PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Murphy MacManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lasi Kukko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

MacManus
vs
Kukko

181 cm
28
193 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

185 cm
27
194 lbs
12 - 4 - 2

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Murphy MacManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 2, fighting out of London, Lasi Kukko!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Colin Fotheringham and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacManus throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
MacManus misses with a jab to the body

and Kukko counters with a shoot takedown. MacManus fights it but they end up in guard.
Kukko tries to free his leg and advance position but MacManus is retaining full guard.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but MacManus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kukko tries to free his leg and advance position but MacManus is retaining full guard.
Kukko controlling from the top position.
MacManus keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lasi Kukko was stalling too much, according to the referee.
MacManus misses with a double jab
and Kukko counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kukko misses with a jab, cross combination.
MacManus changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
MacManus misses with a jab to the body

and Kukko counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacManus gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kukko not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko wants to lay and pray for a moment but MacManus keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
MacManus wants to control but Kukko is keeping busy.

Kukko is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kukko wants to take a breather but MacManus is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Kukko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Lasi Kukko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
MacManus misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kukko.
MacManus lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Lasi Kukko has been cut.
Kukko ducks under a wild hook from MacManus.
Kukko misses with a takedown
and MacManus counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kukko misses with a telegraphed body shot
and MacManus counters with a stiff right hand.
A right-left combo lands from MacManus.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacManus throws a combination that misses
letting Kukko counter with a right hand.
MacManus takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
MacManus throws a lazy uppercut

so Kukko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but MacManus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kukko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. MacManus swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lasi Kukko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lasi Kukko's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kukko dives in and grabs MacManus's left leg, looking for a takedown. MacManus pushes down on Kukko's head and hops out.
MacManus is looking to wear down Kukko with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kukko looks to land a combination but MacManus avoids it well.
Kukko throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kukko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and MacManus counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
MacManus throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kukko counters with a good, hard body kick but MacManus shrugs it off.
MacManus misses with an uppercut
and Kukko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
MacManus misses the jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kukko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
MacManus wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kukko misses with a low kick.
Kukko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but MacManus avoids it really well and circles away.
MacManus misses with a hook to the body

and Kukko counters with a shoot takedown. MacManus fights it but they end up in guard.
Kukko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kukko trying to control the position from guard on top but MacManus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kukko stands and throws MacManus's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kukko content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
MacManus is not content to let Kukko control the position.
MacManus prevents Kukko from improving position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on MacManus's face as Kukko controls the position.
Kukko tries to move to mount but MacManus blocks the move with his legs.
Kukko controlling the position from side mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Lasi Kukko was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kukko throws a combination that misses
and MacManus counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Kukko. Beautiful body shot.
MacManus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kukko.
Kukko lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

MacManus closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
MacManus missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
MacManus tries to pass to full mount but Kukko defends it.
Lasi Kukko has got the better of the ground game so far.
MacManus is looking to pass Kukko's guard but actually Kukko recovers to full guard.
MacManus postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kukko working a defensive guard here.
MacManus trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lasi Kukko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Lasi Kukko's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

MacManus misses the body punch

and Kukko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kukko trying to control the action but MacManus is working from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Kukko seems content to control.
MacManus is trying to maintain the position but Kukko is very close to passing his half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Lasi Kukko wasn't active enough on the ground.
MacManus lands with a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Kukko.
MacManus looks to throw the jab but Kukko is out of range.
Kukko jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kukko throws a series of punches but MacManus avoids them all with ease.
Lasi Kukko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
MacManus lands with a right hand.
Kukko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and MacManus counters with a nice uppercut.
Murphy MacManus is winning the standup battle so far.
A looping hook to the body misses from MacManus. Kukko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kukko misses with a jab to the body
and MacManus counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kukko thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacManus misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kukko counters with a good low kick that MacManus was not able to check.
Kukko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by MacManus.
MacManus throws a low kick but Kukko moves out of range easily.
MacManus is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kukko.
Kukko throws a left and a right that both miss
and MacManus counters with a stiff right hand.

That has opened up Lasi Kukko's cut even more.
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacManus moves out of range as Kukko strikes.
Kukko misses with a hook to the body
and MacManus counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
MacManus throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kukko counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Kukko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming MacManus to the mat! MacManus manages to get full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kukko slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
MacManus is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
MacManus keeping moving, preventing Kukko from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
MacManus keeping full guard, as Kukko tries to pass.
Lasi Kukko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now MacManus is on top in guard.
MacManus won't allow Kukko to sweep him here.
MacManus is looking to work some ground and pound but Kukko has wrist control.
MacManus advances to half guard.
MacManus is just content to waste time from the top position. Kukko takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Kukko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kukko is controlling MacManus's posture.
MacManus slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murphy MacManus showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kukko 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lasi Kukko!