PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Kuosmanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Salama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kuosmanen
vs
Salama

160 cm
25
167 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

180 cm
22
165 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

MFS Outfitters

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keijo Kuosmanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Salama!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kuosmanen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Salama comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Salama lands a good knee to the midsection. Kuosmanen won't want to take too many of those.
Salama with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salama lands a nice elbow.
A right hook to the body lands for Salama.
Salama misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kuosmanen.
Salama wants to stall.
Salama landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Salama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kuosmanen is defending well for now.
Kuosmanen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Salama smiles and moves away.
Salama chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Salama throws a sloppy head kick and Kuosmanen moves out of range easily.
Sami Salama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kuosmanen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Kuosmanen seems to be working for a kimura but Salama defends the submission attempt.
Kuosmanen prevents Salama from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuosmanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kuosmanen passes the guard and advances to mount!
Salama really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuosmanen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kuosmanen avoids the attempt from Salama to control.
Salama is squirming around, avoiding Kuosmanen's attempts to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuosmanen avoids the attempt from Salama to control.

That's two 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.

Kuosmanen has control of Salama's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Salama regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kuosmanen trying to control but Salama is having none of it.

Kuosmanen is working for a guillotine from mount but Salama frees his head quite easily.

Kuosmanen looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kuosmanen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuosmanen throws a sloppy strike and Salama uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Salama has ended up in Kuosmanen's guard.
Salama's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Kuosmanen trying to keep a closed guard but Salama is proving a slippery customer.
Salama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Kuosmanen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Kuosmanen is working an open guard so Salama takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kuosmanen is breathing heavily.
Salama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A clash of legs there as Kuosmanen blocks the low kick.

Salama gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama is trying to control the position but Kuosmanen postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kuosmanen drops back looking for a leg! Salama is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Salama manages to kick Kuosmanen off! Kuosmanen jumps back into Salama's guard.
Kuosmanen won't allow Salama to sweep him here.
Kuosmanen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Salama keeping full guard, as Kuosmanen tries to pass.
Kuosmanen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kuosmanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salama swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuosmanen controlling from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Keijo Kuosmanen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Salama lands a head kick!
Salama connects with a solid leg kick.
Salama darts in trying to clinch

and Kuosmanen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Salama won't be happy with that.
Kuosmanen fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Salama is trying to improve his position.
Salama is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Salama can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kuosmanen in the domination position with Salama hanging on.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuosmanen is trying to get an arm triangle but Salama is defending well.

Kuosmanen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kuosmanen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
An elbow from Kuosmanen crashes against the mat.
Salama can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Kuosmanen throws a strike aimed at the side of Salama's head but Salama avoids it well.
Kuosmanen misses with the ground and pound.
Kuosmanen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Salama's legs.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Salama avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kuosmanen wants to clinch but Salama slips to the side
and Salama counters with a nice leg kick.
Kuosmanen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Kuosmanen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Kuosmanen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Salama.

Salama drives through and clinches with Kuosmanen against the cage.
Salama softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Salama effectively controlling the action here.
Salama misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kuosmanen.
Salama lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Salama.
Salama lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kuosmanen tries to pull guard but Salama holds him up against the cage and eventually Kuosmanen drops back down to his feet.
Kuosmanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kuosmanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keijo Kuosmanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuosmanen tries to pull guard but Salama holds him up against the cage and eventually Kuosmanen drops back down to his feet.
Kuosmanen fails to pull guard.
Kuosmanen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Salama putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kuosmanen in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Salama unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Salama unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Salama breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salama clinches but Kuosmanen breaks the clinch

and Kuosmanen counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Salama's guard now.
Salama is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Salama is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Salama pulls Kuosmanen in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama is trying to keep Kuosmanen in close.
Kuosmanen advances to half guard.

Kuosmanen seems to be looking for submissions.
Salama is looking for a sweep. Kuosmanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kuosmanen seems to be working for a kimura but Salama defends the submission attempt.
Salama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kuosmanen is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sami Salama will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Salama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salama connects with a high kick.
Salama throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Kuosmanen has Salama up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuosmanen tries to pull guard but Salama won't allow it.
Salama with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Kuosmanen jumps guard.
Salama content to stall in guard here.

Kuosmanen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuosmanen is trying to control the position but Salama postures up.

Salama avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kuosmanen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Salama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Salama gets to his feet - Kuosmanen follows without any prompting.
Kuosmanen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Salama.
Kuosmanen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kuosmanen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Salama scores with a nice right hand.
Salama tries to clinch but Kuosmanen moves out of range.

Salama clinches with his opponent.
Kuosmanen fails to pull guard.
A body shot lands from Salama.
Salama landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Salama escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A nice leg kick lands there from Salama.
Salama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuosmanen.
Salama is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Salama lands with a kick to the temple. Kuosmanen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Sami Salama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salama throws a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salama clinches up against the cage.
Kuosmanen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Salama lands a nice elbow.
Kuosmanen jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Salama walks away with a smile on his face. Kuosmanen gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keijo Kuosmanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Salama throws a hook to the side of Kuosmanen's head but Kuosmanen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kuosmanen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Salama instigates a clinch.
Salama lands a shot to the body.
Salama scores with a shot to the side of Kuosmanen's head.
Salama crunches a lovely knee into Kuosmanen's ribcage.
Knees to the body from Salama.
Salama landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Salama lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Knees to the body from Salama.
Salama lands a damaging elbow.
Salama connects with a knee to the head.
Salama lands a nice knee to the body.
Kuosmanen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kuosmanen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Salama lands a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuosmanen managing to block the knees to the body from Salama.

Kuosmanen drags the fight down to the ground.
Keijo Kuosmanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuosmanen wants to sweep but no luck.

Salama stands and steps away. Kuosmanen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Salama throws the kick towards the body but Kuosmanen avoids it.
Salama wants to slow Kuosmanen down by chopping away at his legs.
Salama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kuosmanen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Salama napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuosmanen throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Salama works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Salama moves into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Salama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Salama 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Salama!