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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aki Kulku (ranked 2847 p4p, 4669 weight class) and Bo Brands (ranked 337 p4p, 474 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 191 cm
28
195
9 - 1 - 0 |
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178 cm
26
196
6 - 7 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Very strong |
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Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank |
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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 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aki Kulku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bo Brands!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Skip Squint and John Mangel.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brands defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kulku.
Kulku shoots for a double leg takedown but Brands sprawls well. He's pushed Kulku's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kulku fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aki Kulku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kulku closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kulku working away.
Brands is trying to improve his position.
Brands is trying to work for a sweep but Kulku has mounted him!
Brands working to try and regain half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brands regains half guard.
Kulku throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Brands looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Brands trying to hold on to Kulku's head to control him but Kulku postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Brands tries to get to full guard but Kulku has control of the leg.
Brands trying to control from the bottom.
Brands is trying to stand up here but Kulku is controlling him well.
Brands tries to roll over but Kulku keeps him under control.
Kulku passes into side control, despite Brands's attempt to control the position.
Brands is trying to control Kulku's posture but Kulku avoids it.
Brands is looking for a sweep.
Brands wants to control but Kulku postures up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Brands might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kulku haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Brands is trying to work for a sweep but Kulku has mounted him!
Brands manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Brands is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Brands trying to control here.
Brands actively working from the bottom here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brands wants to improve his position but Kulku is controlling well.
Brands looking for submissions off his back.
Brands is trying to get back to full guard.
Brands trying to hold on to Kulku's head to control him but Kulku postures up.
Brands is trying to get back to full guard.
Brands is trying to stand back up but Kulku is controlling him
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kulku closes the distance and clinches up with Brands, looking for a takedown. Kulku pushes Brands against the cage but Brands circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Brands changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kulku fails to land the takedown.
Kulku shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Brands regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kulku has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Brands looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brands is trying to control the position but Kulku postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Aki Kulku dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.
Kulku gets a takedown into half guard.
Brands tries to get to full guard but Kulku has control of the leg.
Brands works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kulku is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Brands can do to turn this around?
Brands looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kulku tries to free his leg and advance position but Brands is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brands working for submissions but it's allowed Kulku to get to half guard.
Brands wants to get back to full guard.
Brands is trying to maintain the position but Kulku is very close to passing his half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Brands manages to get to full guard.
Brands looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Brands pulls Kulku in to control the position.
Brands keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Brands looking to control.
Brands is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kulku defends well.
Brands trying to control the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Brands escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kulku gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Brands trying to control the position.
Brands has his foot on Kulku's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kulku works his way back into a safe position though.
Brands has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Kulku with that takedown attempt.
Brands feints the counter takedown.
Kulku looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Brands slaps away a takedown attempt from Kulku, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Brands is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulku fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aki Kulku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kulku feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Brands looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Brands working for submissions but it's allowed Kulku to get to half guard.
Brands gets back to full guard.
Brands had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kulku defends it easily.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brands looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kulku postures up.
Brands throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kulku postures up.
Kulku throwing strikes from guard but Brands blocks nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brands throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kulku uses it to pass to side control.
Brands defending against the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
Aki Kulku dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Kulku darts in looking for a takedown but Brands gets double underhooks and turns Kulku into the cage.
Brands pulls Kulku into guard.
Kulku got a little sloppy there for a moment and Brands has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kulku has managed to get both his arms back between Brands's legs - danger averted.
Brands is trying to control the position but Kulku postures up.
Brands is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Brands is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brands looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kulku wants to pass the guard but Brands is keeping the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Brands has an active guard here but Kulku has managed to pass into half guard.
Brands is holding on to half guard well.
Brands has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kulku is working away from the top position though.
Kulku thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brands's head.
Brands moves into full guard.
Brands is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kulku is aware though and is defending well.
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.
Brands trying to keep a closed guard but Kulku is proving a slippery customer.
Brands is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Brands looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Brands takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Brands throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kulku uses it to pass to side control.
Brands is trying to improve his position.
Brands is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brands is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kulku off and has taken his back!
Brands wants to control but Kulku manages to buck him off and is now in Brands's guard! Nice work there by Kulku!
Brands working for a triangle but Kulku defends it easily.
Brands is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kulku defends well.
Kulku throws a big elbow that misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brands working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kulku has passed into half guard!
Brands is trying to get back to full guard.
Brands trying to control here.
Brands is looking for a sweep. Kulku is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kulku will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Brands is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kulku pulls his head out easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brands slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bo Brands has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brands has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kulku 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 Brands.
And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Aki Kulku.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kulku, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aki Kulku!
A relieved looking Aki Kulku thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated Bo Brands had this to say: 'I will Train Harder and Be Back Better.'.
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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
26% |
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