PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kasperi Kahkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurokawa Kenji (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.

Kahkonen
vs
Kenji

186 cm
19
196 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
40
203 lbs
44 - 25 - 1

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Big heart

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Instinct

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kasperi Kahkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 44 - 25 - 1, fighting out of London, Kurokawa Kenji!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenji is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kahkonen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kenji shoots in looking for a takedown. Kahkonen tries to sprawl out of it but Kenji keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kahkonen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kahkonen throws a big counter combination but Kenji scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kenji shoots in and drives through. Kahkonen sprawls well.
Kasperi Kahkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurokawa Kenji.
Kenji fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kenji rushes Kahkonen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kahkonen tries to throw a body punch but Kenji avoids it by throwing Kahkonen back against the cage.
Kahkonen is leaning against Kenji and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenji blocks a body shot from Kahkonen.
Kahkonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short left from Kenji.

Kenji pulls guard.

Kenji escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kahkonen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kahkonen wants to stand but Kenji has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kenji throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Kenji has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kahkonen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kahkonen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kenji, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kenji fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kahkonen, pushing him back against the cage.
Kenji lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kenji is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kenji stalling the fight.
Kahkonen is pressed up against the cage. Kenji has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kahkonen down to the mat. Kahkonen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kenji shoots in for a takedown but Kahkonen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kahkonen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kenji doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kahkonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kenji tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kahkonen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kenji somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenji closes the distance and clinches up with Kahkonen, looking for a takedown. Kenji pushes Kahkonen against the cage but Kahkonen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kahkonen seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kasperi Kahkonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kenji has a takedown stuffed.
Kenji misses with a takedown
and Kahkonen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kenji misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kahkonen appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kenji shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kahkonen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Kurokawa Kenji has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenji looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kahkonen appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Kenji shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kahkonen but Kahkonen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kahkonen is looking to counter punch.
No luck for Kenji with that takedown attempt.
Kahkonen is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kenji shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kahkonen as he jumps to the side.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kahkonen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kahkonen wants it to stay on the feet.
Kenji looks winded!
Kenji shoots and misses
and Kahkonen counters with a left and a right that stings Kenji.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kenji fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kenji.
Kenji gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kahkonen counters with a stiff right hand.
Kasperi Kahkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurokawa Kenji.
Kenji moves in looking to clinch but Kahkonen pushes him off.
Kahkonen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kenji fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kahkonen looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Kenji shoots and misses
and Kahkonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kenji is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenji closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kahkonen circles away.
Kenji shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kahkonen as he jumps to the side.
Kenji gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kahkonen counters with a stiff right hand.
Kenji tries for a takedown but Kahkonen circles away easily
and Kahkonen counters with a left to the body.
Kenji shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kahkonen but Kahkonen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A counter left hand to the body from Kahkonen misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenji fails with the takedown.
Kahkonen was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kenji fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kenji shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kahkonen sprawls well. Kahkonen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kenji gets slowly back to his feet.
Kahkonen went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kenji fails to land the takedown.
A little feinted left hand from Kahkonen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kurokawa Kenji seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenji tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kahkonen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kenji somewhat.
An attempted straight right counter from Kahkonen misses the target.
Kenji misses with a takedown
and Kahkonen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Kenji gets a clinch.
Kahkonen looking to throw knees to the head but Kenji is blocking nicely.
Kenji tries to break free but Kahkonen pushes him back against the cage.
Kahkonen tries a body shot but Kenji blocks it.
Kahkonen stalling the fight.
Kenji wants a takedown but no success here.
Kahkonen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kenji.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenji tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kahkonen can't find room to land a body shot as Kenji controls the action.
Kenji looking for a takedown.
Kahkonen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kenji.

Kenji jumps guard.
Kahkonen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Kenji had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kahkonen defends it easily.
Kahkonen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kenji is proving hard to escape from.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kenji keeping moving, preventing Kahkonen from controlling successfully.
Kahkonen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kahkonen preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kasperi Kahkonen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kurokawa Kenji's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kenji misses with a takedown attempt - Kahkonen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kahkonen feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kenji.
Kenji misses with a takedown attempt - Kahkonen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kasperi Kahkonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurokawa Kenji.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kenji shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Kahkonen counter with a right hand.
Kenji is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kahkonen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kahkonen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Kenji takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenji with a poor takedown
and Kahkonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kenji fails with the takedown
and Kenji takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kahkonen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kahkonen wants it to stay on the feet.
Kahkonen is looking to counter punch.
Kenji tries to close the distance and clinch but Kahkonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As Kenji looks to move away, Kahkonen throws a big counter combo bu Kenji just gets out of the way.
Kenji shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kahkonen defends it nicely.
Kenji doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kahkonen counters with a left to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kenji shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kahkonen counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That has opened up Kurokawa Kenji's cut even more.
Kenji fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kenji fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kahkonen avoids it really well and circles away.
Kahkonen half committed to a counter leg kick.
Kenji tries for a takedown but Kahkonen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kahkonen throws a counter high kick but Kenji was just alert enough to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kahkonen slaps away a takedown attempt from Kenji, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kahkonen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kenji.
Kahkonen throwing a counter right hand but Kenji manages to avoid it.
Kasperi Kahkonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kenji is looking to clinch but Kahkonen is avoiding it.
It looked like Kahkonen was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Kenji.
Kenji misses with a takedown
and Kahkonen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kasperi Kahkonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Kenji misses with a takedown attempt

and Kahkonen counters by moving into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kenji.
Kahkonen tries to work over Kenji's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kahkonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kahkonen leaning against his opponent.
Kahkonen is pushing Kenji up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kahkonen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kahkonen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kenji tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kahkonen just stands there and leans against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kahkonen.
Kurokawa Kenji has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenji tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A right hand to the body from Kahkonen.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kahkonen struggles to land a body shot inside as Kenji controls his hands.
Kenji is trying to pull guard but Kahkonen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A short left from Kahkonen.
Kenji is looking for a takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kasperi Kahkonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kahkonen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:26
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kasperi Kahkonen!
During a confident post fight interview, Kasperi Kahkonen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.