PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aris BenJudah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hanni Tukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

BenJudah
vs
Tukkonen

170 cm
22
135 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aris BenJudah!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hanni Tukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tukkonen gets a takedown into half guard.

Tukkonen is working for a submission of some sort.

BenJudah is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Tukkonen pulls his head out easily.
BenJudah tries to roll over but Tukkonen keeps him under control.
BenJudah trying to control from the bottom.

Tukkonen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Tukkonen is looking for a kimura here.
Tukkonen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Tukkonen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tukkonen prevents BenJudah from improving his position.

Tukkonen wants to work for an arm triangle but BenJudah is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
BenJudah is trying to get back to full guard.

Tukkonen is working for a submission of some sort.

Tukkonen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tukkonen looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
BenJudah trying to hold on to Tukkonen's head to control him but Tukkonen postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
BenJudah throws a right and a left that both miss.

BenJudah drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tukkonen is looking for a sweep.
Tukkonen is trying to work for a sweep but BenJudah has mounted him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tukkonen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BenJudah looking to control but Tukkonen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
BenJudah looking to control and managing it successfully.
BenJudah can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tukkonen is looking to escape.
BenJudah prevents Tukkonen from getting the reversal.
Tukkonen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

BenJudah has control of Tukkonen's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tukkonen regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Tukkonen is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
BenJudah fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Tukkonen gets back to half guard.

Tukkonen looking for submissions off his back.
BenJudah is pressing down on Tukkonen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Tukkonen is holding on for now.
BenJudah not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
BenJudah trying to control the action but Tukkonen is working from the bottom.

BenJudah is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Tukkonen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time BenJudah.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hanni Tukkonen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tukkonen tries to clinch up.
Tukkonen misses with a takedown attempt

and BenJudah counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by BenJudah.
Tukkonen is trying to break the clinch but BenJudah has him pressed against the cage.
Tukkonen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. BenJudah is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tukkonen tries to score a body lock takedown but BenJudah shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Aris BenJudah has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hanni Tukkonen.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from BenJudah.

Tukkonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tukkonen tries for a takedown but BenJudah circles away easily

and BenJudah counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by BenJudah.
BenJudah sitting in guard here, content to control.

Tukkonen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead BenJudah passes into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

BenJudah is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tukkonen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

BenJudah stands up and beckons Tukkonen to his feet.

Tukkonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tukkonen being controlled here momentarily.

Tukkonen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tukkonen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tukkonen passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tukkonen swings around for an armbar but BenJudah sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tukkonen's guard.
BenJudah wants to control from the top but Tukkonen keeps moving.

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

Tukkonen working for submissions but it's allowed BenJudah to get to half guard.

Tukkonen actively working from the bottom here.

Tukkonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tukkonen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Tukkonen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
BenJudah looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Tukkonen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
BenJudah seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
BenJudah misses with a two punch combination.

Tukkonen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Tukkonen is looking for a kimura but BenJudah is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tukkonen to get the leverage.

Tukkonen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and BenJudah defends it well.

Tukkonen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Tukkonen is working for a submission of some sort.
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 Aris BenJudah will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tukkonen with a lazy takedown attempt

so BenJudah counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tukkonen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Aris BenJudah overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tukkonen looking to isolate an arm here. BenJudah doesn't see it coming and as Tukkonen extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Tukkonen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hanni Tukkonen!
Hanni Tukkonen is the new bantamweight champion!