PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Riddick Wannick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Kuorma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wannick comes to the cage accompanied by Green Day - Basket Case. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Wannick
vs
Kuorma

195 cm
21
273 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

193 cm
23
275 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Global MMA Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Riddick Wannick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Max Kuorma!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuorma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wannick was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuorma.

Kuorma shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Well, if Kuorma 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.
Kuorma is looking to pass Wannick's guard but actually Wannick recovers to full guard.

Kuorma postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Wannick is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kuorma, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuorma wants to stand up but Wannick is controlling him.
Wannick is stalling in the full guard.
Wannick trying to control but Kuorma is working from the bottom.

Kuorma is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wannick defends well.

Kuorma is working an open guard so Wannick takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kuorma avoids the head kick by Wannick.
Kuorma throws a series of punches but Wannick moves out of range.
Wannick scores with a shot to the body.
Kuorma lands a nice hook to Wannick's body. Wannick takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuorma throws a nice looking combination but Wannick bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wannick tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wannick tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kuorma fails with a takedown attempt.
Kuorma looks gassed!
Wannick throws a sloppy head kick and Kuorma moves out of range easily.
Wannick throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Wannick has managed to clinch.
Kuorma works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Wannick breaks from the clinch.
Kuorma throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wannick throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kuorma's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuorma throws a hook to the side of Wannick's head but Wannick sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kuorma blocks a head kick by Wannick.

Kuorma moves into range and clinches up with Wannick.
Kuorma wants a takedown but no success here.
Kuorma blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Kuorma breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuorma shoots for a double leg takedown but Wannick sprawls well. He's pushed Kuorma's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Riddick Wannick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Kuorma.
Wannick defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kuorma.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wannick rushes Kuorma and presses him up against the cage.
Kuorma wants to get back to striking at distance but Wannick won't allow it.
Kuorma is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kuorma drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wannick is working Kuorma over against the cage.
Wannick working Kuorma over with knees to the body.
Wannick is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Wannick.
Wannick crunches a lovely knee into Kuorma's ribcage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Wannick.
Wannick using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kuorma has Wannick pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Wannick manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wannick cracks Kuorma with a nice body shot.
Kuorma has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wannick is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Wannick tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kuorma avoids it.

Kuorma lands a takedown into guard.
Kuorma must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kuorma forces his way into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuorma thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuorma is stalling here. Wannick is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kuorma seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Wannick has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Kuorma throws Wannick to one side and escapes!
Wannick takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kuorma pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wannick lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A head kick misses from Wannick.
Riddick Wannick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wannick misses with a body shot

and Kuorma counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuorma throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kuorma missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kuorma closes the distance and clinches.
Wannick misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kuorma.
Wannick tries to land knees in the clinch but Kuorma avoids the damage to the body.
Wannick tries to land knees in the clinch but Kuorma avoids the damage to the body.
Wannick tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kuorma avoids it.
A right handed body shot lands from Kuorma.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kuorma.
Wannick utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Kuorma escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wannick pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kuorma shoots in looking for a takedown. Wannick tries to sprawl out of it but Kuorma keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wannick manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wannick ducks right into an uppercut from Kuorma.

Kuorma has managed to clinch.

Kuorma has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Wannick regains guard immediately.
Wannick preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wannick working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuorma.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuorma trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuorma throwing strikes but missing.
Kuorma advances position into side control!
Kuorma misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Wannick is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kuorma asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kuorma wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wannick keeps working.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Wannick misses with a head kick.
Kuorma tries to land a front kick but Wannick steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A telegraphed right hand from Kuorma misses the target.
Wannick looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Riddick Wannick has been cut.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kuorma.
Kuorma prevents Wannick from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wannick taking a bit of punishment here - Kuorma scoring with strikes.
Kuorma lands some shots froms side control.

Wannick sneaks out the side door and pushes Kuorma away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Wannick throws a sloppy head kick and Kuorma moves out of range easily.
Kuorma shoots in for a takedown but Wannick shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kuorma closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wannick circles away.
Riddick Wannick has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Kuorma.
Kuorma fails with a takedown attempt.
Wannick closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kuorma counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wannick won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuorma throws a strike aimed at the side of Wannick's head but Wannick avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuorma misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Wannick is trying to buck Kuorma off.
Kuorma takes a little break here. Wannick wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Wannick dodges the ground and pound from Kuorma.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Kuorma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Riddick Wannick's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuorma bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Wannick's head.
Wannick throws a sloppy head kick and Kuorma moves out of range easily.
Kuorma throws a half hearted mid kick.
Wannick tries a head kick but it misses.
Kuorma digs a good body shot into Wannick's ribs.

Kuorma gets a clinch.
Kuorma drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Come on Kuorma - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Kuorma has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Wannick regains guard immediately.
Kuorma with a nice head shot there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuorma trying to control but Wannick is working from the bottom.
Wannick avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuorma with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kuorma chips away with some ground and pound.
Kuorma is looking to advance position but Wannick has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Kuorma is squirming around, avoiding Wannick's attempts to control the action.
Kuorma really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

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.
Wannick can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuorma is looking to escape.
Wannick avoids the attempt from Kuorma to control.
Wannick tries to control but Kuorma wriggling away.
Wannick controlling from mount.
Wannick trying to control but Kuorma is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuorma regains half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kuorma can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kuorma is trying to stand.
Wannick trying to control the pace.
Kuorma tries to kick Wannick off but Wannick keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Wannick prevents Kuorma from improving his position.
Wannick is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wannick is looking to take a break and control but Kuorma is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuorma is positioning himself well to prevent Wannick advancing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kuorma is trying to control but can't.
Wannick is trying to control. Kuorma wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wannick pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kuorma scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Kuorma lands with a nice combination. Wannick backs away looking to recover.

Riddick Wannick's cut is getting worse.
Kuorma misses with a kick to the body.
Kuorma just misses with a punch to the body.
Wannick misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Kuorma drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wannick working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuorma.
Kuorma wants to pass the guard but Wannick is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Kuorma comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuorma 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Kuorma!