PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aapo Jukola (ranked 2157 p4p, 275 weight class) and Robert Harper (ranked 833 p4p, 126 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.

Jukola
vs
Harper

200 cm
21
218 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
210 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

UnderGround Supplements

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Aapo Jukola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Robert Harper!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jukola wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Good standup being displayed there by Jukola as he connects with a hook.
Harper throws a lazy uppercut
and Jukola counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Jukola has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Jukola there as he acknowledges the shot.
Harper throws a right hand that misses
and Jukola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Robert Harper has been cut.
Jukola stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jukola wants it to stay on the feet.
Harper throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jukola connects with a right hand. Harper shakes it off.
Jukola connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A jab from Jukola finds it's way through Harper's defenses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Harper throws a hook but Jukola avoids it easily.
Jukola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Harper throws a poor cross that misses
and Jukola makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Harper really felt that one!
Jukola displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Harper throws out the jab.
Harper has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jukola.
Harper takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Harper is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Harper shoots for a double leg takedown but Jukola sprawls well. He's pushed Harper's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jukola throws a nice inside leg kick.

Harper drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Harper drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Harper jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola wants to stand and escape but Harper is having none of it.

Harper drops back, looking for a kneebar! Jukola looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Jukola looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Jukola!

Harper manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jukola in particular looking to stall.
Harper tries to get to full guard but Jukola has control of the leg.

Harper looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harper is looking to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Jukola in particular looking to stall.
Harper moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harper throws his legs up looking for a submission but Jukola uses it to pass to side control.
Jukola works to advance to full mount. Harper defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Jukola controlling his opponent.
Harper is desperately trying to improve his position but Jukola has a good base and remains in mount.
Jukola looking to control and managing it successfully.
Harper has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Harper is squirming around, avoiding Jukola's attempts to control the action.
Harper is trying desperately to improve position.
Jukola looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper regains half guard.
Harper wants to get back to full guard.
Harper is pressing down on Jukola's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Harper wants to sweep here but Jukola controlling him for the moment.
Jukola trying to control but Harper is working from the bottom.

Harper working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Jukola has passed into half guard!
Jukola is keen to just control but Harper is a slippery customer.
Harper wants to get back to full guard.

Harper looking for submissions off his back.
Jukola not doing much here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Harper manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Harper has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Jukola is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Harper.
Harper manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Jukola sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Jukola is keen to just control but Harper is a slippery customer.
Jukola looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Harper works his way to full guard. Good work.
Harper looking for a sweep. Not yet Harper, not yet.
Harper lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aapo Jukola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Robert Harper's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Jukola feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Harpers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jukola jabs Harper right on the nose. Harper blinks but takes it well.
Harper catches Jukola with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Harper misses with a lunging right hand
and Harper takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Harper swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've been told by Jukola's head coaches at ~T~ Troid - Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Jukola leaves Harper with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jukola lands a really nice looking cross but Harper seems unphased.
Jukola thuds a left hand into Harper's body.
Jukola swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Harper gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jukola counters with a low kick, right behind Harper 's knee.
Harper takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jukola steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Harper.
Jukola lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Harper takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Harper might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jukola moves out of range as Harper strikes.
Jukola drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Harper walks forward, straight into a front kick from Jukola.
Aapo Jukola is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Harper is breathing heavily.
Harper shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jukola as he avoids it easily.
Jukola throws a big counter combination but Harper scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Aapo Jukola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert Harper.
Jukola just misses with a punch to the body.
Jukola moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Harper closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jukola circles away.
Jukola dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jukola scores with a kick to the body.

Jukola closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Jukola is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Harper can do to turn this around?
Jukola lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Jukola stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Jukola lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jukola works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Harper is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jukola to keep the fight standing.
Jukola scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Jukola lands a hook that snaps the head of Harper backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jukola pushes Harper back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short body shot lands from Jukola as the two fighters clinch.
Jukola lands a hook that snaps the head of Harper backwards.
Jukola digs a right hand underneath Harper's ribcage. Harper let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Jukola lands a hook to the side of the head.

Harper is rocked!
A body shot lands from Jukola.
Harper is still on wobbly legs! Can Jukola finish him?
A short left from Jukola.
Jukola is working Harper over against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Jukola.
Nice elbow from Jukola.
Jukola digs a right hand into Harper's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Harper's gas tank.
Jukola lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That has opened up Robert Harper's cut even more.
Clinched against the cage, Jukola lands a big elbow that drops Harper! The ref dives in to save him from more shots - Harper is complaining that he's OK but he was done.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aapo Jukola!