PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arsi Kuja (ranked 4722 p4p, 3881 weight class) and Calvin Vann (ranked 476 p4p, 415 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kuja
vs
Vann

150 cm
19
188
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
185
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arsi Kuja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Calvin Vann!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuja swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vann takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kuja slaps away a takedown attempt from Vann, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A low kick from Vann misses
and Kuja counters with a nice uppercut.
Vann looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kuja looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Vann closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Vann is looking to take a break and control but Kuja is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuja manages to get back to half guard.
Vann thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vann wants to control but Kuja is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuja pushes Vann off but Vann dives into side control.
Kuja might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Vann sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kuja is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Vann looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kuja is avoiding damage well.
Vann lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kuja down.
Vann wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuja keeps working.
Kuja is holding Vann down, trying to stall.
Vann throws an elbow but Kuja slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kuja tries to improve position but can't.
Vann advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vann throwing strikes but Kuja uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vann is trying to work for a kimura but Kuja is defending well.
Vann throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vann looks to land a strike but Kuja avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Kuja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuja pulls Vann in close to his closed guard and prevents Vann from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vann trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vann with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vann throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kuja works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vann trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vann in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuja avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuja utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vann wants to control from the top but Kuja keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A shot to the liver by Kuja. Beautiful body shot.
Arsi Kuja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vann throws a head kick but Kuja moves out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuja.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kuja turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Vann shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vann is looking to advance position but Kuja won't allow it.
Vann is trying to control the action in half guard but Kuja is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kuja gets full guard.
Vann looking to sit in guard and control but Kuja gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuja is looking to stand up but Vann won't let him.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vann is looking for a triangle but Kuja pushes his legs off easily.

Kuja got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vann has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kuja has managed to get both his arms back between Vann's legs - danger averted.

Vann is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Arsi Kuja will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

An inside leg kick lands from Kuja.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kuja enables Vann to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kuja manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Vann postures up in Kuja's guard and throws a big left but Kuja blocks it.
Kuja keeping moving, preventing Vann from controlling successfully.
Kuja looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuja, not yet.
Kuja working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vann.
Calvin Vann has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vann throws an elbow that misses. Kuja uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vann's guard. Nice move by Kuja!

Vann is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kuja won't allow Vann to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vann has a closed guard, preventing Kuja from standing up.
Kuja looking to pass the guard.

Vann looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kuja wanted to stand there but Vann had control of the position.

Vann looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kuja wants to stand but Vann is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Kuja is stalling in the full guard.
Kuja wants to get up but he can't break Vann's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vann misses with a looping left.
Kuja throws a quick inside leg kick.
Vann dives in for a single leg takedown but Kuja sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Vann tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kuja defends well and Vann ends up having to push Kuja into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Vann misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuja getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vann misses with a left hand
and Kuja cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Calvin Vann seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vann is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuja lands with a straight right. Vann didn't see that one coming.
Kuja dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Vann misses with a takedown attempt
and Kuja makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Arsi Kuja has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Calvin Vann.
Kuja cracks Vann with an open hand slap.
Kuja is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kuja connects with a solid leg kick.
Kuja connects with a nice looking jab.
Kuja scores with a sloppy right hand. Vann should have avoided that one.

Vann is rocked!
Kuja fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Vann is still on wobbly legs! Can Kuja finish him?
Kuja fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Vann.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good leg kick by Kuja.
Kuja walks forward and throws a big overhand right! Vann drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes! Kuja swarms on him with more punches until the referee wrestles him away from Vann's unconscious body! Wow, that was brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Arsi Kuja!
Arsi Kuja thanked the fans post fight for their support.