PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mitsu Misawa (ranked 2535 p4p, 3000 weight class) and Justin Kulina (ranked 326 p4p, 374 weight class). Kulina has chosen Tool - Schism as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Misawa
vs
Kulina

182 cm
23
174
4 - 4 - 0

184 cm
27
171
10 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mitsu Misawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Justin Kulina!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Misawa throws a body shot but no joy.

Misawa drives through and clinches with Kulina against the cage.
Misawa tries to throw a body punch but Kulina avoids it by throwing Misawa back against the cage.
Kulina tries to pull guard but Misawa forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kulina prevents a body shot from Misawa.
Misawa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Misawa misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Misawa fails to land.
Misawa throws a head punch that misses.
Misawa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kulina slows down the pace here.
Kulina avoids the elbow strike from Misawa, against the cage.
I was talking to Misawa's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Misawa is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Misawa pushes off an throws an elbow but Kulina leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kulina misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Misawa.
Misawa has a couple of punches blocked by Kulina.
Kulina has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Misawa is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Mitsu Misawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Kulina.
With the fighters up against the cage, Misawa throws an elbow but misses.
Misawa stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misawa throws a head punch that misses.
Misawa swings wildly with an uppercut but Kulina uses good head movement to avoid it.

Kulina decides to pull guard.
Misawa's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kulina pulls Misawa in close to his closed guard and prevents Misawa from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kulina 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.
Misawa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Misawa stays in close to Kulina's body and controls the position.

Kulina looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kulina is wriggling around but Misawa manages to pass to half guard.
Still in half guard, Misawa seems content to control.
Kulina works his way to full guard. Good work.
Misawa stays in close to Kulina's body and controls the position.
Kulina is pulling down on Misawa's head. It's preventing any offense from Misawa, at least for the moment.

Kulina pushes Misawa off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misawa looks to throw the jab but Kulina is out of range.
Misawa takes a swing at Kulina's ribcage but misses.
And Kulina tries to counter it with a takedown but Misawa pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A telegraphed right hand from Misawa misses the target.
Misawa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kulina.
Kulina shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Misawa as he jumps to the side.
Kulina takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Misawa gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kulina missing with knees to the body.
Kulina blocks an elbow strike from Misawa.
Misawa struggles to land a body shot inside as Kulina controls his hands.
Misawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kulina jumps guard but Misawa turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
With the fighters up against the cage, Misawa throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Misawa slows down the pace here.
Misawa working aggressively here.
Misawa stalling in the clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Still in the clinch, Misawa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Misawa lands an elbow inside that Kulina shrugs off.
Misawa is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Kulina escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kulina closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kulina closes the distance and pushes Misawa back into the cage.
Kulina has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Misawa avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kulina prevents a body shot from Misawa.
Misawa cracks Kulina with a nice body shot.
Misawa wants to stall.
Misawa displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kulina up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Misawa scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Misawa walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Misawa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kulina can do to turn this around?

Kulina moves into range and clinches up with Misawa.
Kulina taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Misawa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kulina just leaning against Misawa, taking a breather.
Kulina is trying to maintain a safe position but Misawa gets an underhook and turns Kulina into the cage.
Kulina wants a takedown.
Misawa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Misawa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Misawa scores with a hook to the body.
A short left from Misawa.
Kulina scores with a shot to the side of Misawa's head.
Kulina takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Justin Kulina has been cut.
Misawa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Come on Misawa - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kulina scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Misawa creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kulina taking a breather.
Misawa prevents the takedown attempt.
Misawa is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kulina drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mitsu Misawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Kulina.
Kulina lands with a right to the head.
Kulina is leaning against Misawa and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kulina goes for a takedown attempt but Misawa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kulina.
Misawa swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kulina counters with a three punch combo that has Misawa backing up. Misawa nods at Kulina to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misawa throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kulina looks for a takedown but Misawa sprawls well.
Misawa throws out a loose jab but Kulina uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kulina dives in for a single leg takedown but Misawa sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kulina throws a right and a left that Misawa avoids nicely.
Misawa looks to throw the jab but Kulina is out of range.
Mitsu Misawa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Misawa clinches up with Kulina and pushes him back against the cage.
Misawa lands a nice elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Misawa is pushing Kulina up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kulina has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Misawa after a bit of a struggle.
Kulina tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kulina tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Misawa avoids it.
Misawa trying to control the position but instead, Kulina has worked for underhooks and has pushed Misawa into the cage.
Misawa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Misawa manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kulina is trying to break the clinch but Misawa has him pressed against the cage.
Misawa pressing his opponent against the cage.
Misawa pushes off an throws an elbow but Kulina leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Kulina jumps guard.
Kulina 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.
Kulina is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kulina 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kulina has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Misawa 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 Kulina.
Kulina is looking for a sweep.
Kulina is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Misawa is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Kulina is squirming around, avoiding Misawa's attempts to control the action.
Kulina tries to reverse the position but Misawa maintains control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mitsu Misawa dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justin Kulina's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kulina has a takedown stuffed.
Kulina takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kulina tries to land a front kick but Misawa steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Justin Kulina is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Misawa clinches with his opponent.
Misawa is trying to stall.
Misawa lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kulina can't get the takedown.
Kulina jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Misawa walks away with a smile on his face. Kulina gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mitsu Misawa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Kulina.
Kulina avoids the body shot from Misawa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Misawa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Misawa backing away here, and Kulina unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Kulina looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Misawa is fending him off so far but Kulina persists. Nope, Misawa circles away and we're back to standing.
Misawa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Misawa clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Misawa.
Kulina blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Misawa looking to stall.
Misawa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Misawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Misawa blocks the elbow strike.
Kulina tries to pull guard but Misawa holds him up against the cage and eventually Kulina drops back down to his feet.
Kulina blocks an elbow strike.
Misawa scores with a shoulder strike.
A nice left hand lands by Misawa.
Misawa tries to stall but Kulina uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kulina makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kulina is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Misawa to keep the fight standing.
Misawa stalling the fight.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Misawa as Kulina tries to tie him up.
Misawa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Misawa lands a damaging elbow.
Misawa doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kulina lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Misawa gets through Kulina's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Misawa as Kulina tries to tie him up.
Kulina tries to land knees in the clinch but Misawa avoids the damage to the body.
Kulina tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Misawa smiles and moves away.

Misawa has closed the distance and engaged Kulina in a clinch.
Mitsu Misawa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kulina.
Misawa lands with a short shot to the head.

Kulina breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mitsu Misawa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Nice sprawl there from Misawa as Kulina shoots in.
Kulina throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Justin Kulina has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulina tries a head kick but it misses.
Misawa ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Kulina will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kulina takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Misawa misses with a looping left.
Misawa throws a hook but Kulina blocks it.
Kulina unleashes a big counter combination but Misawa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Kulina looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Misawa is fending him off so far but Kulina persists. Nope, Misawa circles away and we're back to standing.
Misawa scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kulina in his tracks.
Misawa misses with a straight left.
Misawa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kulina looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kulina keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Misawa is looking to clinch.
Kulina takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Kulina has Misawa up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kulina fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Misawa scores with a nice hook to the head.
Misawa is pressed up against the cage. Kulina has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Misawa down to the mat. Misawa avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Misawa doesn't manage to clinch there - Kulina circles away.
Misawa throws a shot to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters circling - Kulina throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Misawa digs a good body shot into Kulina's ribs.

Kulina closes the distance and pushes Misawa back into the cage.
Misawa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kulina's efforts to push away.
Kulina is trying to pull guard but Misawa turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitsu Misawa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Misawa, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitsu Misawa!