PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Peter Zezel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anssi Kukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Zezel
vs
Kukkonen

180 cm
27
192 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

188 cm
27
195 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Peter Zezel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anssi Kukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kukkonen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Zezel.
Zezel keeps Kukkonen at a distance using the push kick.
Kukkonen misses with a straight right.
Anssi Kukkonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kukkonen misses with an uppercut.
Kukkonen scores with a jab.

It looks like Peter Zezel has been cut.
Zezel slips a jab from Kukkonen.

Zezel has managed to clinch.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Kukkonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zezel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kukkonen avoids it.
Zezel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kukkonen is defending well for now.
Kukkonen wants to break free but Zezel has control.
Kukkonen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kukkonen can't break the clinch.
Zezel missing with knees to the body.
Kukkonen wants to break free but Zezel has control.
Kukkonen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Kukkonen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kukkonen is trying to force a seperation but Zezel has the dominant position.
Kukkonen managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Kukkonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zezel lands a good knee to the midsection. Kukkonen won't want to take too many of those.
Zezel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kukkonen is defending well for now.
Zezel stalling the fight.
Kukkonen tries to break the clinch but Zezel is controlling the position.
Zezel scores a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Kukkonen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Knees to the body from Zezel.
Zezel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kukkonen's face.
Kukkonen tries to break free but Zezel pushes him back against the cage.
Kukkonen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zezel has him pressed against the cage.
Zezel just leaning against Kukkonen, taking a breather.
Kukkonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zezel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kukkonen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zezel prevents Kukkonen from breaking the clinch.
Kukkonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kukkonen managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Zezel missing with knees to the body.
Zezel keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kukkonen's efforts to push away.
Kukkonen managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.

Kukkonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kukkonen takes a swing at Zezel's ribcage but misses.
Zezel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Zezel has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kukkonen tries to break the clinch but Zezel is controlling the position.
Zezel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zezel slowing the pace effectively.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Peter Zezel.
Zezel throws the kick towards the body but Kukkonen avoids it.
Kukkonen misses with a double jab.
Zezel lands a leg kick that knocks Kukkonen off balance momentarily.
Zezel tests Kukkonen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Good exchange - Kukkonen coming out on top.
Kukkonen misses the shot to the body.
Kukkonen swats away the attempt to clinch by Zezel.
Kukkonen fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Zezel is out of range.
A combination from Kukkonen does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Zezel.

Zezel gets a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kukkonen's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kukkonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kukkonen lands a two punch combo.
Zezel fakes the leg kick and cracks Kukkonen in the body.
Kukkonen looks gassed!
Kukkonen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Zezel moves in looking to clinch but Kukkonen pushes him off.
A combination from Kukkonen does no damage.
Zezel is looking to clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Kukkonen there.
Zezel throws a head kick that half lands.
Zezel moves out of range of the strikes.
Kukkonen cracks a nice hook into Zezel's ribs.
Kukkonen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zezel moves into the clinch.
Zezel is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kukkonen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukkonen managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Zezel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kukkonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees to the body from Zezel.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Zezel obliges.
Zezel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Kukkonen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kukkonen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zezel stalling in the clinch.
Zezel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kukkonen.

Kukkonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kukkonen throws a shot from downtown. Zezel moves away and avoids it.
That kick from Zezel tenderised Kukkonen's leg. Kukkonen is trying to keep his angry face on.
Zezel is looking to slow Kukkonen down with leg kicks.

Zezel darts in and clinches Kukkonen up against the cage.
Kukkonen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Kukkonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zezel connects with a nice looking jab.

Zezel closes the distance and clinches.
Zezel tries a knee to the head but Kukkonen blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Kukkonen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kukkonen avoiding damage as Zezel throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zezel forces Kukkonen back against the cage and clinches.
Zezel stalling in the clinch but Kukkonen improves position.
Zezel stalling the fight.
Zezel looking to throw knees to the head but Kukkonen is blocking nicely.
Zezel missing with knees to the body.
Zezel scores a nice knee to the body.
Kukkonen avoiding damage as Zezel throws knees to the body.
Zezel missing with knees to the body.
Kukkonen wants to get back to striking at distance but Zezel won't allow it.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Zezel prevents Kukkonen from breaking the clinch.

Kukkonen breaks from the clinch.

Zezel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zezel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kukkonen.
Zezel landing knees to the head.
Kukkonen wants to break free but Zezel has control.
Kukkonen managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Zezel lands a good knee to the midsection. Kukkonen won't want to take too many of those.

Kukkonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kukkonen throws a leg kick
and Zezel counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kukkonen is breathing heavily.
Kukkonen misses with a hook to the body
and Zezel counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Peter Zezel is winning the standup battle so far.
Kukkonen misses with a combination
and Zezel counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zezel moves out of range as Kukkonen strikes.
Kukkonen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zezel fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Zezel throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kukkonen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zezel moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fighters circling - Kukkonen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zezel tries to clinch but Kukkonen moves out of range.
Anssi Kukkonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kukkonen throws a right and a left that Zezel avoids nicely.

Zezel moves into the clinch.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kukkonen as Zezel tries to tie him up.
Kukkonen looking to stall.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kukkonen tries to break free but Zezel pushes him back against the cage.

Kukkonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kukkonen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Kukkonen.
Zezel scoring well with a low kick there.
Zezel takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kukkonen avoids the head kick by Zezel.
Some wild striking there from Kukkonen.
Kukkonen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zezel. Zezel obviously looking to wear him down.
Zezel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kukkonen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kukkonen lands with a hook. Zezel tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Zezel scoring well with a low kick there.
Kukkonen misses with a leg kick.
Zezel has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zezel there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kukkonen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zezel steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kukkonen.
Kukkonen misses with a body punch
and Zezel counters with a body kick.
Zezel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zezel takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zezel fails in his attempt to clinch.
Zezel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kukkonen loads up on a big right hand but Zezel slips the punch.
Kukkonen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kukkonen throws a shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Zezel.
Zezel defending well as Kukkonen loads up on a big left hand.
Kukkonen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zezel chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A good leg kick by Zezel.
Zezel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big right from Kukkonen misses.
Zezel tries a head kick but it misses.
Zezel throws a nice inside leg kick.
Zezel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zezel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zezel tries to close the distance and clinch but Kukkonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zezel closes the distance and clinches.
Kukkonen working hard to break the clinch.
Zezel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kukkonen is defending well for now.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Zezel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kukkonen avoiding damage as Zezel throws knees to the body.
Kukkonen managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Zezel missing with knees to the body.
Zezel looking to slow down the pace here.
Kukkonen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zezel tries to land knees in the clinch but Kukkonen avoids the damage to the body.
Zezel tries to land knees in the clinch but Kukkonen avoids the damage to the body.
Kukkonen managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Kukkonen avoiding damage as Zezel throws knees to the body.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Zezel trying to stall but Kukkonen improves his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kukkonen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zezel missing with knees to the body.
Kukkonen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Zezel tries to land a knee to the head but Kukkonen blocks with his arms.
A body shot lands from Kukkonen.
Kukkonen is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Peter Zezel dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Peter Zezel's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kukkonen throws a looping overhand right but Zezel ducks down to avoid it.

Zezel drives through and clinches with Kukkonen against the cage.
Kukkonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kukkonen working hard to break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Zezel.
Kukkonen can't break the clinch.
Zezel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kukkonen.
Kukkonen tries to break the clinch but Zezel is controlling the position.
Zezel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kukkonen.
Kukkonen managing to block the knees to the body from Zezel.
Kukkonen tries to circle away but Zezel has him pinned against the cage.
Peter Zezel has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Zezel landing knees to the body.
Zezel trying to land knees to the body.
Zezel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kukkonen.
Kukkonen tries to circle away but Zezel has him pinned against the cage.
Kukkonen avoiding damage as Zezel throws knees to the body.
Zezel missing with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kukkonen is trying to break the clinch but Zezel has him pressed against the cage.
Kukkonen is trying to force a seperation but Zezel has the dominant position.
Zezel scores with a knee to the head.
Zezel stalls.

Kukkonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukkonen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kukkonen checks a low kick from Zezel.
Zezel throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Zezel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zezel scoring well with a low kick there.
Zezel looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Zezel moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zezel tries to close the distance and clinch but Kukkonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zezel throws out a leg kick but Kukkonen moves out of range and Zezel only half commits.
Kukkonen jabs at Zezel's body.
Kukkonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zezel fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kukkonen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zezel's head backwards.
Kukkonen fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kukkonen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Zezel at a distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Zezel.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Kukkonen misses
and Zezel counters with an outside leg kick.
Kukkonen misses with an uppercut.
Zezel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zezel slips under a jab from Kukkonen.
Zezel displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kukkonen throws out the jab.
Kukkonen throws a nice looking combination but Zezel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kukkonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Zezel is just out of range.
Kukkonen misses with a hook.
Kukkonen misses with a straight right.
Zezel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kukkonen misses with a hook. Zezel ducked under it nicely.
Zezel tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kukkonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zezel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kukkonen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kukkonen throws a right and a left that Zezel avoids nicely.

Kukkonen gets tackled into the cage by Zezel. Zezel maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kukkonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kukkonen throws a leg kick that is checked

and Zezel holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zezel slowing the pace effectively.
Kukkonen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Zezel tries to land a knee to the head but Kukkonen blocks with his arms.

Kukkonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zezel throws a sloppy head kick and Kukkonen moves out of range easily.
Zezel buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Zezel lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kukkonen checks the leg kick.
Zezel uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kukkonen.
Zezel throws a low kick, looking for Kukkonen's leg but Kukkonen calmly moves out of range.
Kukkonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zezel moves away.
Zezel connects with a leg kick. Kukkonen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Zezel tries a head kick but it misses.
Kukkonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zezel manages to avoid it.
Zezel tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kukkonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kukkonen. Zezel does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zezel fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kukkonen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Zezel keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kukkonen checks a low kick from Zezel.
Kukkonen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kukkonen lands a nice shot that snaps Zezel's head back.
Kukkonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zezel tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kukkonen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Anssi Kukkonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kukkonen misses with a straight right.
Kukkonen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kukkonen scores with a jab to the head.
Zezel tries to clinch but Kukkonen moves out of range.
Zezel looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zezel throws a leg kick that misses.
Kukkonen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A low kick from Kukkonen misses
and Zezel counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Peter Zezel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kukkonen throws a hook to the side of Zezel's head but Zezel sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kukkonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zezel manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Peter Zezel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Zezel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Zezel!