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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Latham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaari Kuukonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Latham's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Frontier Psychiatrist - The Avalanches. Kuukonen is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Armin Van Buuren - Rapture. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 185 cm
23
215 lbs
8 - 3 - 0 |
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183 cm
23
204 lbs
6 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Latham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaari Kuukonen!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Latham connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kuukonen momentarily.
Kuukonen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Latham finds it's way round the side to connect with Kuukonen's head.
Kuukonen slips a jab and a cross from Latham.
Latham misses with the combination.
Kuukonen defending well as Latham loads up on a big left hand.
Latham clinches with his opponent.
Kuukonen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Latham avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kuukonen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kuukonen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Latham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Latham scores with a nice hook to the head.
Latham has a couple of punches blocked by Kuukonen.
Latham is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kuukonen is pressed up against the cage. Latham has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kuukonen down to the mat. Kuukonen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Latham scores with a jab to the body.
Latham lands an overhand right.
Latham misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Latham misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kuukonen shoots in but Latham avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Latham moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kuukonen closes the distance and clinches up with Latham, looking for a takedown. Kuukonen pushes Latham against the cage but Latham circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mark Latham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jaari Kuukonen.
Latham fails with the takedown
and Kuukonen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Latham!
Kuukonen is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Latham has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Latham!
Kuukonen striking off his back but it's not causing Latham any problems.
Kuukonen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kuukonen controls Latham momentarily but Latham frees himself.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Latham slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Latham stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuukonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuukonen has his foot on Latham's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Latham works his way back into a safe position though.
Kuukonen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kuukonen wants to control but Latham passes easily into half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuukonen is looking to improve his position.
Kuukonen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Latham is keen to just control but Kuukonen is a slippery customer.
Latham wants to stand up but Kuukonen is controlling the position.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kuukonen takes a kick to the side of the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A big right from Latham misses.
Latham thows a left - swing and a miss!
Some wild striking there from Latham.
Nice cross by Kuukonen.
Latham tries to clinch up.
Latham misses with a takedown attempt
and Kuukonen counters by moving into the clinch.
Kuukonen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Latham prevents it.
Latham is pressed up against the cage. Kuukonen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Latham down to the mat. Latham avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Latham throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuukonen.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Latham throws the kick towards the body but Kuukonen avoids it.
Latham lands a really nice looking cross but Kuukonen seems unphased.
Latham misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuukonen.
A jab from Latham misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Mark Latham dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Latham throws a jab when Kuukonen was well out of range.
Latham throws a right hand that Kuukonen ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuukonen also avoids with ease.
Kuukonen tries to clinch up.
Latham throws a right and a left that Kuukonen avoids nicely.
Latham tries to clinch
and Kuukonen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kuukonen.
Kuukonen looking to pass the guard.
Kuukonen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Latham's guard.
Kuukonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Latham keeps working.
Kuukonen is looking for a kimura but Latham is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kuukonen to get the leverage.
Kuukonen works his foot free and advances to mount.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukonen wants to control the pace but Latham is squirming around nicely.
Kuukonen swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Latham is now in Kuukonen's guard. A big mistake from Kuukonen there, giving up the dominant position!
Kuukonen trying to control the position.
Kuukonen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kuukonen is breathing heavily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kuukonen is trying to keep Latham in close.
Kuukonen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Latham passes Kuukonen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Latham passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kuukonen!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuukonen is trying to escape the mount.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Latham tries to control but Kuukonen wriggling away.
Kuukonen slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kuukonen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kuukonen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Latham is tying to control. Kuukonen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kuukonen wants to get back to full guard but Latham has passed into side control.
Kuukonen tries to hold on but Latham pushes him away.
Latham can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuukonen is looking to escape.
Kuukonen gets back to half guard.
Latham prevents Kuukonen from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jaari Kuukonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Latham missing with a left hand there. Kuukonen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Latham is looking to clinch but Kuukonen is avoiding it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Latham looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Latham tries for a takedown but Kuukonen circles away easily
and Kuukonen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kuukonen is looking to take a break and control but Latham is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuukonen is nestled in close to Latham, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Nice strikes from Kuukonen there.
Kuukonen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kuukonen is stalling here. Latham is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kuukonen seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Latham has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuukonen is trying to get back to half guard.
Kuukonen is being controlled here.
You can see the frustration on Kuukonen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Latham remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
You can see the frustration on Kuukonen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kuukonen is looking for a sweep.
Kuukonen trying to remain calm as Latham controls from the top position.
Kuukonen is trying to control Latham's posture but Latham avoids it.
Latham working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kuukonen misses with a body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Latham misses.
Latham slips under a jab.
Latham moves into the clinch.
Latham misses with a punch on the inside.
Latham scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuukonen.
Latham swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuukonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Latham is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kuukonen is keeping busy.
Kuukonen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Latham avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Latham gets through Kuukonen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Latham has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kuukonen uses from the top position.
Latham trying to keep a closed guard but Kuukonen is proving a slippery customer.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kuukonen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Latham manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kuukonen has Latham in his guard.
Latham slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kuukonen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that's the end of the fight!
Jaari Kuukonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuukonen 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Jaari Kuukonen!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Jaari Kuukonen!
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight for Jaari Kuukonen!
Jaari Kuukonen wins by unanimous decision!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
47% |
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