PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Okko Ukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lalli Kuutamo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuutamo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Bad Company. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ukkonen
vs
Kuutamo

178 cm
21
153 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

176 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Okko Ukkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lalli Kuutamo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ukkonen fails with a takedown attempt.

Ukkonen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kuutamo is refusing to be controlled, as Ukkonen sits in half guard.

Ukkonen is trying to work for a kimura but Kuutamo is defending well.
Kuutamo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuutamo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ukkonen tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuutamo is retaining full guard.
Ukkonen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ukkonen has gone for a leg lock! Kuutamo slips out almost immediately though and dives into Ukkonen's guard.

Ukkonen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kuutamo is aware though and is defending well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kuutamo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Ukkonen is looking for a triangle but Kuutamo pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuutamo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Ukkonen is looking for a triangle but Kuutamo pushes his legs off easily.
Kuutamo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ukkonen working a defensive guard here.
Kuutamo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kuutamo lands a couple of elbows.
Kuutamo wants to control from the top but Ukkonen keeps moving.
Kuutamo postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuutamo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ukkonen has momentary wrist control but Kuutamo slips an elbow through the middle.

Ukkonen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kuutamo is aware though and is defending well.

Ukkonen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ukkonen is breathing heavily.

Ukkonen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kuutamo connects with a couple of short punches.
Kuutamo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ukkonen is keeping the position for now.

Ukkonen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kuutamo scoring with punches to the head and body.

Ukkonen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kuutamo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ukkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuutamo postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Ukkonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kuutamo defends well.
Kuutamo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kuutamo scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kuutamo chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kuutamo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kuutamo scoring with punches to the head and body.

Kuutamo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ukkonen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuutamo has managed to get both his arms back between Ukkonen's legs - danger averted.
Kuutamo trying to control the position from guard on top but Ukkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuutamo distracts Ukkonen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuutamo drops back looking for a leg! Ukkonen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ukkonen manages to kick Kuutamo off! Kuutamo jumps back into Ukkonen's guard.

Ukkonen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kuutamo defends it easily.
Kuutamo with a nice head shot there.
Kuutamo postures up.
Kuutamo is looking to work some ground and pound but Ukkonen has wrist control.
Kuutamo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kuutamo working some strikes from top position.

Kuutamo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kuutamo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lalli Kuutamo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kuutamo throws a looping overhand right but Ukkonen ducks down to avoid it.
Ukkonen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ukkonen misses the shot to the body.
A punch combination from Ukkonen misses.
Ukkonen throws a one two combo.
Kuutamo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ukkonen manages to avoid it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ukkonen lands with a shot to the body.
Ukkonen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Ukkonen cracks a nice hook into Kuutamo's ribs.
Some wild striking there from Ukkonen.
Nice sprawl there from Ukkonen as Kuutamo shoots in.
Ukkonen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Okko Ukkonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuutamo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ukkonen.
Kuutamo ducks right into an uppercut from Ukkonen.

Ukkonen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ukkonen uses his free foot to push down on Kuutamo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kuutamo.
Kuutamo is breathing heavily.
Ukkonen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuutamo is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ukkonen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kuutamo wants to hold on but Ukkonen pushes him away.

Ukkonen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kuutamo is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kuutamo and Ukkonen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Ukkonen working the ground and pound but Kuutamo is defending the strikes.

That's two 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.
Kuutamo tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Ukkonen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kuutamo avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ukkonen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A lull in the action here.
Kuutamo is trying to control Ukkonen's posture but Ukkonen avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen trying to control the action but Kuutamo is working from the bottom.
Ukkonen working away.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ukkonen lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Ukkonen works Kuutamo's body with a nice hook.
A slow jab from Kuutamo misses its intended target.
Horrible takedown by Ukkonen or perhaps it was just good defense by Kuutamo which made him look bad.
Ukkonen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kuutamo leaves Ukkonen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Kuutamo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kuutamo lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuutamo has hold of Ukkonen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ukkonen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ukkonen is desperately trying to improve his position but Kuutamo has a good base and remains in mount.
Ukkonen taking shots to the head.
Ukkonen wants to control but Kuutamo is having none of it.
Ukkonen can't escape the position.
Kuutamo lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Okko Ukkonen dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Kuutamo.
Ukkonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ukkonen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kuutamo defends it nicely.
Kuutamo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Ukkonen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kuutamo's guard.
Ukkonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuutamo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuutamo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ukkonen tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuutamo is retaining full guard.
Ukkonen postures up in Kuutamo's guard and throws a big left but Kuutamo blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ukkonen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kuutamo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ukkonen has Kuutamo in his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ukkonen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kuutamo manages to get himself to full guard.
Kuutamo looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuutamo, not yet.
Ukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuutamo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ukkonen is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuutamo has wrist control.

Ukkonen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kuutamo manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Ukkonen has Kuutamo in his guard.
Lalli Kuutamo has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kuutamo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ukkonen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kuutamo is aware though and is defending well.
Kuutamo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuutamo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ukkonen is trying to control the position but Kuutamo postures up.
Ukkonen keeping moving, preventing Kuutamo from controlling successfully.
Ukkonen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kuutamo works over Ukkonen with some ground and pound from guard.

Ukkonen looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Kuutamo is defending well. Ukkonen quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Kuutamo has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Ukkonen celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Okko Ukkonen!