PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Thorsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Kuikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thorsen is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. 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.

Thorsen
vs
Kuikka

168 cm
22
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jon Thorsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Kuikka!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thorsen wants to clinch up but Kuikka keeps it at a distance.
Kuikka looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Thorsen wants to clinch up but Kuikka keeps it at a distance.
Thorsen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Thorsen defending well as Kuikka loads up on a big left hand.

Kuikka pushes Thorsen up against the cage in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Kuikka - that landed with a thud.
Thorsen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Thorsen letting Kuikka take a breather here.

Kuikka pulls guard.

Kuikka looking for a guillotine here but Thorsen defends easily.
Kuikka wants to sweep here but Thorsen controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuikka has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Thorsen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kuikka looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Thorsen passes into half guard.
Kuikka wants to control but Thorsen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen blocks the strikes from Kuikka.

Kuikka makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Kuikka gets the takedown into side control.
Kuikka has knee on belly momentarily but Thorsen bucks him off and regains half guard.
Kuikka trying to pass the guard but Thorsen defending well.

Kuikka stands up and beckons Thorsen to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Thorsen.
Kuikka misses with a two punch combination.
Jon Thorsen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thorsen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kuikka wants to clinch up but Thorsen keeps it at a distance.
Kuikka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thorsen counters with a body kick.
Kuikka scores with a one two! Thorsen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Thorsen closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kuikka counters with a nice leg kick.
Kuikka with a poor takedown
and Thorsen counters with a leg kick.

Thorsen gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuikka is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Thorsen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jon Thorsen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timo Kuikka.
Kuikka stops a takedown attempt from Thorsen.
Thorsen dodges an elbow strike from Kuikka.

Kuikka decides to pull guard.
Thorsen postures up.

Kuikka escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Thorsen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kuikka 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Kuikka dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kuikka shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kuikka was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Kuikka jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Thorsen is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Thorsen and Kuikka has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Kuikka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Thorsen, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Kuikka is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Thorsen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuikka throws a strike aimed at the side of Thorsen's head but Thorsen avoids it well.
Kuikka lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Thorsen down.

Kuikka tries for a kimura but Thorsen is defending well.

Kuikka swings around for an armbar but Thorsen sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kuikka's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuikka controls Thorsen momentarily but Thorsen frees himself.
Kuikka looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuikka, not yet.

Kuikka had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Thorsen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kuikka Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Thorsen's back instead.

Kuikka working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuikka thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Kuikka is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Thorsen looking very determined here, making life difficult for Kuikka.

Kuikka is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Thorsen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Kuikka looking to break Thorsen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Thorsen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Kuikka will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuikka tightening his grip on Thorsen, looking for the choke.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kuikka's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Kuikka throwing strikes and Thorsen squirms under the pressure, ending up mounted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Kuikka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

No joy there for Thorsen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kuikka shoots in looking for a takedown. Thorsen tries to sprawl out of it but Kuikka keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Thorsen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Thorsen!
Kuikka lands a two punch combo.
Kuikka lands the left hand.
Kuikka throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kuikka takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Thorsen moves into the clinch successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thorsen wants a takedown but no success here.
Kuikka stops a takedown attempt from Thorsen.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kuikka.
Kuikka prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jon Thorsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuikka lands a damaging elbow.
Kuikka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thorsen.
Thorsen can't get the takedown.
Kuikka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Thorsen.
Thorsen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Thorsen misses with the head strike.

Kuikka pulls guard successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kuikka is on top in guard.
Kuikka passes Thorsen's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen is staying active underneath Kuikka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kuikka is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Kuikka wants to free his trapped foot but Thorsen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kuikka is tying to control. Thorsen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuikka is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Thorsen as Kuikka shoots in.
Thorsen looks to throw a body kick

and Kuikka counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thorsen won't be happy with that.
Kuikka working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Kuikka working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Thorsen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kuikka off and has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thorsen is not going to allow Kuikka to sit and survive in this position.
Thorsen has the hooks in. Kuikka is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Kuikka turns into Thorsen and is now in his guard.
Kuikka looking to pass the guard.
Kuikka pushes down on Thorsen's leg and manages to get into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timo Kuikka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kuikka has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timo Kuikka!