PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akseli Kukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Edwards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kukkonen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Fintelligens - Kaikki Peliin. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kukkonen
vs
Edwards

182 cm
20
184 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Determined

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Akseli Kukkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jack Edwards!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukkonen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Edwards.
Kukkonen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Edwards finds it's way round the side to connect with Kukkonen's head.

Edwards scores a takedown into full mount!
Kukkonen working to try and regain half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukkonen taking shots to the head.
Kukkonen wants to control but Edwards is having none of it.
Edwards content just to control the position here.
Kukkonen wants to try and get back to his feet.
Kukkonen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Kukkonen is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Kukkonen tries to hold on but Edwards pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards lands a heavy elbow.
Kukkonen is working to get back to half guard.
Kukkonen is breathing heavily.
Kukkonen tries to hold on but Edwards postures up.
Edwards in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Edwards working the ground and pound effectively.
Edwards can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kukkonen is looking to escape.
The referee warns Kukkonen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kukkonen tries to lock up and control but Edwards gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kukkonen taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Edwards trying to control but he's not successful this time.
A nice elbow there by Edwards.
Kukkonen is working to get back to half guard.
Edwards postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kukkonen looks a forlorn figure.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Edwards is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kukkonen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Edwards with good strikes from the mount here!
Kukkonen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Edwards working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen is refusing to be controlled, as Edwards sits in half guard.
Edwards looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Edwards lands strikes from half guard.
Kukkonen is concentrating on defense, preventing Edwards from advancing position.
Edwards scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Edwards scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Edwards wants to control but Kukkonen is keeping him busy.
Edwards is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kukkonen wants to control but Edwards is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Edwards lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edwards trying to control the action but Kukkonen is working from the bottom.
Edwards lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Edwards lands strikes from half guard.
Kukkonen is looking for a sweep. Edwards is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Edwards works his way into full mount!

Edwards working for a submission but Kukkonen is keeping him at bay.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kukkonen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Edwards dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Edwards tries to land a front kick but Kukkonen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Edwards swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kukkonen fails with the takedown

and Edwards counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kukkonen won't be happy with that.
Kukkonen manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kukkonen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Edwards scores with a couple of nice shots.
Edwards looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Edwards slips a nice elbow through Kukkonen's hands, connecting with Kukkonen's forehead.
Edwards stops Kukkonen from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kukkonen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Edwards is looking for a kimura but Kukkonen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Edwards to get the leverage.
Kukkonen wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edwards seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kukkonen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Edwards is working away from the top position though.
Kukkonen moves into full guard.
Kukkonen is trying to keep Edwards in close.
Edwards with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Edwards wants to control from the top but Kukkonen keeps moving.
Kukkonen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Edwards must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Edwards misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Edwards goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Akseli Kukkonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Edwards is looking to clinch but Kukkonen is avoiding it.
Akseli Kukkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Edwards throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kukkonen.

Kukkonen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Edwards in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Edwards is looking to work some ground and pound but Kukkonen has wrist control.
Kukkonen pulls Edwards in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edwards lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Edwards drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Edwards jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kukkonen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Edwards missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kukkonen keeping moving, preventing Edwards from controlling successfully.
Jack Edwards has got the better of the ground game so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Edwards shoots and misses

and Kukkonen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Edwards!
Edwards avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kukkonen.
Edwards keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen dominating with strikes here.
Edwards blocking the ground and pound.
Edwards is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Kukkonen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Edwards holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kukkonen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Kukkonen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Edwards wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Edwards showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kukkonen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Edwards looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kukkonen throws an elbow but Edwards slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kukkonen throws a strike aimed at the side of Edwards's head but Edwards avoids it well.
Kukkonen looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Edwards is avoiding damage well.
Kukkonen working away.
Kukkonen postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Edwards can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kukkonen trying to control the position but Edwards is working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Edwards manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Kukkonen is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Edwards shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Edwards is thwarting Kukkonen's attempts to control the position.

Edwards decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Kukkonen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kukkonen showed some decent athleticism there.
Edwards is refusing to be controlled, as Kukkonen sits in half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kukkonen in particular looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edwards is staying active underneath Kukkonen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Edwards is trying to stand.
Kukkonen lands strikes from half guard.
Edwards is looking for a sweep. Kukkonen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kukkonen is working for a kimura but Edwards is defending it quite comfortably.
Edwards is looking for a sweep. Kukkonen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kukkonen misses with a takedown attempt

and Edwards decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kukkonen's guard.
Kukkonen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Edwards trying to control but Kukkonen is working from the bottom.
Kukkonen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kukkonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Edwards prevents Kukkonen from getting back to his feet.
Edwards slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kukkonen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Edwards is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kukkonen's half guard.
Edwards scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kukkonen pushes Edwards off looking to stand but Edwards dives back in and keeps control.
Edwards seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Akseli Kukkonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ground and pound from Edwards.
Kukkonen throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Jack Edwards is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kukkonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Edwards comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Edwards has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Edwards!