PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Cohen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tonttu Ukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cohen kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Wait and Bleed by Slipknot. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Cohen
vs
Ukko

185 cm
27
180 lbs
14 - 14 - 0

190 cm
25
178 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 14 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Caleb Cohen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tonttu Ukko!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cohen throws a body punch but Ukko moves out of range.

Cohen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ukko sprawls well initially but Cohen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Cohen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Cohen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ukko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ukko gets back to full guard.

Cohen drops back looking for a leg! Ukko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ukko manages to kick Cohen off! Cohen jumps back into Ukko's guard.
Ukko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ukko keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Ukko is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Cohen is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukko is controlling Cohen's posture.
Let's hope that Ukko has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Cohen won't allow Ukko to sweep him here.
Ukko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cohen manages to get himself to full guard.
Ukko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Cohen's guard.
Ukko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Ukko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Ukko is looking for a kimura but Cohen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ukko to get the leverage.
Cohen is concentrating on defense, preventing Ukko from advancing position.
Cohen trying to hold on to Ukko's head to control him but Ukko postures up.
Ukko takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ukko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ukko thows a huge punch but Cohen dodges it nicely.
Cohen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ukko throws an elbow that misses. Cohen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ukko's guard. Nice move by Cohen!
Ukko pulls Cohen in close to his closed guard and prevents Cohen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Cohen trying to control the position from guard on top but Ukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ukko working for a triangle but Cohen defends it easily.
Ukko keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ukko wants to sweep here but Cohen controlling him for the moment.
Cohen trying to control but Ukko is working from the bottom.

Cohen 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.
Cohen postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cohen trying to control but Ukko is working from the bottom.
Ukko keeping full guard, as Cohen tries to pass.
Ukko keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.
Cohen postures up.

Cohen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Ukko controls Cohen momentarily but Cohen frees himself.
Ukko keeping moving, preventing Cohen from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen preventing the sweep.
Ukko looking to control.

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

Cohen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cohen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ukko keeps working.
Ukko is looking to improve his position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cohen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ukko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cohen.
Ukko tries to get to full guard but Cohen has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cohen is keen to just control but Ukko is a slippery customer.
Ukko trying to hold on to Cohen's head to control him but Cohen postures up.

Cohen is trying to work for a kimura but Ukko is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Caleb Cohen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Cohen closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ukko quickly recovers to half guard.
Ukko is trying to get back to full guard.
Ukko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Cohen drops back looking for a leg! Ukko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ukko manages to kick Cohen off! Cohen jumps back into Ukko's guard.
Cohen wants to pass the guard but Ukko is keeping the position.
Ukko controlling the position.
Cohen preventing the sweep.
Cohen trying to control the position from guard on top but Ukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cohen 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ukko looking for a guillotine here but Cohen defends easily.
Cohen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ukko is keeping the position for now.
Ukko has his hands on Cohen's head, controlling the position.
Ukko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cohen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cohen wants to control from the top but Ukko keeps moving.
Cohen stopping the sweep attempt from Ukko.

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

Cohen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ukko looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ukko is looking for a sweep.

Cohen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ukko has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ukko can't do much from the bottom here.
Ukko controls the position for a moment.

Cohen is trying to get an arm triangle but Ukko is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Cohen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Ukko knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ukko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cohen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ukko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Cohen is thwarting Ukko's attempts to control the position.
Cohen wants to take a breather but Ukko is having none of it.
Cohen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Cohen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Cohen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ukko wants to control but Cohen is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ukko actively working from the bottom here.
Ukko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Cohen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Cohen's back!
Cohen turns into Ukko and is now in his guard.
Ukko is pulling down on Cohen's head to control his posture.
Ukko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cohen is one step ahead there.
Ukko seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Cohen trying to control but Ukko is working from the bottom.
Cohen is pushing down on Ukko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ukko is fighting to maintain full guard but Cohen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ukko keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Cohen seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb Cohen dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Cohen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ukko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Cohen won't allow Ukko to sweep him here.
Cohen trying to control but Ukko is working from the bottom.
Cohen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ukko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cohen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ukko moves away.
Ukko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Cohen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Ukko counters with a shoot takedown. Cohen fights it but they end up in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukko landing some decent shots from guard.
Cohen working a defensive guard here.
Ukko postures up in Cohen's guard and throws a big left but Cohen blocks it.
Caleb Cohen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ukko 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.
Ukko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ukko throwing strikes but missing.
Cohen is trying to keep Ukko in close.
Ukko passes Cohen's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Ukko seems to be working for a kimura but Cohen defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cohen wants to improve his position but Ukko is controlling well.

Ukko is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Cohen sees it coming and defends easily.
Ukko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Cohen wants to improve his position but Ukko is controlling well.

Ukko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Ukko seems to be working for a kimura but Cohen defends the submission attempt.
Ukko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ukko is thwarting Cohen's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ukko 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.
Cohen is looking for a sweep. Ukko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Cohen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ukko is working away from the top position though.
Ukko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Cohen actively working from the bottom here.
Cohen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ukko scores with a couple of nice shots.
Cohen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ukko working some strikes from top position.

Ukko is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Cohen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Cohen has escaped and now he's on top!
Cohen trying to control the position from guard on top but Ukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cohen postures up.
Cohen trying to control the position from guard on top but Ukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ukko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Ukko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Cohen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Cohen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cohen preventing the sweep.
Ukko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Cohen!

Ukko goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Cohen is on top in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Cohen preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tonttu Ukko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cohen 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Caleb Cohen!