PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keast Kanne (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kanne's entrance music is Snow - Informer. A fine choice. Lasi Kukko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kanne
vs
Kukko

182 cm
22
190 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

185 cm
25
194 lbs
10 - 1 - 2

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Springfield HW Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Keast Kanne!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 2, fighting out of London, Lasi Kukko!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kanne looks to clinch
letting Kukko counter with a right hand.
Kukko thows a body shot but no joy.

Kukko scores a takedown into full mount!
Kukko thowing shots but they're missing.
Kukko takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Kukko there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kukko 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.
A nice elbow there by Kukko.
Kanne wants to get back to his feet.
Kanne wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kukko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kanne is looking to escape.
Kukko looking to ground and pound but Kanne is blocking nicely.
Kanne is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Kukko is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kanne has managed to escape the submission attempt.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Kukko looking to control but Kanne is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four 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.
Kukko sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kukko wants to control the pace but Kanne is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kanne bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Kukko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kanne can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kanne won't allow Kukko to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kukko looks to throw the jab but Kanne is out of range.
Kanne tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kukko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kukko.
Kukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kanne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kanne keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kukko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kanne keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.
Kukko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kukko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanne keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.
Kukko passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kukko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kukko throwing shots but Kanne is blocking nicely.
Kukko is looking to advance position but Kanne won't allow it.
Kanne is controlling Kukko's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Kukko seems to be working for a kimura but Kanne defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko wants to pass the guard but Kanne is defending well.
Kukko is just content to waste time from the top position. Kanne takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kukko is looking to work some ground and pound but Kanne has wrist control.
Kukko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

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.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kukko looking to pass the guard.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kukko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kukko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kanne moves to clinch but Kukko breaks away
and Kukko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kanne takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kanne tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Kukko decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kanne's guard.
Kanne keeping full guard, as Kukko tries to pass.
Kanne not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kukko tries to free his leg and advance position but Kanne is retaining full guard.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kukko throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kanne on the side of the head.

Kanne closes the distance and pushes Kukko back into the cage.
Kanne gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Lasi Kukko has been cut.
Kanne lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Kukko drags the fight down to the ground.

Kukko looking for a guillotine here but Kanne defends easily.

Kukko isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kanne stacks Kukko on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kanne!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko tries to buck Kanne off but Kanne is having none of it.
Kukko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Kanne stands up.
Kanne smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Keast Kanne is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko shoots for a double leg takedown but Kanne sprawls well. He's pushed Kukko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kukko.
Kanne tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Kukko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kanne keeping full guard, as Kukko tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kukko is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kukko forces his way into half guard.
Kukko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kanne keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lasi Kukko's cut.
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.

Kanne tries to clinch up
and Kukko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kukko misses the body punch

and Kanne holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kukko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kanne fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kanne looks to clinch

and Kukko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kukko throws a big right hand that misses.
Kanne controls Kukko momentarily but Kukko frees himself.
Kukko slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kanne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kanne bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kukko's head.
Kanne tries to close the distance and clinch but Kukko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kanne wants to clinch

and Kukko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kanne's guard now.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko tries to free his leg and advance position but Kanne is retaining full guard.
Kanne keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.
Kukko looking to pass the guard.
Kukko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kukko throwing strikes from guard but Kanne blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kukko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanne is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Lasi Kukko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kanne tries to clinch
letting Kukko counter with a right hand.
Kukko goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kanne tries to clinch

so Kukko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kukko is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kukko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kanne is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Lasi Kukko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kukko with a poor takedown
letting Kanne counter with a right hand.
Kukko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Kanne to counter with a crisp jab.
Kanne tries to clinch but Kukko moves away
and Kukko counters with a nice uppercut.
Kanne tries to clinch but Kukko moves away
and Kukko counters with a right hand to the body.
Kanne moves away from the strike by Kukko.
Kanne avoids a kick to the body.
Kanne connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kanne tries to clinch but Kukko moves away

and Kukko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kanne keeping full guard, as Kukko tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko is looking to work some ground and pound but Kanne has wrist control.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kanne swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kukko controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Lasi Kukko.
Kanne closes the distance but Kukko moves to the side
and Kukko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kanne closes the distance but Kukko moves to the side
and Kukko counters with a straight right hand.
Kanne closes the distance but Kukko moves to the side

and Kukko counters with a single leg into guard. Kanne didn't expect that.
Kukko trying to control but Kanne is working from the bottom.
Kukko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko passes into half guard.
Kukko is keen to just control but Kanne is a slippery customer.
Kukko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kanne is refusing to be controlled, as Kukko sits in half guard.
Lasi Kukko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.

Kukko is working for a submission of some sort.
Lasi Kukko has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kukko is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kanne is just riding it out for now. Kukko eventually gives up the hold.
Keast Kanne has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kanne is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kukko pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lasi Kukko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kukko 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Glass scores the fight 45:50
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 45:50
Judge William Gold scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lasi Kukko! Lasi Kukko retains his middleweight title!