PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bubba Blake (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaarlo Koskelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaarlo Koskelo has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bubba Blake's chin.

Blake
vs
Koskelo

180 cm
23
175 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bubba Blake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaarlo Koskelo!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koskelo on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Blake moves into the clinch successfully.
Blake with a knee to the head.

It looks like Kaarlo Koskelo has been cut.
Koskelo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Blake pulls his leg out and moves away.
Koskelo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Koskelo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Blake quickly recovers to half guard.
Koskelo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Blake's head.
Koskelo thows a huge punch but Blake dodges it nicely.
Blake on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Blake tries to get out of the position.
Koskelo winds up and cracks Blake with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Koskelo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Blake trying to control but Koskelo postures up.
Blake avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Koskelo.
Koskelo thows a huge punch but Blake dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Koskelo is working away from the top position though.
Koskelo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koskelo tries to pass the half guard into mount. Blake knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Koskelo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blake with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Blake is trying to maintain the position but Koskelo is very close to passing his half guard.
Koskelo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Koskelo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blake is looking to escape.

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.
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. Koskelo connects with a nice short shot to Blake's temple.
Koskelo passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Blake!
Koskelo working the ground and pound effectively.

It looks like Bubba Blake has been cut.
Koskelo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Blake is looking to escape.
Koskelo sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koskelo lands a big shot there that rocks Blake but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Koskelo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Blake tries to hold on but Koskelo pushes him away.
Koskelo with shots to the head and body - Blake looks very uncomfortable down there.
Koskelo looking to ground and pound but Blake is blocking nicely.
Koskelo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Koskelo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Blake is looking to escape.
Koskelo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blake wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Koskelo.
Koskelo throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Koskelo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
A nice elbow there by Koskelo.
Blake avoids a series of strikes thrown by Koskelo.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koskelo throws some wild stikes that Blake manages to avoid easily.
Koskelo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaarlo Koskelo dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Koskelo throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Koskelo throws the left hand but Blake avoids the punch easily.
Koskelo fails with a takedown attempt.
Blake getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Blake scores with a nice head shot.
Kaarlo Koskelo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Blake swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koskelo takes a kick to the side of the head.
Blake misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Blake lands with a good body shot.
Blake scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Blake changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Koskelo throws a big shot that misses.
Blake bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Koskelo's head.

Blake forces Koskelo back against the cage and clinches.
Koskelo tries to score a body lock takedown but Blake shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Blake lands a nice knee to the body.
Koskelo is breathing heavily.
Blake has Koskelo pressed against the cage, preventing Koskelo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Blake with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Blake scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Blake crunches a lovely knee into Koskelo's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blake lands a knee to the head.
Blake misses with a knee to the head.
Koskelo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Blake connects with a knee to the head.
Blake tries to land a knee to the head but Koskelo blocks with his arms.
Koskelo avoids a wild elbow strike from Blake.
Blake crunches a lovely knee into Koskelo's ribcage.
Blake with a knee to the head.
Blake utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Blake landing knees to the body.
Blake missing with knees to the body.
Koskelo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Blake prevents it.
Bubba Blake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaarlo Koskelo.
Blake tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Koskelo avoids it.
Blake looking to throw knees to the head but Koskelo is blocking nicely.
Koskelo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Blake missing with knees to the body.
Blake lands a knee to the head.
Blake gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Koskelo.
Blake lands a knee to the body.
Blake looking to throw knees to the head but Koskelo is blocking nicely.

Koskelo turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Koskelo manages to end up in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Koskelo crashes against the mat.
Blake defending against the ground and pound.
Koskelo working away.
Blake knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Koskelo on the ground.
Blake is looking for a sweep.
Koskelo throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Koskelo is putting a hurting on Blake here, landing some big shots from side control.
Koskelo throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Koskelo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Koskelo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Koskelo working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koskelo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blake keeps working.
Koskelo sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Blake is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Koskelo working away.
Koskelo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Blake is avoiding damage well.
Blake tries to escape but Koskelo is in control.
Koskelo working the head with strikes.
Koskelo looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Blake is avoiding damage well.

Koskelo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four 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.
Koskelo throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Koskelo tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Koskelo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Koskelo working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bubba Blake dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Blake throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Koskelo's head.
Koskelo takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Blake stuffs the takedown.
Blake throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Blake closes the distance and pushes Koskelo back into the cage.
Blake working Koskelo over with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Blake.
Blake using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Koskelo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Blake misses with a knee strike.
Koskelo avoids the elbow strike from Blake, against the cage.
Koskelo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Blake prevents a takedown attempt there.
Blake throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Koskelo blocks it with crossed arms.
Blake misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Koskelo.
Koskelo avoids the elbow strike from Blake, against the cage.
Blake missing with knees to the body.
Koskelo tries for a takedown but Blake manages to get underhooks.
Bubba Blake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaarlo Koskelo.
Koskelo takes a knee to the side of the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Blake utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Blake lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blake tries a knee to the head but Koskelo blocks it.
Blake throws an elbow but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koskelo looking for a takedown.
Koskelo drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blake scores a nice knee to the body.
Blake keeps control of Koskelo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Blake tries to land a knee to the head but Koskelo blocks with his arms.
Koskelo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Blake pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Blake throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Koskelo is trying to maintain a safe position but Blake gets an underhook and turns Koskelo into the cage.
A knee to the head by Blake.
Blake prevents a takedown attempt there.
Koskelo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Koskelo is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Blake landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Koskelo managing to block the knees to the body from Blake.
Koskelo is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Blake gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Koskelo wants a takedown.
Koskelo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Blake pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Blake throws an elbow but it misses.
Blake landing knees to the body.
Blake tries a knee to the head but Koskelo blocks it.
Blake looking to throw knees to the head but Koskelo is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koskelo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Koskelo looking for a takedown.
Blake missing with knees to the body.
Koskelo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Koskelo has Blake pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blake manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Blake using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Koskelo can't get the takedown.
Koskelo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Blake gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Blake prevents Koskelo from breaking the clinch.
Blake lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Koskelo managing to block the knees to the body from Blake.
Koskelo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Blake prevents it.
Koskelo can't get the takedown.
Blake lands a knee to the head.
Koskelo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Blake pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Blake throws a knee to the head but misses.

Koskelo wants the takedown. Blake is fighting it off but Koskelo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Blake's guard against the cage.
Blake keeping full guard, as Koskelo tries to pass.
Koskelo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koskelo thows a big elbow that misses.
Koskelo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Blake avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Blake working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Koskelo.
Koskelo throws a big right hand that misses.
Koskelo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blake pulls Koskelo in close to prevent any damage.

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.
Koskelo trying to control the position from guard on top but Blake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blake wants to stand and escape but Koskelo is having none of it.
Koskelo wants to control from the top but Blake keeps moving.
Koskelo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koskelo 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 fight!
Bubba Blake showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blake has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bubba Blake!