PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Starr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keijo Kanuuna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keijo Kanuuna acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Starr
vs
Kanuuna

182 cm
29
210 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

185 cm
26
201 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Knockout power

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 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tommy Starr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Keijo Kanuuna!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kanuuna dodges the punch combination from Starr.
Starr throws a right and a left that both miss.
Starr jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kanuuna doesn't manage to clinch there - Starr circles away.
Kanuuna fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kanuuna feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Starr's calf.

Kanuuna has closed the distance and engaged Starr in a clinch.
Starr is working for takedown but Kanuuna is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kanuuna scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Tommy Starr has been cut.
Kanuuna stalling.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Starr drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kanuuna pulls his leg out and moves away.

Kanuuna clinches up with Starr and pushes him back against the cage.
Kanuuna landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kanuuna landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Starr is breathing heavily.
Starr tries for a takedown but Kanuuna manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Starr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kanuuna softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kanuuna connects with a knee to the head.
Kanuuna lands a good knee to the midsection. Starr won't want to take too many of those.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kanuuna has hold of one of Starr's legs. Starr is fighting the takedown attempt but Kanuuna gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Starr is working an open guard so Kanuuna takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kanuuna lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Kanuuna gets a clinch.
Starr's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A knee to the head by Kanuuna.
Kanuuna connects with a knee to the head.
Kanuuna digs a right hand underneath Starr's ribcage. Starr let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Kanuuna has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Starr clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Kanuuna working for the choke.

Kanuuna looking for the RNC.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Starr's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Kanuuna is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Starr has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
What can Starr do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kanuuna seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Starr's chin but Starr turns very nicely into Kanuuna's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Starr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Starr postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kanuuna is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Starr, into his guard.

Starr escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kanuuna gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Starr is striking but Kanuuna is not phased and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Starr looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Starr gets back to full guard.

Starr looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kanuuna passes into side control.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kanuuna working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Kanuuna dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Starr'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.

Kanuuna forces Starr back against the cage and clinches.
Starr is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kanuuna gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kanuuna lands a good knee to the midsection. Starr won't want to take too many of those.
Starr has Kanuuna pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kanuuna manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A knee to the head by Kanuuna.
Kanuuna is pressed up against the cage. Starr has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kanuuna down to the mat. Kanuuna avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Starr. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kanuuna pushes Starr up against the cage in a clinch.
Starr has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kanuuna is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Starr can't get the takedown.
Kanuuna connects with a nasty looking knee right to Starr's face.
Kanuuna utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kanuuna landing knees to the head.
Starr takes an elbow to the temple.
Kanuuna scores with a knee to the head.
Kanuuna controlling the action here for a moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kanuuna scores with a shot to the side of Starr's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanuuna stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kanuuna working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Knees to the body from Kanuuna.

Kanuuna pulls guard effortlessly.

Starr drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kanuuna dives on top into guard.
Kanuuna is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kanuuna postures up in Starr's guard and throws a big left but Starr blocks it.

Starr working for submissions but it's allowed Kanuuna to get to half guard.
Kanuuna thows a huge punch but Starr dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanuuna works his way into side control.
Kanuuna slows the pace down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kanuuna goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Starr has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kanuuna but great work by Starr.

Starr goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kanuuna has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Starr but great work by Kanuuna.
Starr manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kanuuna passes to full mount!
Kanuuna controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Starr that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kanuuna tries to control but Starr wriggling away.

Kanuuna is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Keijo Kanuuna seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kanuuna.
Kanuuna keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Starr.
Starr has a takedown stuffed.
Kanuuna is looking to clinch but Starr is avoiding it.
Kanuuna doesn't manage to clinch there - Starr circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanuuna scores with a leg kick.
Kanuuna tries to clinch up.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Starr shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kanuuna but Kanuuna pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Kanuuna moves into the clinch.
Knees to the body from Kanuuna.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kanuuna crunches a lovely knee into Starr's ribcage.
Kanuuna with a knee to the head.
Kanuuna with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kanuuna connects with a nasty looking knee right to Starr's face.
Kanuuna connects with a knee to the head.

Tommy Starr's cut is getting worse.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kanuuna obliges.
A knee to the head by Kanuuna.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kanuuna with a knee to the head.
Kanuuna unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kanuuna scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Kanuuna showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tommy Starr's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kanuuna moves into the clinch successfully.
Kanuuna stops a takedown attempt from Starr.
Kanuuna prevents the takedown attempt.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kanuuna obliges.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kanuuna.
Kanuuna with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Kanuuna pulls guard successfully.
Starr trying to move into half guard but instead Kanuuna has managed to sweep!

Kanuuna got a little sloppy there for a moment and Starr has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kanuuna has managed to get both his arms back between Starr's legs - danger averted.
Kanuuna has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Starr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kanuuna is aware though and is defending well.

Kanuuna stands up from Starr's guard - Kanuuna perhaps looking for a knockout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanuuna lands with a kick to the temple. Starr shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Kanuuna darts in and clinches Starr up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kanuuna.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kanuuna.

Kanuuna has Starr pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kanuuna pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Starr tumbling to the mat - Kanuuna dives into Starr's guard.

Kanuuna decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Starr, up you get!
Starr has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Kanuuna.

Kanuuna rushes Starr and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kanuuna manages to pull guard.

Starr drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kanuuna dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kanuuna wants to stand but Starr has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kanuuna trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Starr keeping moving, preventing Kanuuna from controlling successfully.

Starr is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kanuuna defends well.

Kanuuna stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Starr with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Starr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kanuuna fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Starr has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Kanuuna instigates a clinch.
Kanuuna using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kanuuna is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kanuuna obliges.
Kanuuna scores with a knee to the head.
Kanuuna is pressed up against the cage. Starr has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kanuuna down to the mat. Kanuuna avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Starr tries to keep at a distance but Kanuuna has taken the fight into the clinch.
Keijo Kanuuna seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kanuuna lands a good knee to the midsection. Starr won't want to take too many of those.
Kanuuna scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kanuuna landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Kanuuna lands a takedown into guard.

Starr throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Starr looking for subs off his back but Kanuuna has passed one foot through into half guard.

Kanuuna is working for a kimura but Starr is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Starr looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keijo Kanuuna comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kanuuna 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keijo Kanuuna!