PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rokki Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bam Margera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Margera has chosen Clutch - The Regulator as his entrance music. Rokki Kukko had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kukko
vs
Margera

176 cm
36
171 lbs
26 - 24 - 3

180 cm
40
160 lbs
36 - 27 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 24 - 3, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rokki Kukko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 27 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bam Margera!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukko lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Margera backs up against the cage.

It looks like Bam Margera has been cut.

Kukko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Margera manages to get back to half guard.
Margera keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Margera's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Margera trying to control from the bottom.
Margera holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kukko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Margera trying to control but Kukko postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kukko is trying to work for a kimura but Margera is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margera is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kukko's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kukko's back!
Margera trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Margera not allowing Kukko to control his hands.
Margera scores with punches from the back.
Margera throwing sloppy strikes.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Margera controlling the positon.
Kukko staying busy and making it hard for Margera to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Margera.
I really don't envy Kukko right now.
Kukko trying to control the action but Margera just sinks the hooks in.
Margera controlling the position well here. Kukko rolled but Margera kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Margera looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Margera struggling to keep hold of the position.
Kukko tries to escape the position.
Kukko is trying to get back to his feet but Margera has full control of the position and if anything, Kukko has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Margera struggling to land strikes to the head as Kukko covers up.
Margera misses with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Margera struggling to land strikes to the head as Kukko covers up.
Margera lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Margera missing with strikes.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Margera has good solid back control here.
Margera cracks Kukko with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Kukko from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Margera doesn't have the hooks in and Kukko manages to turn into his guard.
Kukko being controlled here momentarily.
Kukko's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Margera pulls Kukko in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Margera wants to hit a switch here but Kukko passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Margera there!
Margera gets back to half guard.
Margera is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Margera wants to control but Kukko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Kukko there.
Kukko is taking a breather. Margera says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kukko is pressing down on Margera's thigh, looking to free his foot. Margera is holding on for now.
Kukko is keen to just control but Margera is a slippery customer.
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 cut man is working on Bam Margera's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Margera throws a head kick that misses.
Kukko takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bam Margera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kukko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Margera avoids the elbow strike from Kukko, against the cage.
Kukko wants to take the fight to the mat but Margera manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Kukko tightens his grip and picks Margera up, before dumping him to the ground. Margera manages to land in guard.
Margera seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Margera trying to keep a closed guard but Kukko is proving a slippery customer.
Margera looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
More stalling from Margera.
Margera looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margera is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Margera is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kukko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Margera.
Kukko jabs Margera right on the nose. Margera blinks but takes it well.
Margera throws a body kick that misses
and Kukko counters with a nice uppercut.
Margera misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kukko.

Kukko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kukko lands a nice short elbow.
Margera is controlling Kukko's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Margera is looking to control Kukko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Margera avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Margera keeps working.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kukko connects with a nice short shot to Margera's temple.
Margera controlling the position for now.
Margera trying to control here.
Margera manages to get to full guard.
Margera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kukko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Margera can do to turn this around?
Kukko postures up.
Margera has Kukko pulled in close to control his posture.
Kukko sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Margera looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Margera 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.
Kukko sitting in guard here, content to control.
Margera is trying to keep Kukko in close.
Kukko controlling from the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Margera misses with a leg kick.
Kukko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kukko defending well as Margera loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Margera throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kukko scores with a punch to the head.
Margera swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kukko counters with a left and a right that stings Margera.
Kukko lands a jab.
Margera walks straight into a right hand from Kukko - that's dropped him! Kukko jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Margera from any more punishment! Margera complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Rokki Kukko!
Rokki Kukko spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.