PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matti Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chuck The Russian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Russian has chosen Keep on as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kuusela
vs
The Russian

187 cm
21
190 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

188 cm
26
197 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

[MMABR] Philter Nutri {q144 for 10$}(NEW STOCK)

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matti Kuusela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Chuck The Russian!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Felipe Paraventi and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Russian tries a head kick but it misses.
Some bone on bone action there as The Russian checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A slow jab from Kuusela misses its intended target.
The Russian uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuusela.
The Russian stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and The Russian wants it to stay on the feet.
The Russian throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kuusela.
The Russian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The Russian takes one to the chin there.
The Russian takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
The Russian throws a head kick that misses.
The Russian misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The Russian lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kuusela throws a leg kick but The Russian sees it coming and moves out of range.

Kuusela closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kuusela wants to lay and pray for a moment but The Russian keeps working.
The Russian on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The Russian is trying to maintain the position but Kuusela is very close to passing his half guard.

Kuusela is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela is trying to control the action in half guard but The Russian is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kuusela missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The Russian is defending against the submission attempts here by Kuusela.
The Russian wants to improve his position but Kuusela is controlling well.
Kuusela stops The Russian from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The Russian blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kuusela.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from The Russian as Kuusela shoots in.
Kuusela misses with a leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Kuusela looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

The Russian is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kuusela defends well.
Kuusela looking to pass the guard.
Kuusela throwing strikes from guard but The Russian blocks nicely.
The Russian preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela with a flurry of punches that miss.
The Russian avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The Russian avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuusela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The Russian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuusela paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Russian throws a sloppy head kick and Kuusela moves out of range easily.
Kuusela throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The Russian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - The Russian looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The Russian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuusela paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kuusela stuns The Russian with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kuusela blocks a head kick by The Russian.
The Russian cracks the inside of Kuusela's front leg.
No luck for Kuusela with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four 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.
The Russian tries a head kick but it misses.
The Russian looks gassed!
A big right from The Russian misses.
The Russian throws a head kick that misses.
The Russian takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kuusela tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

The Russian moves into the clinch successfully.
The Russian missing with knees to the body.
Kuusela tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kuusela jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as The Russian walks away with a smile on his face. Kuusela gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kuusela does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
The Russian fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuusela dips to his left and cracks The Russian with an uppercut!
Kuusela throws a hook but The Russian blocks it.
The Russian throws a head kick that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The Russian looks to land a combination but Kuusela avoids it well.
Kuusela moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Kuusela shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. The Russian is trying to defend but Kuusela finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kuusela is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Kuusela dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The Russian takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The Russian slips a straight right by Kuusela.
Kuusela moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
The Russian throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuusela throws a lazy right hand but The Russian sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The Russian throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kuusela counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The Russian throws a hook but Kuusela avoids it easily.
Kuusela looks to score with a jab to the body but The Russian is just out of range.
Kuusela misses with a two punch combination.
Kuusela tests The Russian's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The Russian pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kuusela throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kuusela bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps The Russian's head backwards.
The Russian throws a head kick that misses.
The Russian is breathing heavily.
Kuusela chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kuusela lands a nice looking body shot.

Kuusela decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kuusela thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kuusela not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela is keen to just control but The Russian is a slippery customer.
Kuusela is stalling here. The Russian is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kuusela seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and The Russian has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kuusela can't do much from the bottom here.
Kuusela manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kuusela tries to roll over but The Russian keeps him under control.
Kuusela flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Kuusela is looking for a sweep. The Russian is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kuusela is working hard here to advance position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kuusela throws a big shot that misses.
The Russian slips under a jab from Kuusela.
The Russian is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kuusela misses with a two punch combination.
Kuusela shoots for a takedown but The Russian saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The Russian throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kuusela sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kuusela lands a nice looking body shot.
A head kick by The Russian misses
and Kuusela counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps The Russian thinking.
The Russian throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kuusela with a hook.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuusela.
Kuusela lands with an overhand left.
No joy there for Kuusela, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kuusela.
Kuusela throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuusela swings around for an armbar but The Russian sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kuusela's guard.

The Russian avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

The Russian decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Chuck The Russian is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuusela throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kuusela misses with a looping left.
The Russian throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuusela turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
The Russian misses with a body shot
and Kuusela counters with a good, hard body kick but The Russian shrugs it off.
The Russian misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The Russian throws a sloppy head kick
and The Russian takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela lands with a right hand.
A solid body kick from Kuusela.
Kuusela chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kuusela throws a nice inside leg kick.
The Russian takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kuusela throws a good cross that connects.
The Russian's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A jab from Kuusela does it's job there.
The Russian takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kuusela.
The Russian has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kuusela feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to The Russian's calf.
Kuusela fails to land the takedown.
Kuusela lands a nice looking body kick.
Kuusela feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to The Russian's calf.
The Russian keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The Russian closes the distance but Kuusela moves to the side
and Kuusela makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The Russian throws a push kick but Kuusela slaps the foot to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Kuusela dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Kuusela lands a glancing blow to the side of The Russian's head.

The Russian clinches up against the cage.
Kuusela has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. The Russian avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The Russian looking to slow down the pace here.
Kuusela tries to pull guard but The Russian won't allow it.
Kuusela tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The Russian tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
The Russian tries to land a knee to the head but Kuusela blocks with his arms.
The Russian tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuusela has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. The Russian avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The Russian tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kuusela avoids it.
The Russian dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The Russian prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kuusela can't break the clinch.

Kuusela pulls guard successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuusela looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuusela, not yet.

The Russian avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The Russian wanted to stand there but Kuusela had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The Russian stands and steps away. Kuusela gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Chuck The Russian is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuusela fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt The Russian.
Kuusela throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kuusela lands a head kick!
The Russian misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuusela digs a good hook to The Russian's body.
Kuusela scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. The Russian doesn't seem bothered though.
The Russian swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kuusela fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. The Russian looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kuusela jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kuusela lands a right hook to the body.
Kuusela changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kuusela punishes The Russian's body with a nice straight punch.
The Russian throws a jab but it's blocked by Kuusela.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela misses with a low kick.
Kuusela scores with a leg kick.

Kuusela throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. The Russian was covering up waiting for the punch and Kuusela finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kuusela in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuusela stands and throws The Russian's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kuusela trying to control the position but The Russian is working away.
Matti Kuusela is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kuusela has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kuusela just content to control the position.
Kuusela wants to lay and pray for a moment but The Russian keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kuusela remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The Russian pushes Kuusela away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kuusela gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Kuusela cracks The Russian with a big elbow.
Kuusela wants to control but The Russian is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kuusela is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt The Russian will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Kuusela throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Kuusela is looking to take a break and control but The Russian is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Chuck The Russian has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuusela staying calm.
Kuusela is looking to take a break and control but The Russian is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Kuusela showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kuusela, 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Kuusela!