervo scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kullervo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Crates counters with a takedown into side control.

Crates tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Crates has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Crates working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Crates trying to control the position but Kullervo is working away.
Crates tries to score with some ground and pound. Kullervo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Crates prevents Kullervo from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Crates stands up and beckons Kullervo to his feet.

Kullervo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kullervo won't allow Crates to sweep him here.
Kullervo landing with the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Crates throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Crates throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kullervo looking to pass the guard.
Crates is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kullervo trying to control but Crates is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Crates wants to control but Kullervo passes easily into half guard.
Kullervo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ukko Kullervo will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kullervo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A punch combination from Kullervo misses.

Crates shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kullervo's guard.
Kullervo has a closed guard, preventing Crates from standing up.
Crates trying to control the position from guard on top but Kullervo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kullervo looking for a sweep. Not yet Kullervo, not yet.
Crates trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kullervo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Crates trying to control but Kullervo is working from the bottom.
Crates postures up in Kullervo's guard and throws a big left but Kullervo blocks it.
Crates trying to control the position from guard on top but Kullervo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Crates clinches up with Kullervo and pushes him back against the cage.
Crates drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kullervo gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Crates turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Crates postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kullervo gets back to half guard.
Crates wants to take a breather but Kullervo is having none of it.
Kullervo punching from the bottom.
Crates wants to take a breather but Kullervo is having none of it.
Kullervo trying to control from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kullervo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Crates rushes Kullervo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Crates wants to break the clinch but can't.

Kullervo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kullervo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kullervo.
Kullervo cracks Crates with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kullervo lands a decent elbow from side control.
Crates tries to control but Kullervo manages to take his back.

Crates manages to stand up with Kullervo still on his back. Eventually Kullervo drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Crates wants to clinch.

Crates scores a takedown into full mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kullervo is desperately trying to improve his position but Crates has a good base and remains in mount.
Crates misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Crates has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Crates is standing up, even though he is in mount.
No joy there for Kullervo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice sprawl there from Crates as Kullervo shoots in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kullervo tries to clinch up but Crates circles away and keeps his distance.

Crates closes the distance and clinches.

Crates pulls guard successfully.
Crates working a defensive guard here.
Kullervo stops Crates from standing up.
Kullervo thows a big elbow that misses.
Kullervo trying to control the position from guard on top but Crates is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kullervo works over Crates with some ground and pound from guard.
Kullervo pushes down on Crates's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kullervo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kullervo seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kullervo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Crates with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Crates is in trouble now - Kullervo has advanced to mount!
Crates is squirming around, avoiding Kullervo's attempts to control the action.
Zach Crates has got the better of the ground game so far.
Crates tries to hold on but Kullervo postures up.
Kullervo landing shots from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kullervo lands a big shot there that rocks Crates but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The referee warns Crates that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kullervo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Zach Crates will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kullervo clinches but Crates breaks the clinch

and Crates counters with a shoot takedown. Kullervo fights it but they end up in guard.
Kullervo tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kullervo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kullervo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kullervo throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kullervo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kullervo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kullervo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Kullervo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Kullervo passes the guard and advances to mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Crates is trying to escape the mount.
Crates tries to hold on but Kullervo pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crates is wriggling around trying to escape.
Crates wants to hold on but Kullervo pushes him away.
Crates can't escape the position.
Crates is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kullervo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kullervo dominating with strikes here.
Crates wants to control but Kullervo is having none of it.

Kullervo looking to isolate an arm here. Crates doesn't see it coming and as Kullervo extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Kullervo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ukko Kullervo!