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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rokki Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Renninger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.
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| 176 cm
31
171 lbs
23 - 14 - 2 |
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184 cm
36
182 lbs
30 - 17 - 2 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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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
23 - 14 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rokki Kukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
30 - 17 - 2, fighting out of New York, Richard Renninger!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and Sam Margolis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Renninger's coach down at Hell's Balls NY Hellcademy was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Renninger's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Kukko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Renninger throws out a leg kick but Kukko moves out of range and Renninger only half commits.
Renninger scores with a decent looking hook.
Renninger bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Renninger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kukko.
Renninger connects with an inside leg kick.
Renninger throws a jab but it's blocked by Kukko.
Renninger lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kukko lands the left hand.
Kukko is looking to slow Renninger down with leg kicks.
Renninger forces Kukko back against the cage and clinches.
Renninger misses with a short punch on the inside.
Renninger gets underhooks to prevent Kukko's takedown attempt.
Renninger misses with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Renninger tries to land a knee to the head but Kukko blocks with his arms.
Renninger missing with knees to the body.
Renninger misses with a hook from the clinch.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko tries to score a body lock takedown but Renninger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kukko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short left from Kukko.
A frustrated look appears on Renninger's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kukko has picked Renninger up - he's going for a ride! Kukko dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Renninger is not content to let Kukko control the position.
Renninger trying to control but Kukko postures up.
Kukko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Renninger does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kukko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kukko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kukko is trying to control. Renninger wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Renninger is looking to control Kukko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Renninger avoid being mounted?
Renninger blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kukko.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Renninger gets back to full guard.
Renninger is trying to keep Kukko in close.
Kukko throws an elbow that misses. Renninger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kukko's guard. Nice move by Renninger!
Kukko trying to keep a closed guard but Renninger is proving a slippery customer.
Kukko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kukko controlling the position.
Kukko trying to control the position.
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!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renninger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kukko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Renninger trying to control the position from guard on top but Kukko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kukko is pulling down on Renninger's head to control his posture.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kukko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Renninger with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Renninger connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kukko's face.
Kukko is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Renninger can't fight it off and eventually Kukko manages to take the fight to the floor. Renninger looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Renninger pulls Kukko in close to prevent any damage.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko won't allow Renninger to sweep him here.
Renninger is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kukko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Renninger looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Renninger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Renninger keeps moving.
Kukko throwing strikes from guard but Renninger blocks nicely.
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 Rokki Kukko will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Renninger misses with a right hand
and Renninger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kukko throws a right hand that Renninger ducks under and follows up with a left that Renninger also avoids with ease.
Renninger swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kukko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Renninger is able to avoid easily.
Kukko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Renninger defends it nicely.
Renninger tries to counter with a clinch but Kukko shakes him off and moves away.
Kukko swings widly with a right hand
and Renninger counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kukko shoots in for a double leg but Renninger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kukko misses with a double jab.
Kukko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Renninger. Renninger obviously looking to wear him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sloppy strikes from Kukko. Those never looked like landing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kukko.
Renninger tries a quick counter leg kick but Kukko is wise to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rokki Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kukko throws a leg kick that misses.
Renninger misses with the body kick
and Kukko counters with a single leg into guard. Renninger didn't expect that.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Renninger has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kukko won't allow Renninger to sweep him here.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Renninger keeps moving.
Renninger bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kukko's guard.
Renninger is stalling in the full guard.
Kukko trying to keep a closed guard but Renninger is proving a slippery customer.
Renninger looking to pass the guard.
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 has control of Renninger's left arm, preventing Renninger from doing any damage.
Renninger won't allow Kukko to sweep him here.
Kukko seems keen to control Renninger's posture.
Renninger working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Renninger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kukko controls Renninger momentarily but Renninger frees himself.
Renninger works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Renninger sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Renninger missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renninger performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kukko is trying to maintain the position but Renninger is very close to passing his half guard.
Kukko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kukko looking for a sweep. Not yet Kukko, not yet.
Kukko wants to control the position but Renninger says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Kukko trying to control here.
That's four 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 is trying to stand up here but Renninger is controlling him well.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kukko looks to score with a jab to the body but Renninger is just out of range.
Renninger fails to land with a series of punches.
Renninger pushes Kukko away with a front kick.
Kukko shoots for a double leg takedown but Renninger sprawls well. He's pushed Kukko's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Renninger chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Renninger fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kukko throws a hook but Renninger avoids it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kukko connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kukko darts in looking for a takedown but Renninger gets double underhooks and turns Kukko into the cage.
Kukko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Renninger counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Richard Renninger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Kukko misses with a low kick.
Nice sprawl there from Renninger as Kukko shoots in.
Kukko throws a poor cross that misses
and Renninger moves into the clinch.
Kukko has Renninger pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Renninger manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kukko tries to pull guard but Renninger won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rokki Kukko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Renninger throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kukkos head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Renninger.
Kukko is trying to pull guard but Renninger has him pressed against the cage.
Kukko can't find room to land a body shot as Renninger controls the action.
Renninger with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
It looks like Rokki Kukko has been cut.
Renninger lands with a left to the head.
Renninger lands a right hand.
Renninger breaks from the clinch.
Kukko avoids a kick to the body.
Renninger has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kukko has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Renninger after a bit of a struggle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Renninger scores with a nice hook to the head.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Renninger pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Renninger buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kukko avoids the head kick by Renninger.
Kukko dives in for a single leg takedown but Renninger sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Renninger looks to score with a jab to the body but Kukko is just out of range.
Renninger misses with a low kick.
Renninger lands with a slapping head kick.
Kukko scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Renninger doesn't seem bothered though.
A solid leg kick lands there for Renninger.
Kukko fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Renninger to the ground. Kukko is now in Renninger's guard.
Kukko stands up over Renninger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Renninger avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Renninger is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rokki Kukko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Renninger working for a triangle but Kukko defends it easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Renninger is keeping the position for now.
Kukko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Renninger's head.
Renninger looking for a sweep. Not yet Renninger, not yet.
Kukko postures up.
Kukko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kukko throws a strike but Renninger rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Renninger's guard.
Kukko forces his way into half guard.
Kukko is keen to just control but Renninger is a slippery customer.
Kukko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kukko with the ground and pound but Renninger uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Kukko being controlled here momentarily.
Renninger looking to control.
Kukko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko lands a couple of digs.
Renninger has control of Kukko's left arm, preventing Kukko from doing any damage.
Kukko works over Renninger with some ground and pound from guard.
Kukko trying to control but Renninger is working from the bottom.
Renninger has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kukko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kukko wants to control from the top but Renninger keeps moving.
Renninger seems keen to control Kukko's posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kukko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Renninger comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Renninger has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Renninger!
Richard Renninger thanked the fans post fight for their support.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
42% |
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