PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiel Flay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Flay has chosen Diabolic- Modern Day Future as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Kiel Flay enters the cage!

Kukko
vs
Flay

185 cm
34
194 lbs
27 - 14 - 2

194 cm
28
202 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 27 - 14 - 2, fighting out of London, Lasi Kukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kiel Flay!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Kukko misses the target.
Kukko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Flay moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Flay avoids the head kick by Kukko.
Lasi Kukko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kukko throws a body punch but Flay moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kukko is defended easily by Flay.
Kukko misses with a few strikes there.
A big right from Kukko misses.
Kukko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Kukko gets a takedown into half guard.
Flay trying to hold on to Kukko's head to control him but Kukko postures up.
Kukko works his foot free and advances to mount.
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.
Kukko thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kukko throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Flay because Kukko loaded up on that one.
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 trying to control but Flay is having none of it.
Flay holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kukko tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kukko thowing shots but they're missing.
Flay is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Kukko with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kukko throws some wild stikes that Flay manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko tries to control but Flay wriggling away.
Kukko with good strikes from the mount here!
Kukko throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Flay because Kukko loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kukko looking to control but Flay is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kukko throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kukko looking to control but Flay is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kukko throws the kick towards the body but Flay avoids it.
Flay takes a swing at Kukko's ribcage but misses.
A cross from Kukko lands.
Flay tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kukko shoots in for a double leg but Flay sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Flay thows a body shot but no joy.
A decent looking cross lands there for Flay.

Kukko gets a takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kukko connects with a nice short shot to Flay's temple.
Kukko is just content to waste time from the top position. Flay takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Flay keeps moving.
Lasi Kukko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kukko trying to control but Flay is working from the bottom.
Flay pulls Kukko in close to his closed guard and prevents Kukko from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Lasi Kukko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Kukko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Flay. Those never looked like landing.

Kukko moves into the clinch successfully.
Kukko is stalling here.
Kukko looking to stall.

Kukko jumps into guard, dragging Flay to the mat.
Flay must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Flay postures up.
Kukko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Flay.
Kukko is trying to control the position but Flay postures up.
Kukko 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kukko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Flay doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Flay manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Flay is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kukko keeping moving, preventing Flay from controlling successfully.
Kukko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kukko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Flay's guard.
Flay has Kukko pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko looking to pass the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kiel Flay.
Flay moves out of range as Kukko strikes.
Kukko misses with a body shot.
Kukko moves out of range as Flay strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kukko.
Kukko cracks Flay with a right hand to the side of the head.
Flay misses with a low kick.
Kukko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kukko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lasi Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice uppercut lands for Flay. That snapped Kukko's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Flay misses with a body kick.

Kukko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Flay slips a jab from Kukko.
Kukko just misses with a punch to the body.
Kukko looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Flay's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kukko connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Flay scrambles back to his feet.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Flay.
Kukko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Flay as he jumps to the side.
Kukko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kukko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lasi Kukko is winning the standup battle so far.
Kukko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Flay is fending him off so far but Kukko persists. Nope, Flay circles away and we're back to standing.
Flay tries to clinch but Kukko moves out of range.
Flay with a nice cross.
Kukko blocks a leg kick.
Kukko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kukko tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Flay scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lasi Kukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kukko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko misses with a wild body shot.
Kiel Flay is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kukko throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kukko dives in and grabs Flay's left leg, looking for a takedown. Flay pushes down on Kukko's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lasi Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Flay throws a nice outside leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Flay stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Flay misses with a low kick.
Flay uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kukko.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kukko is defended easily by Flay.
Flay lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kukko's sensitive parts.
Flay digs a good body shot into Kukko's ribs.
Flay throws a head kick that misses.
Kukko throws a low kick but Flay moves out of range easily.
Flay tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kukko is able to avoid easily.
Kukko drops his hands momentarily and Flay takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Lasi Kukko has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kukko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Flay has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Flay throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kukko shoots in for a double leg but Flay sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kukko checks a leg kick.

Kukko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kukko lands in his opponent's guard.
Kukko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Flay works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Flay working a defensive guard here.
Kukko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Flay is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flay working a defensive guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kukko is looking to work some ground and pound but Flay has wrist control.
Kukko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Flay swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kukko trying to control but Flay is working from the bottom.
Lasi Kukko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lasi Kukko wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Flay steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kukko.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Flay.
Kukko misses with a double jab.
Kukko misses with a few strikes there.
Kukko tries to bum rush Flay with a series of wild strikes but Flay uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kukko throws a leg kick that is checked
and Flay counters with a body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Kukko finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kukko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Flay was well out of range. Poor timing from Kukko.
Kukko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Flay makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kukko misses with a body kick.
Kiel Flay has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Flay.
Flay misses with a body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kiel Flay 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28

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