PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matti Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nintendo Takada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Takada

187 cm
22
190 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

185 cm
26
193 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Hell's Balls Recovery
Hell's Balls Recovery

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 7 - 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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nintendo Takada!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuusela connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Takada's hands.
Kuusela takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kuusela misses with an uppercut. Takada saw that one coming.
Kuusela throws the left hand but Takada avoids the punch easily.
Takada ducks under a wild hook from Kuusela.
Takada bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kuusela takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kuusela throws a looping overhand right but Takada ducks down to avoid it.
Takada misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takada swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Matti Kuusela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuusela scores with a hook to the body. Takada takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Takada waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kuusela.
Takada scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kuusela takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Takada misses with a double jab.
Kuusela jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kuusela ducks under a wild hook from Takada.
Kuusela misses with a double jab
and Kuusela takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Takada throws a lazy right hand but Kuusela sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fighters circling - Takada throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kuusela looks to score with a jab to the body but Takada is just out of range.
Takada pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela jabs Takada right on the nose. Takada blinks but takes it well.
Kuusela lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kuusela throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Nice body punch from Kuusela.
Takada throws a sloppy head kick and Kuusela moves out of range easily.
Takada takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Takada. Kuusela does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kuusela loads up on a big right hand but Takada slips the punch.
Kuusela slips under a jab from Takada.
A head kick misses from Takada.
Takada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kuusela throws a lazy right hand but Takada sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kuusela walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Takada checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Good exchange - Takada coming out on top.
Takada lands an overhand right.
Kuusela lands with an overhand left.
Takada loads up on a big right hand but Kuusela slips the punch.
Takada swinging wildly here.
Takada takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kuusela digs a good body shot into Takada's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Takada misses with a straight right.
A head kick misses from Kuusela.
Takada lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Takada tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kuusela swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Takada counters with a straight right hand.
Takada thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kuusela scores with a decent looking hook.
Kuusela punishes Takada's body with a nice straight punch.
Takada might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Takada scores with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Takada looks to throw the jab but Kuusela is out of range.
Kuusela misses with a leg kick
and Takada counters with a left and a right that stings Kuusela.

It looks like Matti Kuusela has been cut.
Takada misses with a straight left.
Takada throws a shot from downtown. Kuusela moves away and avoids it.
Takada fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kuusela looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A telegraphed right hand from Takada misses the target.
A shot to the body from Takada misses
and Kuusela counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kuusela pivots, looking for a leg kick but Takada is out of range and Kuusela settles back down.
Kuusela waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Takada.
Kuusela on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Takada.
Nice defenses there by Takada.
A jab from Takada misses.
Takada uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuusela.
Kuusela tried to score with a low kick but Takada checks it.
Takada checks a low kick from Kuusela.
Kuusela slips a jab and a cross from Takada.
Takada tries a head kick but it misses.
A combination from Kuusela does no damage.
Takada thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kuusela lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kuusela is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Kuusela swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Kuusela looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Takada pulls Kuusela in close to prevent any damage.
Kuusela stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Takada swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Takada avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuusela trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 passes Takada's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kuusela sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Takada defending well though.
Kuusela works his foot free and advances to mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takada tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nintendo Takada dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matti Kuusela's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kuusela throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Takada was covering up waiting for the punch and Kuusela finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kuusela trying to control the position from guard on top but Takada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuusela in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Takada is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kuusela lands a couple of elbows.
Takada preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuusela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Kuusela drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Takada dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takada stands and steps away. Kuusela gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kuusela misses with a looping right.
Kuusela takes one on the button.
Nintendo Takada seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Takada misses with a hook.
Kuusela throws a big shot that misses.
Kuusela moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kuusela sizes up Takada with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kuusela throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Takada's head.
Takada moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Takada throws a right hand that Kuusela ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuusela also avoids with ease.
Takada moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Takada fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuusela manages to avoid it.
Takada swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Takada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kuusela.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela throws a series of punches but Takada avoids them all with ease.
Takada fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Takada throws a jab but it's blocked by Kuusela.
The fighters circling - Takada throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kuusela throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kuusela takes a kick to the side of the head.
Good leg kick by Kuusela there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A jab from Takada does it's job there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuusela changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kuusela misses the shot to the body.
Kuusela lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Takada swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kuusela connects with a looping right hand.
Takada lands a glancing blow to the side of Kuusela's head.
Kuusela jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Takada throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kuusela counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Takada thows a body shot but no joy.
Kuusela throws a hook to the side of Takada's head but Takada sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kuusela swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Takada moves forwards but Kuusela connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Takada moves out of range of the strikes.
Takada scores with a hook.
Kuusela keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Takada.
Takada just misses with a punch to the body.
Nintendo Takada is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Takada ducks under a wild hook from Kuusela.
Takada takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Takada blocks a jab.
Kuusela digs a good body shot into Takada's ribs.
Kuusela misses with a hook. Takada ducked under it nicely.
Takada keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kuusela keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kuusela on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kuusela lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Takada throws a predictable looking body shot

and Kuusela counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Takada wants to stand and escape but Kuusela is having none of it.
Kuusela postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela trying to control but Takada is working from the bottom.
Kuusela with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kuusela trying to control but Takada is working from the bottom.
Kuusela postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kuusela trying to control but Takada is working from the bottom.
Takada wants to stand and escape but Kuusela is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nintendo Takada will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Matti Kuusela's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice shot by Kuusela.
Takada throws a right and a left that Kuusela avoids nicely.
Kuusela misses with a straight left.
Kuusela swings for the body but Takada moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Kuusela.
Kuusela dives in and grabs Takada's left leg, looking for a takedown. Takada pushes down on Kuusela's head and hops out.
Takada just misses with a punch to the body.
Takada lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kuusela circles away quickly and effectively.
Takada tries a head kick but it misses.
Takada looks to land a right hand but Kuusela moved out of range.
Takada throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Takada misses with a straight left.
Kuusela just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuusela misses with a low kick.
Kuusela with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kuusela throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kuusela ducks under a wild hook from Takada.
Takada with a nice cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela cracks Takada with an open hand slap.
Takada works Kuusela's body with a nice hook.

Kuusela scores a takedown into full mount!
Kuusela looking to control but Takada is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kuusela scoring with strikes but Takada is staying in there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Takada is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Takada wants to control but Kuusela is having none of it.
Takada is working to get back to half guard.
Takada is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Matti Kuusela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Takada taking shots to the head.
Kuusela throwing strikes here but Takada is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kuusela with the ground and pound from mount.
Kuusela misses with a head shot.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuusela throwing strikes but Takada recovers to half guard. A much better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takada is trying to maintain the position but Kuusela is very close to passing his half guard.
Kuusela is just content to waste time from the top position. Takada takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kuusela distracts Takada with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Takada utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matti Kuusela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kuusela drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Takada dives on top into guard.
Kuusela keeping moving, preventing Takada from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela is trying to hold Takada in close to prevent damage but Takada has managed to pass into half guard.
Takada content to control rather than advance.
Kuusela is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Kuusela showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Takada 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:29
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!