PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aliksandr Kowaljow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otto Kaikkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kowaljow comes to the cage accompanied by Moskau. Kaikkonen has chosen Duran Duran - WIld Boys as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Kowaljow
vs
Kaikkonen

200 cm
21
200 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

187 cm
24
205 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aliksandr Kowaljow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Otto Kaikkonen!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kowaljow lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kowaljow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kaikkonen gets control of Kowaljow's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kaikkonen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Kowaljow stands up from Kaikkonen's guard - Kowaljow perhaps looking for a knockout.
A combination from Kowaljow does no damage.
Nice shot lands for Kowaljow.
Kowaljow misses with a wild combination.
Kowaljow throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kaikkonen fails to land the takedown.
Kowaljow throws a series of punches but Kaikkonen moves out of range.

Kaikkonen has Kowaljow up against the cage in a clinch.
Kaikkonen tries to pull guard but Kowaljow holds him up against the cage and eventually Kaikkonen drops back down to his feet.
Kowaljow tries to pull guard but Kaikkonen holds him up against the cage and eventually Kowaljow drops back down to his feet.
Kowaljow is trying to break the clinch but Kaikkonen has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaikkonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kowaljow rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kaikkonen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Kowaljow is having none of it.
Kaikkonen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kowaljow takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kowaljow tries to bum rush Kaikkonen with a series of wild strikes but Kaikkonen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Kaikkonen clinches up against the cage.
Kaikkonen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kaikkonen wants a takedown.
Aliksandr Kowaljow has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Otto Kaikkonen.
Kowaljow wants to get back to striking at distance but Kaikkonen won't allow it.

Kaikkonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kaikkonen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kowaljow's half guard.
Kowaljow is breathing heavily.
Kaikkonen working the head and body with strikes.
Kowaljow has hold of Kaikkonen's hands but Kaikkonen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kowaljow keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Kaikkonen decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Kowaljow is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowaljow closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aliksandr Kowaljow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kowaljow misses with a wild combination.
Kaikkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kowaljow swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kaikkonen shoots in for a takedown but Kowaljow shows good takedown defense.

Kaikkonen has closed the distance and engaged Kowaljow in a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaikkonen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kowaljow has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Kaikkonen breaks from the clinch.
Kowaljow misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kaikkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kowaljow swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kowaljow misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kowaljow avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kowaljow swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kaikkonen counters with a takedown into side control.

Kaikkonen stands up and beckons Kowaljow to his feet.
Kaikkonen fails to land the takedown.
Kowaljow misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kaikkonen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kowaljow is looking to escape.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kaikkonen connects with a nice short shot to Kowaljow's temple.
Kowaljow has hold of Kaikkonen's hands but Kaikkonen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kaikkonen uses his free foot to push down on Kowaljow's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kowaljow.
Kowaljow is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Kaikkonen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Kaikkonen is going olschool here, as he tries to force Kowaljow to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kowaljow shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowaljow is trying to stand up.
Kaikkonen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kowaljow really wants to buck Kaikkonen off and get back to his feet.
Kaikkonen unloading with bombs!
You get the feeling that Kowaljow really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Kaikkonen unloading with bombs!
Kowaljow tries to buck Kaikkonen off but he can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kaikkonen dominating with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kowaljow's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Kowaljow taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otto Kaikkonen 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.

Kaikkonen lands a head kick. Kowaljow smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Kaikkonen moves into the clinch.

Kaikkonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kowaljow lands a head shot.
Kaikkonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kowaljow scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kaikkonen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kaikkonen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kowaljow scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kowaljow lands a head shot.

Kaikkonen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaikkonen looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kowaljow is avoiding damage well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kowaljow is trying to buck Kaikkonen off.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaikkonen stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kaikkonen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A left and a right from Kowaljow both land. Nice combination.
Kowaljow cracks a nice hook into Kaikkonen's ribs.
Kowaljow misses with a hook. Kaikkonen ducked under it nicely.

Kaikkonen gets a clinch.

Kaikkonen breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kaikkonen with a knee to the head.
Kaikkonen with a knee to the head.
Kaikkonen tries to land a knee to the head but Kowaljow blocks with his arms.

Kaikkonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good shot there by Kowaljow.
Aliksandr Kowaljow is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Kowaljow is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kowaljow.
Kaikkonen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kowaljow is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Kowaljow lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kowaljow.
Danga de danga de dang - Kowaljow scores with a four punch combination!
Kowaljow throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Kaikkonen closes the distance and pushes Kowaljow back into the cage.

Kaikkonen tightens his grip and picks Kowaljow up, before dumping him to the ground. Kowaljow manages to land in guard.
Kaikkonen connects with a couple of short punches.
Kaikkonen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Kaikkonen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
The fight stays on the outside here - Kaikkonen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kowaljow fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kaikkonen wants to clinch up but Kowaljow keeps it at a distance.
Kowaljow is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kaikkonen walks into a jab.
Kowaljow takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A punch combination from Kowaljow misses.
Kowaljow swinging wilding here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen moves in looking to clinch but Kowaljow pushes him off.

Kaikkonen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kowaljow's guard.
Kaikkonen won't allow Kowaljow to get back to his feet.
Kaikkonen working some strikes from top position.
Kowaljow wants to get back to his feet but Kaikkonen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Otto Kaikkonen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kaikkonen stands up from Kowaljow's guard - Kaikkonen perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kowaljow throws a right hand that Kaikkonen ducks under and follows up with a left that Kaikkonen also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kowaljow throws a right and a left that both miss.

Kaikkonen clinches.

Kaikkonen breaks the clinch.

Kaikkonen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kowaljow looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Kaikkonen decides to stand back up. Kaikkonen steps back and let's Kowaljow get back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kowaljow!
Kaikkonen shoots for a takedown but Kowaljow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kowaljow misses with a combination

and Kaikkonen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kaikkonen misses with a knee to the head.

Kaikkonen manages to break the clinch.
Kaikkonen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kowaljow circles away from the clinch attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kowaljow gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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!
Kowaljow working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kaikkonen.
Kaikkonen stops Kowaljow from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otto Kaikkonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kowaljow swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kaikkonen moves into the clinch.
Kowaljow tries to circle away but Kaikkonen has him pinned against the cage.
Kowaljow tries to break free but Kaikkonen pushes him back against the cage.
Kaikkonen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kowaljow has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Kaikkonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kowaljow lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kaikkonen circles away quickly and effectively.
Kaikkonen avoids the head kick by Kowaljow.
Kowaljow keeps the fight on the outside.

Kaikkonen gets a takedown into half guard.

Kaikkonen gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Kowaljow lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaikkonen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kowaljow swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kaikkonen dodges the punch combination from Kowaljow.

Kaikkonen moves into range and clinches up with Kowaljow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaikkonen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kaikkonen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Kaikkonen breaks from the clinch.
Kowaljow throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Kaikkonen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kowaljow's half guard.
Kaikkonen lands strikes from half guard.
Kaikkonen prevents Kowaljow from standing back up.
Kowaljow trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Kaikkonen is nestled in close to Kowaljow, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kowaljow is trying to stand up here but Kaikkonen is controlling him well.

Kaikkonen gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kowaljow misses with a wild combination.
Kaikkonen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kowaljow.

Kaikkonen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kaikkonen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kaikkonen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kowaljow is trying to stand up.
Kaikkonen looking to finish Kowaljow with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kowaljow!
Kaikkonen looking to control but Kowaljow is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kaikkonen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen looking to finish Kowaljow with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kowaljow!
Kaikkonen won't let Kowaljow get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Kaikkonen lands a nice shot to the head.
Kaikkonen trying to control but Kowaljow is having none of it.
Kaikkonen with a couple of short strikes.
Kowaljow squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

Kaikkonen working for a guillotine from mount but Kowaljow is in no mood to give up.
Otto Kaikkonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Kowaljow really wants to buck Kaikkonen off and get back to his feet.

Kaikkonen looking for a guillotine from mount but Kowaljow is having none of it.
Kaikkonen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
You get the feeling that Kowaljow really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Kaikkonen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kowaljow wants to get back to his feet.
Kaikkonen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Otto Kaikkonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kaikkonen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Otto Kaikkonen!