PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Berting Labra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Labra's choice of entrance music: krolithika. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kukko
vs
Labra

185 cm
40
194 lbs
35 - 19 - 2

188 cm
28
200 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 19 - 2, fighting out of London, Lasi Kukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Berting Labra!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukko's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kukko duly obliges.

It looks like Berting Labra has been cut.

Kukko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Labra to the mat! Labra manages to get full guard.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Labra keeps moving.
Labra controlling Kukko's posture.
Kukko trying to control but Labra is working from the bottom.
Labra is pulling down on Kukko's head to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Labra trying to control the position.
Labra keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kukko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Labra's head.
Labra trying to control the position here.
Kukko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Labra throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kukko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kukko throws a looping overhand right but Labra ducks down to avoid it.
Labra scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Labra slips a jab and a cross from Kukko.
Labra misses with a low kick.
Labra connects with an inside leg kick.
Kukko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kukko on the wrong end of a nice jab.

It looks like Lasi Kukko has been cut.
An inside leg kick lands from Kukko.
Lasi Kukko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kukko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Labra has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Labra tries to land a leg kick but Kukko saw it coming and moves away.
Labra tried to score with a low kick but Kukko checks it.
Kukko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kukko closes the distance and pushes Labra back into the cage.
Kukko is stalling here.
A nice right hand lands inside from Labra.
Kukko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kukko lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kukko tries to break free but Labra pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labra tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kukko avoids it.

Labra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A jab lands there for Kukko.
Labra tries to clinch but Kukko moves out of range.
Labra's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kukko connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Labra scrambles back to his feet.
Kukko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kukko lands a nice shot that snaps Labra's head back.
Kukko misses with a series of wild punches.
Kukko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Labra on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kukko shoots in looking for a takedown. Labra tries to sprawl out of it but Kukko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Labra manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kukko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kukko throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kukko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Labra misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Labra. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Labra.

Kukko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Labra is trying to defend but Kukko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kukko throwing shots but Labra is blocking nicely.
Labra gets full guard.
Labra is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kukko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kukko 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 round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kukko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kukko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Labra keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.
Kukko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Labra controlling Kukko's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kukko looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kukko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Labra can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Labra working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kukko.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kukko stands and throws Labra's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Labra struggling a bit here.
Kukko wants to control but Labra is keeping him busy.

That's two 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.
Kukko wants to control for a moment but Labra uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Labra trying to control here.
Kukko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kukko throwing shots but Labra is blocking nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kukko throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kukko moves away from the strike by Labra.
Kukko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Kukko misses the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko throws a wild body kick that Labra sees coming a mile off.
Labra scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kukko throws a leg kick but Labra moved away.
Labra connects with a crisp jab.
Labra connects with an inside leg kick.
Lasi Kukko is winning the standup battle so far.
A leg kick checked by Kukko.
Kukko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Labra moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kukko scores with a one two! Labra had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kukko tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Labra throws a quick inside leg kick.
Labra throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kukko jabs Labra right on the nose. Labra blinks but takes it well.
A nice inside leg kick there by Labra. That's going to slow Kukko down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Labra takes one to the chin there.
Labra moves out of range of the strikes.
Kukko tries to bum rush Labra with a series of wild strikes but Labra uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Labra tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kukko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Labra cracks Kukko with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko lunges at Labra with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Labra's hand.
Berting Labra is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kukko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Labra defends it nicely.
Kukko misses with the combination.
Kukko shoots for a takedown but Labra saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A solid body kick from Kukko.

Kukko has closed the distance and engaged Labra in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Labra.
Labra working hard to break the clinch.
Labra tries to stall but Kukko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Labra landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Kukko breaks the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kukko is stalling here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lasi Kukko dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kukko keeps the fight on the outside.
Kukko throws a big shot that misses.
Kukko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Labra is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Labra lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kukko's sensitive parts.
A lazy left from Kukko finds it's target.
Labra needs to keep his hands up - Kukko had a free shot at his head there.
Lasi Kukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Labra throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kukko throws a head kick but Labra moves out of range.
Labra gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kukko.
Jab from Kukko.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Labra. Kukko shrugs it off though.
Kukko is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kukko tries to bum rush Labra with a series of wild strikes but Labra uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kukko looks to score with a jab to the body but Labra is just out of range.
Labra throws a low kick but Kukko moves out of range easily.
Labra wants to slow Kukko down by chopping away at his legs.
Labra displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kukko throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Labra pinned against the cage. Labra gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Labra lands with a thumping leg kick.
Labra misses with a body kick.
Kukko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Labra throws a low kick, looking for Kukko's leg but Kukko calmly moves out of range.
Kukko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Labra throws a jab when Kukko was well out of range.
Kukko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Kukko misses the target.
Kukko has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Labra.
Labra uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kukko.
Labra wants to clinch up but Kukko keeps it at a distance.
Kukko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Labra moves out of range as Kukko strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko misses with a shot to the body

and Labra counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Knees in the clinch landing for Labra.
Kukko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Labra lands a hook that snaps the head of Kukko backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kukko is trying to pull guard but Labra turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lasi Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kukko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Labra crunches a lovely knee into Kukko's ribcage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kukko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Labra is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kukko is defending well for now.
Kukko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Labra fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kukko is looking to take this one to the mat.
Kukko takes a knee to the side of the body.
Labra lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Labra lands with a left to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Labra lands a shoulder strike.

Labra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kukko throws a right hand that misses

and Labra counters by moving into the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kukko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Labra's brow.

Labra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Labra.
Kukko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kukko goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Labra chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Labra gets a clinch.
Kukko jumps guard but Labra turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Labra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Labra moves forwards but Kukko connects with a nice, crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Labra slips a jab and a cross from Kukko.
Kukko stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Labra.
Labra tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kukko is able to avoid easily.
Lasi Kukko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Labra clinches up with Kukko and pushes him back against the cage.
Labra lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Labra tries to break the clinch but Kukko is controlling the position.
Labra is trying to break the clinch but Kukko is controlling him.
Labra blocks an uppercut.
Kukko tries to pull guard but Labra forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kukko wants a takedown.
Berting Labra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Labra tries to circle away but Kukko has him pinned against the cage.
Labra looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kukko jumps guard but Labra turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Labra tries to circle away but Kukko has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Berting Labra comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kukko 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lasi Kukko!