PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Vallely (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vallely has chosen CKY - 96 Quite Bitter Beings as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Lasi Kukko could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mike Vallely's chin.

Kukko
vs
Vallely

185 cm
30
194 lbs
19 - 9 - 2

184 cm
27
190 lbs
17 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 19 - 9 - 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 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Vallely!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A good leg kick by Vallely.
Vallely's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kukko connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Vallely scrambles back to his feet.
Vallely avoids the head kick by Kukko.

Vallely tries to sprawl but Kukko drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Vallely blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kukko.
Kukko with the ground and pound but Vallely uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Vallely looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kukko wants to pass the guard but Vallely is keeping the position.
Vallely utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Vallely keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vallely looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kukko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vallely paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kukko is looking to clinch but Vallely is avoiding it.
Vallely throws a hook to the side of Kukko's head but Kukko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vallely connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kukko momentarily.
Vallely misses with a hook. Kukko ducked under it nicely.
Kukko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vallely sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Kukko misses its intended target.
Kukko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by Kukko.
Kukko waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vallely.
Vallely pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vallely throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kukko shoots and misses
and Vallely counters with a left to the body.
Kukko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kukko shoots in and drives through. Vallely sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lasi Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kukko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mike Vallely is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kukko defending well as Vallely loads up on a big left hand.
Vallely with a hook.
Kukko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vallely sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vallely scores with a nice strike.
Vallely just misses with a punch to the body.
Kukko throws a lazy right hand but Vallely sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kukko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Vallely manages to avoid it.
Kukko looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kukko is defended easily by Vallely.
A big left from Kukko misses.
A combination from Vallely does no damage.
Vallely throws a leg kick but Kukko checks it.
Vallely throws a hook but Kukko blocks it.
Vallely will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kukko blocks a head kick by Vallely.
Kukko checks the leg kick nicely there.

Vallely gets caught napping as Kukko dives in and scores a takedown. Vallely manages to retain guard.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Vallely is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kukko forces his way into half guard.
Kukko 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.
Kukko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Vallely knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko with the ground and pound but Vallely uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Vallely keeps moving.
Kukko looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vallely avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kukko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vallely tries to avoid it but Kukko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vallely to the ground. Vallely escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vallely displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kukko throws out the jab.
Vallely misses with a body shot.

Kukko looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Vallely!
The referee warns Vallely that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kukko lands a nice shot to the head.
Kukko looking to ground and pound but Vallely is blocking nicely.
Vallely is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kukko throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kukko unloads with some shots from mount but Vallely bucks and avoids them well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vallely is working to get back to half guard.
Vallely is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kukko wants to control the pace but Vallely is squirming around nicely.
Kukko 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.
Vallely takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kukko looking to control but Vallely is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vallely regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko is pressing down on Vallely's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vallely is holding on for now.

Kukko 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.
Vallely is trying to control but can't.
Lasi Kukko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Kukko is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vallely is just riding it out for now. Kukko eventually gives up the hold.
Vallely pushes Kukko off but Kukko dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko grinds an elbow into Vallely's temple.

Kukko swings around for an armbar but Vallely sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kukko's guard.
Kukko has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Vallely has passed into side control.
Kukko regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vallely wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kukko keeps working.
Kukko wants to control but Vallely is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Kukko throws a head kick but Vallely moves out of range.
Kukko drops his hands momentarily and Vallely takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Vallely slips a jab from Kukko.
Lasi Kukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vallely throws a leg kick which misses Kukko's front leg but catches the back leg as Kukko tries to avoid it.
A cross from Vallely lands.
Sloppy strikes from Kukko. Those never looked like landing.
Kukko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vallely lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kukko lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kukko wants to clinch but Vallely slips to the side
and Vallely counters with a left and a right that stings Kukko.
Some bone on bone action there as Vallely checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Vallely stuffs the takedown.
Kukko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vallely swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vallely slips a jab from Kukko.
A telegraphed right hand from Vallely misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko throws an overhand right that lands on Vallely's shoulder, as Vallely tries to avoid the shot.

Vallely gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kukko to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kukko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kukko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vallely is keeping the position for now.
Vallely not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Vallely keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mike Vallely.
Nice sprawl there from Vallely as Kukko shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lasi Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A big left from Vallely misses.
Kukko scores with a hook to the body. Vallely takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Vallely scores with a kick to the midsection.
Vallely keeps the fight on the outside.
Mike Vallely seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vallely throws a chopping leg kick but Kukko manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Kukko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kukko shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vallely sprawls well. Vallely wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kukko gets slowly back to his feet.
Vallely will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kukko is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kukko fails with a takedown attempt.
Vallely punishes Kukko's body with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kukko pushes Vallely up against the cage in a clinch.
Vallely takes a shot to the head.
Vallely has Kukko pushed against the cage.
Kukko trying to control the position but instead, Vallely has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kukko into the cage.

Vallely manages to break the clinch.
Mike Vallely has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lasi Kukko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kukko tries to clinch but Vallely is having none of it.
Vallely checks a low kick from Kukko.
Kukko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vallely connects with a solid leg kick.
Vallely keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Vallely misses with a jab, cross combination.
Left hook, right uppercut from Vallely.

It looks like Lasi Kukko has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vallely misses with a body shot.
Vallely defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kukko.
Vallely throws a lazy right hand but Kukko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vallely throws a hook to the side of Kukko's head but Kukko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vallely.
Vallely walks into a stiff left hand from Kukko.
Kukko misses with a double jab.
Kukko paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Vallely comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kukko 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lasi Kukko!