PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Waits (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Waits has chosen What A Waste as his entrance music. 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.

Kukko
vs
Waits

185 cm
40
194 lbs
36 - 19 - 2

183 cm
29
193 lbs
15 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 36 - 19 - 2, fighting out of London, Lasi Kukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Waits!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukko cracks Waits with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kukko throws a good cross that connects.
Waits avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kukko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kukko falls off balance throwing a combination
and Waits counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Lasi Kukko has been cut.

Kukko closes the distance and clinches.
Kukko avoiding damage.
Waits landing knees to the body.
Waits missing with knees to the body.
Waits misses with a hook to the ribs.
Waits throws a head punch that misses.

Kukko successfully pulls guard.
Kukko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Waits trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kukko wants to sweep here but Waits controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Waits keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.
Waits managing to control the position.
Waits looking for a sweep. Not yet Waits, not yet.
Kukko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Waits is keeping the position for now.
Waits is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Waits keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.

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.
Kukko preventing the sweep.
Waits managing to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kukko cracks Waits with a solid left hand.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Waits is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kukko throwing strikes from guard but Waits blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko won't allow Waits to sweep him here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Waits swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Waits swings for the body but Kukko moves out of range.
Kukko throws an overhand right that lands on Waits's shoulder, as Waits tries to avoid the shot.
Waits gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Waits uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kukko.
Waits tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kukko loads up on a big right hand but Waits slips the punch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kukko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kukko lands with a thumping leg kick.
Waits finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kukko lands a jab to the nose.
Kukko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Waits circles away quickly and effectively.
Kukko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Waits throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kukko.
Kukko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Waits lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kukko has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kukko and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kukko shoots for a takedown but Waits saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tom Waits is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Waits misses with a low kick.
Waits looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kukko closes the distance and clinches up with Waits, looking for a takedown. Kukko pushes Waits against the cage but Waits circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kukko is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kukko displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Waits takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Waits tried to score with a low kick but Kukko checks it.
Kukko tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Waits defends well and Kukko ends up having to push Waits into the cage where they will battle it out 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.
Waits lands a hook that snaps the head of Kukko backwards.
Kukko blocks an elbow strike from Waits.

Kukko pulls guard.
Kukko wants to control but Waits passes easily into half guard.
Waits thows a huge punch but Kukko dodges it nicely.
Waits moves into full mount! Kukko won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lasi Kukko's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Waits throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Waits fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kukko manages to avoid it.
Waits misses the shot to the body.
Kukko buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Waits bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kukko looks to land a left hand but Waits moved out of range nicely.
Kukko gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Waits.
Kukko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Waits can do to turn this around?
Kukko lands a nice shot that snaps Waits's head back.
Kukko throws a nice looking combination but Waits bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kukko misses with a right hand
and Waits counters with a nice leg kick.
Kukko throws the left hand but Waits avoids the punch easily.
A slow jab from Waits misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kukko swinging wildly here.
Waits avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big left from Waits misses.
Lasi Kukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kukko throws a jab when Waits was well out of range.
Waits blocks a head kick by Kukko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Waits is fending him off so far but Kukko persists. Nope, Waits circles away and we're back to standing.
Kukko scores with a punch to the head.
Kukko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Waits fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kukko on the side of the head.
Waits ducks under a wild hook from Kukko.
Kukko misses the shot to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kukko. Waits does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kukko throws a low kick but Waits avoids it.
Kukko gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Waits tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kukko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kukko takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Some wild striking there from Waits.
Waits misses with a head kick.
Waits moves in looking to clinch but Kukko pushes him off.
Kukko looks to land a combination but Waits avoids it well.
Good work by Kukko as he checks the leg kick.
Kukko throws a hook but Waits avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Waits doesn't manage to clinch there - Kukko circles away.
Waits is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kukko swinging wildly here.
The fighters circling - Kukko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kukko keeps the fight on the outside.
Kukko looks to score with a jab to the body but Waits is just out of range.
Kukko stalks Waits and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Waits's face. Waits staggers backwards, shaken.
Sloppy strikes from Waits. Those never looked like landing.
Waits steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kukko.
Kukko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kukko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Waits scores with a hook to the body. Kukko takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kukko shoots for a takedown but Waits saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kukko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kukko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kukko looks to throw the jab but Waits is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waits thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice straight punches there by Waits. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Waits.
Kukko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Waits sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kukko somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lasi Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kukko misses with a two punch combination.
Waits throws a hook but Kukko avoids it easily.
Kukko moves out of range of the leg kick from Waits.
A big left from Waits misses.
Kukko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Waits stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kukko.
Kukko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Waits throws a jab when Kukko was well out of range.
Kukko connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Waits lands a high kick!
Waits misses with an uppercut.
Kukko missing with a left hand there. Waits was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Waits connects with a right hand. Kukko shakes it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kukko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Waits misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Waits throws a nice looking combination but Kukko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Waits lands the left hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Waits as he connects with a hook.

Waits gets a clinch.
Waits tries to land knees in the clinch but Kukko avoids the damage to the body.
Kukko misses with the head strike.
Waits lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Waits tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Waits using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kukko has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Waits tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kukko avoids it.
Waits lands a body shot in the clinch.
Waits lands a nice uppercut.
Waits throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Waits showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lasi Kukko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kukko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kukko throws a series of strikes that have Waits backpedaling.
Waits misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Waits throws a body shot but no joy.
Kukko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Waits circles away.
Waits fails with an attempt to clinch.
Waits uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kukko.
Waits throws a jab when Kukko was well out of range.
Waits cracks the inside of Kukko's front leg.
Lasi Kukko is winning the standup battle so far.
Waits slips a jab from Kukko.
Kukko fails to land with a series of punches.
Kukko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Waits moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A nice inside leg kick there by Waits. That's going to slow Kukko down.
Kukko misses with a double jab.

Kukko moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kukko looking to slow down the pace here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Waits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waits throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Waits just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kukko's brow.
Waits goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Waits throws a punch but it's blocked by Kukko.

Kukko breaks the clinch.
Kukko misses with a two punch combination.

Waits takes the fight into the clinch.
Waits can't find room to land a body shot as Kukko controls the action.
Waits stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Waits landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Waits misses with a body punch.
Waits presses Kukko against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short right from Waits.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waits tries to throw a body punch but Kukko avoids it by throwing Waits back against the cage.
Waits cracks Kukko with a nice body shot.
Waits using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Waits lands a nice elbow.
Waits misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Waits throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short uppercut from Waits.

Lasi Kukko's cut is getting worse.
Waits misses with some punches.
Tom Waits seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Waits keeps control of Kukko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Waits can't find room to land a body shot as Kukko controls the action.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Waits obliges.
Waits looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Waits missing with knees to the body.
Waits struggles to land a body shot inside as Kukko controls his hands.
Waits has a couple of punches blocked by Kukko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko tries to pull guard but Waits forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Waits just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kukko's brow.
Kukko goes for a takedown attempt but Waits pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lasi Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waits misses with a body shot.
Waits misses with a wild body shot.
Kukko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Waits moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kukko throws a lazy right hand but Waits sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Waits is looking to clinch but Kukko is avoiding it.
Kukko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
An inside leg kick from Kukko misses.
Waits tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Waits tries to clinch there but Kukko circles away.
A big left from Waits misses.
Kukko takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waits tries to clinch but Kukko is having none of it.
Waits does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kukko misses with a double jab.
Waits missing with a left hand there. Kukko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Waits lands a slapping body shot.
Kukko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Waits.
Sloppy strikes from Waits. Those never looked like landing.
Waits ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Waits misses the shot to the body.
Waits is looking to chop away at Kukko's legs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kukko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Waits looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jab, jab by Waits - just one landing.
Kukko throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A punch combination from Waits misses.
Waits tries to clinch there but Kukko circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Waits comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Waits 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Waits!
A very excited looking Tom Waits made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.