PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rokki Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Altemio Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kukko comes to the cage accompanied by Valot sammuu. Väki katseitaan nostaa... on tullut aika kostaa!. Sanchez has chosen I Wanna Fuck You In The Ass as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Kukko
vs
Sanchez

176 cm
20
175 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

150 cm
20
175 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rokki Kukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Altemio Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukko's jab looks to have found its range, popping Sanchez under the eye.

It looks like Altemio Sanchez has been cut.
Kukko checks the leg kick nicely there.

Sanchez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kukko!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Sanchez trying to control the action but Kukko is working from the bottom.
Sanchez is chipping away with strikes.
Kukko holding on.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sanchez cracks Kukko with a big right hand but Kukko just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The strikes coming from Sanchez are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sanchez trying to control the position but Kukko is working away.
Sanchez throws an elbow but Kukko slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sanchez working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Sanchez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kukko keeps working.
The ground and pound from Sanchez seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Sanchez throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Kukko works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Kukko trying to control but Sanchez postures up.
Sanchez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Sanchez working the head and body with strikes.
Sanchez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanchez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sanchez lands a nice short elbow.
Kukko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kukko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Sanchez throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko trying to keep a closed guard but Sanchez is proving a slippery customer.
Sanchez throws a strike but Kukko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sanchez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sanchez 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 is pressing down on Sanchez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sanchez slips nicely into half guard.
Sanchez is trying to control. Kukko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but Kukko defending well.
Sanchez working Kukko over with strikes.

Sanchez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sanchez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kukko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sanchez is looking to take a break and control but Kukko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sanchez controlling the action here.
Sanchez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kukko gets back to full guard.
Kukko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Sanchez scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sanchez sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kukko is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Kukko is trying to improve his position.
Sanchez in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Sanchez working the ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sanchez misses with the ground and pound.
Kukko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanchez scores with punches from side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kukko on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kukko is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Altemio Sanchez dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Altemio Sanchez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kukko blocks a leg kick.
Kukko scores with a punch to the head.
Jab from Kukko.

Kukko tries to sprawl but Sanchez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Kukko is looking for a sweep. Sanchez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kukko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sanchez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sanchez wants to take a breather but Kukko is having none of it.
Kukko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kukko is controlling Sanchez's posture.
Sanchez trying to control but Kukko is working from the bottom.

Kukko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kukko keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Kukko looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sanchez passes into half guard.
Kukko is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Amsterdamage, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Kukko wants to improve his position but Sanchez is controlling well.
Sanchez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sanchez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sanchez is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez wants to pass to mount but Kukko is defending the position.
Sanchez winds up and cracks Kukko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanchez seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kukko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kukko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sanchez manages to get himself to full guard.
Sanchez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kukko trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.

Sanchez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kukko trying to control but Sanchez is working from the bottom.
Sanchez wants to sweep here but Kukko controlling him for the moment.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanchez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sanchez raining down hammerfists from mount.
Kukko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kukko manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Sanchez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sanchez controlling the action here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanchez working Kukko over with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sanchez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sanchez passes into side control, despite Kukko's attempt to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Altemio Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Altemio Sanchez's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kukko missing with a left hand there. Sanchez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Sanchez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kukko.
A bone on bone clash there as Kukko blocks the leg kick.
Kukko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kukko tries to clinch up but Sanchez circles away and keeps his distance.
Rokki Kukko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sanchez throws a leg kick but Kukko checks it.
Kukko checks a leg kick.
Sanchez wants to land a leg kick but Kukko is out of range.

Sanchez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kukko is trying to defend but Sanchez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Sanchez passes to side control.

Sanchez is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kukko has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kukko is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko gets back to half guard.
Sanchez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kukko trying to control but Sanchez postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kukko is looking for a sweep. Sanchez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Sanchez seems to be looking for submissions.
Kukko is not content to let Sanchez control the position.
Sanchez tries to pass to full mount but Kukko defends it.
Altemio Sanchez is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sanchez wants to control but Kukko is keeping him busy.
Sanchez controlling the action here.
Kukko is trying to maintain the position but Sanchez is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Altemio Sanchez.
Sanchez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kukko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanchez moves away.

Sanchez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kukko's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kukko is pulling down on Sanchez's head. It's preventing any offense from Sanchez, at least for the moment.
Sanchez trying to control the position from guard on top but Kukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kukko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sanchez is one step ahead there.
Rokki Kukko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kukko had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sanchez defends it easily.
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.
Altemio Sanchez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sanchez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sanchez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kukko tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Altemio Sanchez wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sanchez motions for Kukko to come forward. Sanchez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sanchez shoots in for a double leg but Kukko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kukko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sanchez circles away quickly and effectively.
Sanchez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kukko.
Kukko is looking to clinch but Sanchez is avoiding it.
Sanchez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Sanchez fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kukko to the ground. Sanchez is now in Kukko's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sanchez trying to control but Kukko is working from the bottom.
Sanchez controlling from the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Altemio Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sanchez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Altemio Sanchez!
Altemio Sanchez took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!) for their support in the buildup to the fight.