PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Armas Kuusisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stan Macnturf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Kuusisto
vs
Macnturf

179 cm
24
192 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
196 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Armas Kuusisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stan Macnturf!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuusisto throws a solid leg kick but Macnturf takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Kuusisto.
Macnturf moves in looking to clinch but Kuusisto pushes him off.
Kuusisto has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kuusisto there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kuusisto looks to score with a jab to the body but Macnturf is just out of range.
Kuusisto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Macnturf closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Armas Kuusisto has been cut.

Macnturf gets caught flat footed, as Kuusisto shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Macnturf had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kuusisto defends it easily.
Kuusisto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Kuusisto looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Macnturf tries to buck Kuusisto off but Kuusisto is having none of it.

Kuusisto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Macnturf, who protects the arm well.
Macnturf is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusisto misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Macnturf is looking to regain half guard here but Kuusisto keeps moving and retains side control.
Macnturf is trying to control Kuusisto's posture but Kuusisto avoids it.
Macnturf tries to bench press Kuusisto off him but Kuusisto keeps the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Macnturf throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Macnturf chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kuusisto can pounce on him.
A head kick from Kuusisto lands but Macnturf takes it in his stride.
Kuusisto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A left lands for Macnturf.
Kuusisto thumps Macnturf with a low kick.
Macnturf looks gassed!
Kuusisto misses with a hook.
Kuusisto looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Macnturf is fending him off so far but Kuusisto persists. Nope, Macnturf circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusisto moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Macnturf throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Armas Kuusisto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Macnturf throws a nice looking combination but Kuusisto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kuusisto moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Stan Macnturf is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuusisto throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Macnturf counters with a two punch combo.
Kuusisto pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kuusisto shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Macnturf napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kuusisto tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kuusisto has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Macnturf dodges the ground and pound from Kuusisto.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Macnturf is looking for a sweep.
Kuusisto landing a few strikes.
Kuusisto trying to control the position but Macnturf is working away.
Macnturf tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Macnturf bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Kuusisto takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Macnturf is looking to clinch but Kuusisto is avoiding it.
Macnturf scores with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Macnturf. Kuusisto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kuusisto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kuusisto throws a push kick but Macnturf slaps the foot to one side.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kuusisto.
Macnturf moves out of range of the body kick.
Kuusisto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Macnturf.
Kuusisto shoots in but Macnturf avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Macnturf tries to clinch but Kuusisto is having none of it.
Macnturf avoids the body shot from Kuusisto.
Macnturf throws a jab but it's blocked by Kuusisto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Macnturf throws a body punch but Kuusisto moves out of range.
Kuusisto throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Macnturf to counter with a crisp jab.
Kuusisto dodges the punch combination from Macnturf.
Macnturf moves out of range of the body kick.
Macnturf misses with a series of wild punches.

Kuusisto looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kuusisto works his foot free and advances to mount.

Kuusisto goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Macnturf is on top in guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuusisto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armas Kuusisto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Armas Kuusisto's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kuusisto listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kuusisto throws a sloppy head kick and Macnturf moves out of range easily.
Macnturf avoids the head kick by Kuusisto.
Kuusisto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Macnturf checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kuusisto avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kuusisto thumps Macnturf with a low kick.
Kuusisto slips a jab and a cross from Macnturf.
Kuusisto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Macnturf swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kuusisto counters with a big head kick but Macnturf shrugs it off.

It looks like Stan Macnturf has been cut.
Kuusisto shoots in and drives through. Macnturf sprawls well.
Macnturf cracks a nice hook into Kuusisto's ribs.
A shot to de liver by Macnturf. Beautiful body shot.
An inside leg kick lands from Kuusisto.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kuusisto attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Macnturf takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Macnturf is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Macnturf scores with a punch to the head.
Macnturf checks a leg kick.
Macnturf lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macnturf takes a swing at Kuusisto's ribcage but misses.
Kuusisto looks to land a right hand but Macnturf moved out of range.
Kuusisto misses the body punch
and Macnturf counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Macnturf steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Kuusisto. That one must have hurt.
Kuusisto buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Kuusisto has Macnturf up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuusisto taking a breather.
Kuusisto using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Macnturf has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuusisto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kuusisto effectively controlling the action here.
Kuusisto swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kuusisto keeps control of Macnturf as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Macnturf lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Kuusisto manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Macnturf preventing the sweep.
Macnturf throws and elbow that misses. Kuusisto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Macnturf's guard. Nice move by Kuusisto!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Macnturf had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kuusisto defends it easily.
Kuusisto advances position into side control!

Kuusisto is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Macnturf is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Macnturf is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Kuusisto is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Kuusisto trying to control but Macnturf is having none of it.
Macnturf is looking to improve his position but Kuusisto isn't that keen on the idea.
Macnturf is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto wants to control the pace but Macnturf is squirming around nicely.
Macnturf wants to control but Kuusisto is having none of it.
Kuusisto fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Kuusisto controlling from mount.
Macnturf regains half guard.
Kuusisto trying to control from half guard but Macnturf is working away.
Kuusisto stops Macnturf from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto is thwarting Macnturf's attempts to control the position.

Macnturf is defending against the submission attempts here by Kuusisto.
Macnturf won't allow Kuusisto to pass to mount.
Macnturf wants to get back to his feet.

Macnturf is defending against the submission attempts here by Kuusisto.

Macnturf looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A big right from Macnturf misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armas Kuusisto dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Kuusisto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Macnturf blocks the body kick.

Kuusisto closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Macnturf did well to prevent Kuusisto getting side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Macnturf is trying to maintain the position but Kuusisto is very close to passing his half guard.
Kuusisto is looking to stall here but Macnturf recovers full guard.

Macnturf has his feet on Kuusisto's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kuusisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Macnturf.
Kuusisto slips a straight right by Macnturf.
Macnturf misses with a wild body shot.
Macnturf stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuusisto. Kuusisto gets slowly back to his feet.
Kuusisto circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Kuusisto to counter with a crisp jab.
Kuusisto shoots in looking for a takedown. Macnturf tries to sprawl out of it but Kuusisto keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Macnturf manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Macnturf misses with a wild combination.
Macnturf ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Kuusisto drops his hands momentarily and Macnturf takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Macnturf scores with a nice strike.
Armas Kuusisto is winning the standup battle so far.
Macnturf is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kuusisto thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Macnturf if he has to take too many more of those.
Armas Kuusisto is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Macnturf misses with a series of wild punches.
Macnturf takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Kuusisto. Macnturf shrugs it off though.
Kuusisto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Macnturf is looking to clinch.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kuusisto. That's going to slow Macnturf down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Macnturf counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armas Kuusisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuusisto misses with the combination.
Macnturf misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kuusisto with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kuusisto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuusisto throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Macnturf moves out of range as Kuusisto throws a body kick.
Macnturf fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuusisto tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Macnturf paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kuusisto takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kuusisto looks for a takedown but Macnturf sprawls well.
Kuusisto misses with a double jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Macnturf tries to break the clinch but Kuusisto is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuusisto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kuusisto clinches.
Kuusisto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kuusisto goes for a takedown attempt but Macnturf pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Macnturf misses with a series of wild punches.
Macnturf scores with a hook to the body. Kuusisto takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Macnturf lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kuusisto fails with the takedown.
Stan Macnturf has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Horrible takedown by Kuusisto or perhaps it was just good defense by Macnturf which made him look bad.
Some wild striking there from Macnturf.
Macnturf stuns Kuusisto with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Macnturf's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A left lands for Macnturf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Macnturf lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kuusisto at a distance.
Macnturf looks to land a combination. Kuusisto sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Macnturf connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Macnturf has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Kuusisto rushes Macnturf and presses him up against the cage.
Armas Kuusisto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A left hand lands to the body for Macnturf.
Macnturf can't find room to land a body shot as Kuusisto controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Macnturf fails to land.
Macnturf misses with the head strike.
Macnturf has Kuusisto pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kuusisto manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Macnturf wants a takedown but no success here.

Kuusisto pulls Macnturf into guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuusisto pulls Macnturf in close to his closed guard and prevents Macnturf from doing any damage or advancing position.
Macnturf throws and elbow that misses. Kuusisto uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Macnturf's guard. Nice move by Kuusisto!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Armas Kuusisto.
Well Kuusisto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armas Kuusisto!