PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aapo Ik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rokki Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kukko has chosen Rokki puts asses in the seats! as his entrance music. Aapo Ik is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Ik
vs
Kukko

184 cm
26
178 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

176 cm
25
174 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aapo Ik!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rokki Kukko!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ik lands a jab to the nose.
Ik changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kukko tries to avoid it but Ik manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kukko to the ground. Kukko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ik defending well as Kukko loads up on a big left hand.
Kukko misses with an uppercut. Ik saw that one coming.
Kukko scores with a nice strike.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kukko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ik feinted with a counter takedown.
Ik has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ik keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kukko.
Kukko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice uppercut there from Ik.
Kukko misses with a head kick.
Rokki Kukko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kukko throws a head kick but Ik moves out of range.
Ik attempts a counter takedown but Kukko avoids it well and moves away.
Kukko shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ik blocks a low kick nicely.
Kukko misses with a lunging right hand

and Ik counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ik is looking to work some ground and pound but Kukko has wrist control.

Kukko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ik is aware though and is defending well.
Kukko keeping moving, preventing Ik from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ik missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ik looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ik throws a strike but Kukko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ik keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.
Ik manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kukko manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ik stands up over Kukko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ik is looking to work some ground and pound but Kukko has wrist control.
Ik is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ik with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ik postures up.
Ik throwing strikes but missing.
Ik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ik wants to control from the top but Kukko keeps moving.

Kukko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kukko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ik connects with a couple of short punches.
Ik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ik wants to control from the top but Kukko keeps moving.
Ik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ik chips away with some ground and pound.
Kukko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ik.
Ik looking to sit in guard and control but Kukko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kukko cracks Ik with a solid left hand.
Kukko stands up out of Ik's guard for a moment - Ik manages to land a nice upkick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko trying to control but Ik is working from the bottom.
Ik wants to sweep but no luck.

Ik working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kukko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kukko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kukko working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukko looking to pass the guard.
Ik seems keen to control Kukko's posture.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ik wants to control but Kukko passes easily into half guard.
Ik on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Aapo Ik will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kukko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kukko stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kukko lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kukko uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ik.
Kukko is looking to clinch but Ik is avoiding it.
Kukko throws a leg kick that misses.
Ik feinted with a counter takedown.
Ik looks to throw the jab but Kukko is out of range.
Kukko is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Kukko tries to land a leg kick but Ik saw it coming and moves away.
Kukko throws a front kick aimed at Ik's knee but Ik avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ik avoids the body shot from Kukko.
Kukko connects with a solid leg kick.
Ik throws a series of punches but Kukko avoids them all with ease.
Kukko buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ik throws a poor cross that misses
and Kukko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Ik throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ik misses with a straight right.
Kukko lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A telegraphed right hand from Kukko misses the target.
Kukko misses with a right hand
letting Ik counter with a right hand.
A leg kick checked by Ik.
Ik throws a hook but Kukko blocks it.
Ik takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kukko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kukko throws a combination. Ik tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Aapo Ik has been cut.
Kukko misses with a looping right.
Kukko misses with a low kick as Ik jumps back.
Ik changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko lands a head kick. Ik smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Ik throws a jab but it's blocked by Kukko.
Ik fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kukko with a nice cross.
Kukko takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Ik staying out of range there.
Kukko throws a low kick, looking for Ik's leg but Ik calmly moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kukko.
Kukko throws a series of punches but Ik moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ik is defended easily by Kukko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kukko looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rokki Kukko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kukko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ik has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ik tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kukko swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aapo Ik. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice defenses there by Ik.
Kukko misses with a head kick.
Kukko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kukko cracks the inside of Ik's front leg.
Kukko misses with a low kick as Ik jumps back.
Ik misses with a lunging right hand
and Kukko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kukko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ik.
Ik misses with a hook.
Kukko thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Ik if he has to take too many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ik ducks under a wild hook from Kukko.
Kukko wants to land a leg kick but Ik is out of range.
Ik misses with an uppercut. Kukko saw that one coming.
Kukko cracks the inside of Ik's front leg.
Kukko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ik.
Kukko throws the left hand but Ik avoids the punch easily.
Ik pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kukko is out of range and Ik settles back down.
Kukko misses with a takedown attempt - Ik sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ik checks a leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ik.
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 scores with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rokki Kukko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aapo Ik's cut.
That's time! Ik's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ik swings for the body but Kukko moves out of range.
Kukko shapes to counter with a head kick.
Kukko throws a hook to the side of Ik's head but Ik sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kukko lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kukko clobbers Ik with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ik misses with a hook. Kukko ducked under it nicely.
Kukko appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kukko throws a jab when Ik was well out of range.
Kukko throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ik misses with an uppercut. Kukko saw that one coming.
Kukko lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kukko misses with a head kick.
Kukko lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ik uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kukko.
Kukko is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ik throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kukko was covering up waiting for the punch and Ik finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ik stopping the sweep attempt from Kukko.
Kukko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ik drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kukko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kukko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kukko!

Ik wants to control but Kukko postures up.
Kukko lands a nice forearm strike.
Ik 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 in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kukko lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Ik is looking to regain half guard here but Kukko keeps moving and retains side control.
Kukko avoids the strikes from the bottom by Ik.
Kukko in side control lands a decent elbow.

Ik is rocked!

Aapo Ik's cut is getting worse.
Kukko working the ground and pound.
Oh Ik is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kukko scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Ik is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Kukko can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rokki Kukko! Rokki Kukko retains his welterweight title!
After winning the bout, Rokki Kukko thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.