PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Charmicheal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Kukko
vs
Charmicheal

185 cm
32
194 lbs
24 - 11 - 2

190 cm
26
201 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Brute

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 24 - 11 - 2, fighting out of London, Lasi Kukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, James Charmicheal!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Phil Schofield and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab by Kukko.
Charmicheal wants to clinch up but Kukko keeps it at a distance.
A head kick by Kukko misses

and Charmicheal holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Kukko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Charmicheal tries to clinch but Kukko moves out of range.
No luck for Kukko with that takedown attempt.

Charmicheal clinches up against the cage.
Charmicheal lands an elbow that stopped Kukko in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Lasi Kukko has been cut.
Charmicheal throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kukko jumps guard but Charmicheal turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Kukko taking a breather.
Kukko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Charmicheal working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko jumps guard but Charmicheal stands there with Kukko around his waist. Kukko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lasi Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kukko jumps guard but Charmicheal stands there with Kukko around his waist. Kukko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kukko effectively controlling the action here.
Charmicheal throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Charmicheal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kukko pressing his opponent against the cage.
Charmicheal pushes off an throws an elbow but Kukko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charmicheal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kukko fails to pull guard.
Kukko misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kukko tries to pull guard but Charmicheal forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kukko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kukko tries to pull guard but Charmicheal won't allow it.
Kukko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Charmicheal backwards.
Charmicheal lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Charmicheal prevents Kukko from breaking the clinch.
Charmicheal is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kukko is defending well for now.
Charmicheal lands an elbow that stopped Kukko in his tracks for a moment.

Lasi Kukko's cut is getting worse.
Charmicheal throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko blocks an elbow strike.
Kukko avoiding damage.
Kukko tries to pull guard but Charmicheal won't allow it.
Kukko is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Charmicheal to keep the fight standing.
Kukko misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kukko avoids the elbow strike from Charmicheal, against the cage.
Kukko misses with a hook to the ribs.

Kukko decides to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kukko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Charmicheal wants to stand but Kukko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kukko controls Charmicheal momentarily but Charmicheal frees himself.
Kukko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Charmicheal is one step ahead there.
Kukko is trying to control the position but Charmicheal postures up.
Charmicheal is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Charmicheal tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kukko!
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 Lasi Kukko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lasi Kukko's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kukko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Charmicheal momentarily.
Kukko jabs at Charmicheal's body.
Kukko throws a body punch but Charmicheal moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Charmicheal.
Kukko fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Charmicheal checks it well.
Charmicheal avoids the body shot from Kukko.
Charmicheal takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kukko misses with a few strikes there.
Kukko circles away from the clinch attempt.

Charmicheal moves into the clinch successfully.
Charmicheal pushes off an throws an elbow but Kukko leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Charmicheal misses with an elbow over the top.

Kukko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kukko misses with a wild body shot.
A jab from Kukko does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko ducks under a wild hook from Charmicheal.
Charmicheal avoids a punch combination nicely.
Charmicheal fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kukko on the side of the head.

Charmicheal gets caught flat footed, as Kukko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kukko prevents Charmicheal from getting back to his feet.
Charmicheal is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kukko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kukko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Charmicheal manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kukko manages to get himself to full guard.
Kukko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kukko looking for a guillotine here but Charmicheal defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kukko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kukko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Charmicheal!
Charmicheal manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kukko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kukko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Charmicheal is trying to stand back up but Kukko is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charmicheal works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kukko postures up and lands a big shot to Charmicheal's brow.
Charmicheal 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 hold on to Charmicheal's head to control him but Charmicheal postures up.
Kukko wants to get back to full guard.
Kukko works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kukko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Charmicheal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Charmicheal works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Charmicheal tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kukko.
Kukko is trying to control but can't.
Kukko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kukko.

Kukko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Charmicheal doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Charmicheal manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kukko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Charmicheal is one step ahead there.

Charmicheal has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Kukko to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Charmicheal is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Kukko pulls down on the head and he's put Charmicheal to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Lasi Kukko!