PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Hale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rokki Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hale comes to the cage accompanied by Dead Sara - Weatherman. Kukko has chosen Rokki approaches the cage. Looks like he's pissed off again. as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hale
vs
Kukko

174 cm
30
182 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

176 cm
28
173 lbs
20 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Héritage!
GREEN!160

Perkele!
Modern Wear Apparel

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 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brandon Hale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rokki Kukko!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukko misses with a hook.
Kukko misses the body punch
and Hale cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hale throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kukko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kukko tries to land a leg kick but Hale saw it coming and moves away.
Hale is looking to counter punch.
Kukko cracks the inside of Hale's front leg.
Kukko swings widly with a right hand
and Hale counters with a left to the body.
Hale lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kukko at a distance.
Kukko misses with a double jab.
Hale lands with a nice body punch.
Kukko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hale throws a shot from downtown. Kukko moves away and avoids it.
And Kukko tries to counter it with a takedown but Hale pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hale lands an overhand right.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hale scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hale has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Slaughterhouse MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Kukko tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hale looks to score with a jab to the body but Kukko is just out of range.
Kukko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hale misses with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hale throws a low kick but Kukko moves out of range easily.
Hale takes a swing at Kukko's ribcage but misses.
Hale swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kukko takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hale keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hale swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kukko! But no joy.
Hale fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kukko is out of range.
Kukko lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hale connects with a crisp jab.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hale.
Hale throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kukko works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hale fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hale scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kukko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hale swivels and escapes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hale throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kukko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko moves in looking to clinch but Hale pushes him off.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kukko. Hale does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hale throws a leg kick but Kukko moved away.
A low kick from Hale misses
and Kukko makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Kukko closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hale quickly recovers to half guard.
Kukko not doing much here.
Kukko wants to take a breather but Hale is having none of it.
Kukko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hale knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kukko passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kukko thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko prevents Hale from getting the reversal.
Kukko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hale is looking to escape.
Hale is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hale tries to lock up and control but Kukko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hale is trying desperately to improve position.
Kukko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko throws some wild stikes that Hale manages to avoid easily.

Kukko is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hale is surviving well by controlling Kukko's body position as best he can.
Kukko misses with some ground and pound and Hale recovers position to half guard.
Hale trying to control but Kukko postures up.
Kukko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hale holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kukko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hale defending well though.
Hale moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kukko trying to control but Hale is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brandon Hale dominated that round.
That's time! Hale's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hale throws a jab but it's blocked by Kukko.
Kukko looks to score with a jab to the body but Hale is just out of range.
Hale throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hale pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hale lands a jab.
Hale moves away from the strike by Kukko.
Hale looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Kukko with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hale to score with a decent uppercut.
Kukko listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hale connects with a solid leg kick.
Hale scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kukko doesn't seem bothered though.
Hale throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hale throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kukko.
Hale throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kukko on the side of the head.
Hale lands with a straight right. Kukko didn't see that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hale checks a leg kick nicely.
Kukko avoids the body shot from Hale.
Hale on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kukko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kukko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hale lands with a hook. Kukko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A big left from Kukko misses.
Hale takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kukko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kukko shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kukko showed some decent athleticism there.
Kukko throwing shots but Hale is blocking nicely.
Kukko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Kukko seems to be working for a kimura but Hale defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale is looking to improve his position.
Kukko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hale's head.
Kukko looks to land a strike but Hale avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kukko stands and throws Hale's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hale is looking for a sweep.
Kukko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Hale holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kukko is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hale knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kukko trying to control the position but Hale is working away.
Hale struggling a bit here.
Hale sneaks back into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hale holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Hale tries to get to full guard but Kukko has control of the leg.
Kukko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hale knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kukko throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hale to regain full guard.
Kukko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hale is keeping the position for now.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Hale keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
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 Brandon Hale will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hale swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kukko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kukko slips under a jab.
Hale scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hale pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hale gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kukko lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nice uppercut lands for Kukko. That snapped Hale's head back.
Hale misses with a straight right.
Hale swings for the body but Kukko moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Kukko blocks the low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hale misses with a hook to the body
and Kukko counters with a one-two to the body.
A swing and a miss from Kukko.
Kukko ducks under a wild hook from Hale.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kukko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hale ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kukko moves away.
Kukko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hale takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Rokki Kukko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Kukko.
Kukko shoots for a double leg takedown but Hale sprawls well. He's pushed Kukko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hale needs to keep his hands up - Kukko had a free shot at his head there.
Hale scores with a decent looking hook.
Kukko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hale looks to land a left hand but Kukko moved out of range nicely.
Kukko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hale looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Brandon Hale is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hale, right into the meat.
Hale cracks the inside of Kukko's front leg.
Hale getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kukko checks the leg kick nicely there.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kukko! But no joy.
Brandon Hale is winning the standup battle so far.
Hale has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kukko.
Kukko connects with a right hand. Hale shakes it off.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kukko throws a head kick that misses.
Hale ducks under a wild hook from Kukko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hale misses with a low kick.
Hale thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kukko feints the counter takedown.
Kukko scores with the left hand. Hale knows he should have avoided that one.
Kukko swinging wildly here.
It looked like Hale wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kukko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kukko delivers a nice body kick.
A jab from Hale misses.
Kukko's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kukko scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hale throws the left hand but Kukko avoids the punch easily.

Kukko closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hale quickly recovers to half guard.
Kukko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rokki Kukko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kukko trying to control the action but Hale is working from the bottom.
Kukko throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hale to regain full guard.
Kukko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hale is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kukko stopping the sweep attempt from Hale.
Kukko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kukko postures up in Hale's guard and throws a big left but Hale blocks it.
Hale bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kukko's guard.

Kukko looking for a sweep. Not yet Kukko, not yet.

Kukko isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hale stacks Kukko on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hale!
Kukko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hale trying to control from half guard but Kukko is working away.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hale in particular looking to stall.
Rokki Kukko has got the better of the ground game so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukko manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rokki Kukko.
I think Hale 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!