PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lamar Dominguez (ranked 5321 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aimo Kankkunen (ranked 23971 p4p, 0 weight class). Aimo Kankkunen will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Dominguez
vs
Kankkunen

154 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 1

185 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Lamar Dominguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aimo Kankkunen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kankkunen.
Dominguez is looking for a counter combo.
Dominguez fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kankkunen rushes Dominguez and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kankkunen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dominguez has him pressed against the cage.
Kankkunen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dominguez tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kankkunen avoids it.
Dominguez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Kankkunen breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dominguez moves into range and clinches up with Kankkunen.
Kankkunen blocks an elbow strike.
Kankkunen blocks an elbow strike.
Kankkunen blocks an elbow strike from Dominguez.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez trying to land knees to the body.
Kankkunen is stalling here.
Kankkunen can't get the takedown.
Lamar Dominguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aimo Kankkunen.
Dominguez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Dominguez tries to pull guard but Kankkunen won't allow it.
Dominguez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dominguez tries to land knees in the clinch but Kankkunen avoids the damage to the body.
Dominguez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dominguez tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Dominguez just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kankkunen's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dominguez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A body shot lands from Dominguez.
Dominguez tries a body shot but Kankkunen blocks it.
Dominguez could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Dominguez tries to land knees in the clinch but Kankkunen avoids the damage to the body.
Kankkunen dodges an elbow strike from Dominguez.
Dominguez missing with knees to the body.
Dominguez throws an elbow that misses.
Dominguez misses with a punch to the body.
Dominguez tries to land knees in the clinch but Kankkunen avoids the damage to the body.
Dominguez is trying to push Kankkunen away but Kankkunen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dominguez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Still in the clinch, Kankkunen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dominguez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kankkunen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kankkunen has Dominguez pressed against the cage, preventing Dominguez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dominguez tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Dominguez has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kankkunen uses from the top position.
Kankkunen wants to stand but Dominguez is controlling his posture from full guard.
Dominguez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Dominguez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Dominguez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dominguez is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen wants to control from the top but Dominguez keeps moving.
Dominguez trying to keep a closed guard but Kankkunen is proving a slippery customer.
Dominguez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Dominguez is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Kankkunen presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Kankkunen is pushing Dominguez up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kankkunen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dominguez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kankkunen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lamar Dominguez dominated that round.
That's time! Dominguez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kankkunen dives in for a single leg takedown but Dominguez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Dominguez is looking for a counter combo.
Dominguez darts in looking for a takedown but Kankkunen gets double underhooks and turns Dominguez into the cage.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dominguez checks a leg kick.
Lamar Dominguez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dominguez shoots in but no luck this time.

Dominguez gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kankkunen on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kankkunen tries to improve position but can't.
Kankkunen dodges the ground and pound from Dominguez.

Dominguez decides to stand back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kankkunen throws a combination. Dominguez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Lamar Dominguez has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dominguez dives in and grabs Kankkunen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kankkunen pushes down on Dominguez's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lamar Dominguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kankkunen swings for the body but Dominguez moves out of range.
Dominguez tries for a takedown but Kankkunen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kankkunen moves in looking to clinch but Dominguez pushes him off.
Dominguez tries for a takedown but Kankkunen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kankkunen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Dominguez is out of range.
Kankkunen tries to clinch there but Dominguez circles away.
Kankkunen tests Dominguez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A clash of legs there as Dominguez blocks the low kick.
Kankkunen misses with a wild combination.
Kankkunen is looking to clinch but Dominguez is avoiding it.
Kankkunen misses with a series of wild punches.
Dominguez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Dominguez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kankkunen is fending him off so far but Dominguez persists. Nope, Kankkunen circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dominguez circles away quickly and effectively.

Dominguez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Kankkunen wriggles free and stands up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dominguez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kankkunen but Kankkunen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
No joy there for Kankkunen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Kankkunen shoots in and bounces Dominguez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kankkunen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Dominguez looking for a guillotine here but Kankkunen defends easily.
Kankkunen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kankkunen looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dominguez has an active guard here but Kankkunen has managed to pass into half guard.
Dominguez trying to control but Kankkunen postures up.
Lamar Dominguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dominguez pushes Kankkunen off looking to stand but Kankkunen dives back in and keeps control.

Dominguez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kankkunen pulls his head out easily.
Kankkunen trying to control the pace.
Kankkunen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kankkunen trying to control the action but Dominguez is working from the bottom.
Dominguez wants to get back to his feet.

Kankkunen stands up and beckons Dominguez to join him on the feet.
Kankkunen throws a series of strikes that have Dominguez backpedaling.
Dominguez dodges the punch combination from Kankkunen.
Kankkunen throws a nice looking combination but Dominguez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Dominguez gets a clinch.
Dominguez jumps guard but Kankkunen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Dominguez changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kankkunen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aimo Kankkunen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lamar Dominguez's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kankkunen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dominguez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dominguez appears to be looking for a big counter.
Dominguez fails with the takedown.
Aimo Kankkunen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kankkunen shoots in and drives through. Dominguez sprawls well.
Kankkunen is looking to clinch.
Dominguez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kankkunen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dominguez is looking for a counter combo.
Kankkunen tries to bum rush Dominguez with a series of wild strikes but Dominguez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kankkunen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kankkunen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kankkunen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Dominguez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Kankkunen throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kankkunen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dominguez avoids it really well and circles away.

Dominguez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kankkunen tries to break the clinch but Dominguez is controlling the position.
Dominguez can't find room to land a body shot as Kankkunen controls the action.
Kankkunen jumps guard but Dominguez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Lamar Dominguez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aimo Kankkunen.
Dominguez blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kankkunen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kankkunen tries to clinch but Dominguez is having none of it.

Dominguez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Dominguez 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.
Dominguez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kankkunen defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dominguez is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kankkunen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kankkunen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dominguez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kankkunen wants to improve his position but Dominguez is controlling well.

Dominguez is working for a kimura but Kankkunen is defending it quite comfortably.

Dominguez is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Dominguez trying to work for an americana but Kankkunen has managed to regain full guard.
Kankkunen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dominguez.
Dominguez prevents Kankkunen from getting back to his feet.
Dominguez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dominguez throwing strikes but missing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kankkunen darts in trying to clinch
and Dominguez counters with a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Aimo Kankkunen.
I think Kankkunen 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aimo Kankkunen!