PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Macadam Baird (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Baird
vs
Kukko

182 cm
29
190 lbs
18 - 11 - 1

185 cm
43
194 lbs
38 - 21 - 2

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

GREEN!160
SP Ultimate Nutrition

Beaver Jooce!

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 18 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Macadam Baird!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 21 - 2, fighting out of London, Lasi Kukko!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Columbo Gatti and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Kukko.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kukko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kukko sizes up Baird with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Baird shoots in but no luck this time.
Kukko throws a low kick but Baird avoids it.
Baird went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Kukko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Baird tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kukko has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Kukko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kukko trying to control but Baird is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kukko jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Baird manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Baird is not content to let Kukko control the position.
Baird is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kukko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Baird 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.
Kukko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Baird keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Baird is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.
Kukko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Baird preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Kukko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Baird is looking to improve his position.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but Baird defending well.
Baird wants to control but Kukko is keeping busy and won't allow it.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kukko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird manages to get to full guard.
Baird is trying to keep Kukko in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Baird is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Baird is on top in guard.

Baird postures up.

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.
Kukko is wriggling around but Baird manages to pass to half guard.
Kukko is looking to improve his position.
Kukko is still trying to improve position.
Kukko wants to get back to full guard but Baird has passed into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kukko is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Baird moves into range and clinches up with Kukko.
Kukko avoiding damage.
Baird has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kukko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Baird is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Kukko is defending well.

Kukko jumps guard.
Kukko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Baird lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lasi Kukko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baird works a leg free and moves into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kukko actively working from the bottom here.
Baird is keen to just control but Kukko is a slippery customer.
Kukko wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baird is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kukko tries to roll over but Baird keeps him under control.
Baird stalling.
Baird works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kukko is squirming around, avoiding Baird's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kukko regains half guard.
Baird is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Kukko is looking for a triangle but Baird pushes his legs off easily.
Kukko working a defensive guard here.

Kukko is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Baird defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko is trying to control the position but Baird postures up.

Baird avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Baird postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Baird wants to pass the guard but Kukko is keeping the position.
Baird with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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.
Kukko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Baird's guard.

Baird has Kukko pulled in close to control his posture.
Baird is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Baird manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kukko manages to get himself to full guard.

Baird trying to control but Kukko is working from the bottom.
Baird looking to sit in guard and control but Kukko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kukko looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Macadam Baird will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kukko dips to his left and cracks Baird with an uppercut!
Lasi Kukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kukko throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Baird takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
No joy there for Baird, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
As Baird backs off Kukko throws a huge counter combo but Baird manages to avoid it all.
Kukko takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A shot to the liver by Baird. Beautiful body shot.
Kukko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baird as he jumps to the side.
Kukko misses with a hook.
Kukko throws a leg kick which misses Baird's front leg but catches the back leg as Baird tries to avoid it.
Lasi 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 is looking to slow Baird down with leg kicks.
A swing and a miss from Kukko.
Kukko cracks Baird with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Baird wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baird blocks a low kick nicely.
Kukko throws a looping overhand right but Baird ducks down to avoid it.
Lasi Kukko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kukko misses with a straight right.
Kukko misses with a right hand

and Baird counters with a shoot takedown. Kukko fights it but they end up in guard.
Baird trying to control the position from guard on top but Kukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kukko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Baird is aware though and is defending well.
Baird stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kukko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Baird is pushing down on Kukko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kukko is fighting to maintain full guard but Baird has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baird is looking to pass Kukko's guard but actually Kukko recovers to full guard.
Baird wants to pass the guard but Kukko is keeping the position.
Baird engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Baird stopping the sweep attempt from Kukko.
Baird passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baird is thwarting Kukko's attempts to control the position.
Baird works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kukko is wriggling around trying to escape.

Baird is working for a guillotine from mount but Kukko frees his head quite easily.
Baird lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kukko hang on?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baird connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Kukko is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kukko is squirming around, avoiding Baird's attempts to control the action.
Baird with shots to the head and body - Kukko looks very uncomfortable down there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baird controlling the pace for now.
Baird tries to control but Kukko wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Macadam Baird showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Baird 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Macadam Baird!
Macadam Baird decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.