PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leo Clarke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ville Kuukkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuukkeli is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by a-ha - Take On Me. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Clarke
vs
Kuukkeli

185 cm
27
223 lbs
18 - 16 - 0

187 cm
28
224 lbs
20 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Revolution Fatigues

160! - Sale!
Revolution Fatigues

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Leo Clarke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ville Kuukkeli!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Steve Smith and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A thudding body kick lands there by Kuukkeli!
Clarke bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kuukkeli's head backwards.
Kuukkeli dives in and grabs Clarke's left leg, looking for a takedown. Clarke pushes down on Kuukkeli's head and hops out.
Kuukkeli gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Clarke lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Clarke is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kuukkeli's half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Clarke sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuukkeli defending well though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuukkeli is looking for a sweep. Clarke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kuukkeli slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kuukkeli working a defensive guard here.
Kuukkeli keeping moving, preventing Clarke from controlling successfully.
Kuukkeli avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuukkeli lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Clarke!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clarke wants to control but Kuukkeli is having none of it.
Clarke is desperately trying to improve his position but Kuukkeli has a good base and remains in mount.
Kuukkeli landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kuukkeli putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kuukkeli has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Clarke tries to lock up and control but Kuukkeli gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kuukkeli wants to control the pace but Clarke is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Clarke's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clarke sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Clarke is looking to control Kuukkeli's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Clarke avoid being mounted?
Clarke tries to roll over but Kuukkeli keeps him under control.
Kuukkeli missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kuukkeli trying to control from half guard but Clarke is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuukkeli not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke wants to get back to full guard.
Clarke won't allow Kuukkeli to pass to mount.
Kuukkeli is trying to control the action in half guard but Clarke is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kuukkeli with the ground and pound but Clarke uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Clarke working a defensive guard here.
Clarke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuukkeli is one step ahead there.
Kuukkeli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Clarke is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Clarke throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kuukkeli trying to control the position from guard on top but Clarke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clarke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuukkeli trying to control but Clarke is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuukkeli makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Clarke wants to sweep here but Kuukkeli controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ville Kuukkeli will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Clarke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kuukkeli.
Clarke will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Clarke misses with a right hand
and Kuukkeli counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Clarke lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Clarke swings for the body but Kuukkeli moves out of range.
Clarke shoots in looking for a takedown but Kuukkeli manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Clarke's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Clarke misses with a wild body shot.
Kuukkeli throws a head kick that misses.
Kuukkeli misses with a wild combination.
Kuukkeli changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Clarke tries to avoid it but Kuukkeli manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Clarke to the ground. Clarke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kuukkeli changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuukkeli fails to land the takedown.
Clarke takes one to the chin there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukkeli fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Clarke manages to avoid it.
Clarke shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Clarke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clarke throws a lazy right hand but Kuukkeli sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kuukkeli.
Kuukkeli takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Clarke ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Clarke scores with a jab.
Clarke throws a leg kick but Kuukkeli sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Clarke throws a hook but Kuukkeli avoids it easily.
Kuukkeli misses with a wild body shot.
Clarke is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kuukkeli sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A low kick from Clarke misses
and Kuukkeli counters with a big head kick but Clarke shrugs it off.
Kuukkeli tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Clarkes jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kuukkeli throws a head kick that misses.
Kuukkeli uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Clarke.

Clarke rushes Kuukkeli and presses him up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clarke jumps guard but Kuukkeli stands there with Clarke around his waist. Clarke gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Clarke ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Clarke no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kuukkeli passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ville Kuukkeli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Clarke is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kuukkeli connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke tries to bench press Kuukkeli off him but Kuukkeli keeps the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Kuukkeli.
Kuukkeli looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Clarke is avoiding damage well.
Clarke is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Clarke is not content to let Kuukkeli control the position.
Clarke tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli wants to control but Clarke is keeping him busy.
Kuukkeli cracks Clarke with a big elbow.
Kuukkeli in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kuukkeli working away.
Kuukkeli working the ground and pound.
Kuukkeli tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clarke tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kuukkeli wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kuukkeli throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Clarke works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Kuukkeli is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Kuukkeli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Clarke throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kuukkeli sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kuukkeli looks to score with a jab to the body but Clarke is just out of range.
Clarke just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuukkeli misses with a straight right.
Clarke waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kuukkeli.
Kuukkeli takes a kick to the side of the head.
Clarke throws the left hand but Kuukkeli avoids the punch easily.
Kuukkeli keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuukkeli connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kuukkeli lands a front kick.
Clarke lands with a hook. Kuukkeli tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Clarke closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kuukkeli did well to prevent Clarke getting side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kuukkeli manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kuukkeli keeping moving, preventing Clarke from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Clarke avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Clarke lands a couple of elbows.
Clarke postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kuukkeli looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Clarke is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuukkeli has wrist control.
Kuukkeli is trying to control the position but Clarke postures up.
Kuukkeli tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuukkeli keeping moving, preventing Clarke from controlling successfully.
Kuukkeli wants to sweep but no luck.
Leo Clarke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuukkeli thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Clarke drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kuukkeli manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Clarke has Kuukkeli in his guard.
Kuukkeli trying to control the position from guard on top but Clarke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clarke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuukkeli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clarke controls Kuukkeli momentarily but Kuukkeli frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clarke wants to sweep but no luck.
Kuukkeli looking to pass the guard.
Kuukkeli is stalling in the full guard.
Clarke tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Clarke moves out of range of the body kick from Kuukkeli.
Horrible takedown by Kuukkeli or perhaps it was just good defense by Clarke which made him look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clarke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kuukkeli uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Clarke.
Clarke stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuukkeli. Kuukkeli gets slowly back to his feet.
Clarke throws a sloppy head kick and Kuukkeli moves out of range easily.
Kuukkeli tries to clinch but Clarke moves out of range.
Kuukkeli changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Clarke tries to avoid it but Kuukkeli manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Clarke to the ground. Clarke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Leo Clarke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ville Kuukkeli.
Clarke throws a leg kick
and Kuukkeli counters with a head kick.
Kuukkeli pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuukkeli gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Clarke.
Kuukkeli on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Clarke. Clarke obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab from Clarke.
Kuukkeli throws a hook but Clarke avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Leo Clarke.
I think Kuukkeli 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ville Kuukkeli!
Ville Kuukkeli is the new light heavyweight champion!
Ville Kuukkeli decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.