PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Martens (ranked 1451 p4p, 1784 weight class) and Kaino Ukkonen (ranked 171 p4p, 202 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Martens might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The XX - Intro. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Martens
vs
Ukkonen

183 cm
25
169
9 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
165
5 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
KO power

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alex Martens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaino Ukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ukkonen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Martens manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Ukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Martens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ukkonen content to stall in guard here.
Ukkonen wants to pass the guard but Martens is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ukkonen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ukkonen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ukkonen prevents Martens from getting back to his feet.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Martens on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Martens tries to get out of the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Martens connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ukkonen blocks a low kick nicely.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Ukkonen has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Danga de danga de dang - Ukkonen scores with a four punch combination!
Martens throws a head kick that Ukkonen semi-blocks.
We've been hearing reports that Martens has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Ukkonen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Martens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ukkonen.
Martens went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Martens fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ukkonen.
Ukkonen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Martens looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ukkonen misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Martens's waist but Martens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ukkonen off to one side.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ukkonen misses with a body punch
enabling Martens to counter with a crisp jab.
Ukkonen misses with a looping left.
Martens half committed to a counter leg kick.
Ukkonen misses with a wild body shot.
As Ukkonen backs away, Martens returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

Martens closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Ukkonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Martens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Martens with a nice calf kick.
Martens lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Martens misses with a head kick.
Ukkonen feints the counter takedown.
Ukkonen misses with a wild body shot.
Ukkonen misses with a straight left.
Martens throws a big counter combination but Ukkonen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Ukkonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Martens.
Ukkonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Martens was well out of range. Poor timing from Ukkonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Martens looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ukkonen lands with a nice body punch.
Ukkonen scores with a shot to the body.
Martens blocks a jab.

Martens gets caught napping as Ukkonen dives in and scores a takedown. Martens manages to retain guard.
Martens keeping full guard, as Ukkonen tries to pass.
Ukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Martens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ukkonen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ukkonen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Martens's head.
Ukkonen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Martens uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Ukkonen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ukkonen just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ukkonen. Martens does a little dance to reset his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Martens.
Nice uppercut there from Ukkonen.
Ukkonen misses with a jab to the body
and Martens counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Alex Martens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Martens slips under a jab from Ukkonen.

Ukkonen throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Martens was covering up waiting for the punch and Ukkonen finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ukkonen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kaino Ukkonen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ukkonen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kaino Ukkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ukkonen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Martens to the ground. Ukkonen is now in Martens's guard.

Martens scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Martens throws a leg kick which misses Ukkonen's front leg but catches the back leg as Ukkonen tries to avoid it.
Ukkonen connects with a body shot that sends Martens's belly button to the back.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ukkonen misses with a body shot
and Martens makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Martens slips under a jab from Ukkonen.
Nice cross by Ukkonen.
Ukkonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Martens uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ukkonen.
A nice inside leg kick there by Martens. That's going to slow Ukkonen down.
Ukkonen throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Martens on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ukkonen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Martens makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Alex Martens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martens moves out of range of the strikes.
Martens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ukkonen.
Martens tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ukkonen digs a good hook to Martens's body.
Martens attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ukkonen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ukkonen throws a big shot that misses.
Ukkonen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Martens.
Martens lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Martens.
Martens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ukkonen.
Ukkonen fails to land with a series of punches.
Martens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ukkonen.
Martens takes a shot right to the bread basket.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ukkonen throws a hook to the side of Martens's head but Martens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ukkonen defending well as Martens loads up on a big left hand.
Ukkonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Martens manages to avoid it.
Martens throwing a counter right hand but Ukkonen manages to avoid it.
Martens thumps Ukkonen with a low kick.

Ukkonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Martens is looking to stand back up but Ukkonen counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Martens.

Ukkonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kaino Ukkonen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ukkonen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ukkonen throwing shots but Martens is blocking nicely.

Ukkonen in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Martens tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Ukkonen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kaino Ukkonen!
An out of breath Kaino Ukkonen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.