PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otto Kaikkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ferguson comes into the arena with Fabolous - My Time blaring out of the sound system. Kaikkonen has chosen Duran Duran - WIld Boys as his entrance music. Otto Kaikkonen acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Ferguson
vs
Kaikkonen

183 cm
24
207 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

187 cm
27
205 lbs
9 - 15 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kevin Ferguson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 15 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Otto Kaikkonen!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaikkonen gets caught flat footed, as Ferguson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kaikkonen wants to stand but Ferguson is controlling the position.
Ferguson trying to control but Kaikkonen is working from the bottom.
Kaikkonen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ferguson.
Ferguson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ferguson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kaikkonen, up you get!
Ferguson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kaikkonen moves in looking to clinch but Ferguson pushes him off.
Ferguson tries to close the distance and clinch but Kaikkonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kaikkonen clinches but Ferguson breaks the clinch

and Ferguson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ferguson wants to control but Kaikkonen is keeping him busy.
Ferguson stalling.

Ferguson stands up from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ferguson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kaikkonen's guard now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ferguson looking to pass the guard.
Ferguson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kaikkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ferguson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Ferguson moves away

and Ferguson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ferguson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ferguson misses with a knee strike.
Ferguson wants to get back to striking at distance but Kaikkonen won't allow it.
Ferguson is breathing heavily.

Ferguson breaks from the clinch.
Kaikkonen clinches but Ferguson breaks the clinch

and Ferguson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ferguson.
Ferguson trying to control but Kaikkonen is working from the bottom.

Kaikkonen pushes Ferguson off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaikkonen misses with an uppercut.
Kaikkonen looks to clinch

and Ferguson counters with a shoot takedown. Kaikkonen fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ferguson looking to sit in guard and control but Kaikkonen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kaikkonen wanted to stand there but Ferguson had control of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kaikkonen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Ferguson closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Ferguson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kaikkonen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Otto Kaikkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Ferguson moves away

and Ferguson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ferguson.
Ferguson tries to stand but Kaikkonen is controlling from the bottom.

Kaikkonen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ferguson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Ferguson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch

and Ferguson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A body shot lands from Kaikkonen.
Kaikkonen stalling the fight.

Ferguson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kaikkonen scoring well with a low kick there.
Otto Kaikkonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Ferguson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Ferguson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kaikkonen uses from the top position.

Kaikkonen gets to his feet. Ferguson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kaikkonen looks to clinch

and Ferguson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kaikkonen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ferguson is controlling him.
Ferguson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kaikkonen wants to get back to his feet but Ferguson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaikkonen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Ferguson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Ferguson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kaikkonen tries to avoid it but Ferguson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kaikkonen to the ground. Kaikkonen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kaikkonen closes the distance but Ferguson moves to the side

and Ferguson counters with a shoot takedown. Kaikkonen fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ferguson throws a big right hand that misses.
Ferguson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kaikkonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ferguson wants to pass the guard but Kaikkonen is keeping the position.
Kaikkonen has a closed guard, preventing Ferguson from standing up.

That's four 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.
Ferguson content to stall in guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ferguson looking to sit in guard and control but Kaikkonen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Ferguson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kaikkonen stuffs the takedown attempt from Ferguson. Ferguson gets slowly back to his feet.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but Ferguson moves away

and Ferguson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ferguson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kaikkonen working Ferguson over with knees to the body.
Kaikkonen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Ferguson blocks it with crossed arms.
Kaikkonen misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Kaikkonen.
Ferguson wants to get back to striking at distance but Kaikkonen won't allow it.
Ferguson tries to break the clinch but Kaikkonen is controlling the position.

Kaikkonen breaks the clinch.
Kaikkonen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ferguson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kaikkonen's guard.
Ferguson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Ferguson wants to pass the guard but Kaikkonen is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaikkonen is looking to stand up but Ferguson isn't so interested in that idea.
Ferguson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kaikkonen is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ferguson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two 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.
Ferguson is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Kaikkonen will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Ferguson is trying to get an arm triangle but Kaikkonen is defending well.
Ferguson working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Ferguson is looking to take a break and control but Kaikkonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kaikkonen stops Ferguson from passing to mount.

That's four 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.
A lull in the action here as Ferguson stalls from top position.
Kaikkonen is not content to let Ferguson control the position.
Otto Kaikkonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Ferguson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ferguson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Ferguson!