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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matti Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roger Rocha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.
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| 187 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 6 - 1 |
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190 cm
19
224 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Tends to cut |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
8 - 6 - 1, 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
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roger Rocha!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Luis Engracia and Seu Braga.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rocha takes the fight into the clinch.
Rocha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuusela.
Rocha throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Rocha stalling against the cage.
Rocha lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Rocha fails to land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rocha throws an elbow but misses.
Rocha softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kuusela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kuusela's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rocha pushes off an throws an elbow but Kuusela leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kuusela lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rocha or not.
Kuusela digs a right hand underneath Rocha's ribcage. Rocha let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kuusela swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kuusela tries to work over Rocha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rocha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kuusela blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kuusela digs a right hand into Rocha's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Rocha's gas tank.
Kuusela has Rocha pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kuusela pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Rocha tumbling to the mat - Kuusela dives into Rocha's guard.
Rocha wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kuusela manages to pass to side control.
Rocha looks gassed!
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela lands strikes from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuusela sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rocha defending well though.
Kuusela misses with a head shot. Rocha uses the momentum to regain guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kuusela postures up in Rocha's guard and throws a big left but Rocha blocks it.
Kuusela stops Rocha from standing up.
Rocha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rocha keeping full guard, as Kuusela tries to pass.
Rocha has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Kuusela off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Rocha tries to clinch up but Kuusela circles away and keeps his distance.
Kuusela closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kuusela lands in his opponent's guard.
Kuusela is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rocha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuusela throwing strikes from guard but Rocha blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Matti Kuusela dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Kuusela circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rocha slaps away a takedown attempt from Kuusela, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kuusela shoots in and drives through. Rocha sprawls well.
Rocha has Kuusela up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuusela wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rocha has him pressed against the cage.
Kuusela working aggressively here.
Rocha creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rocha throws a head punch that misses.
Rocha stalling against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rocha just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kuusela's brow.
Rocha is looking to control Kuusela's arms but Kuusela gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rocha has his back to the cage.
A short right from Rocha on the inside.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rocha's elbow.
Rocha misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kuusela blocking some punches.
Rocha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kuusela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kuusela lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rocha backwards.
Rocha misses with the head strike.
Rocha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rocha holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kuusela tries to throw a body punch but Rocha avoids it by throwing Kuusela back against the cage.
Rocha lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kuusela backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kuusela as Rocha tries to tie him up.
Rocha misses with some punches.
Rocha is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rocha throws a head punch that misses.
Rocha misses with some punches.
Rocha's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Kuusela blocks an uppercut.
Kuusela blocking some punches.
Rocha throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rocha.
A right handed body shot lands from Kuusela.
Rocha is breathing heavily.
Kuusela lands a body punch in the clinch.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Rocha controls his hands.
Kuusela misses with a punch on the inside.
Rocha throws a head punch that misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha prevents a body shot from Kuusela.
Kuusela works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Good body shot from Kuusela.
Kuusela wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kuusela.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuusela lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kuusela is working Rocha over against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kuusela.
Kuusela gets through Rocha's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kuusela misses with a punch to the body.
Rocha can't find room to land a body shot as Kuusela controls the action.
Kuusela misses with the head strike.
Rocha blocks an uppercut.
Rocha throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kuusela scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kuusela misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuusela scores with a shot to the side of Rocha's head.
Matti Kuusela has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kuusela blocks an elbow strike from Rocha.
Kuusela manages to break the clinch.
Kuusela keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuusela fails with a takedown attempt.
Kuusela looks for a takedown but Rocha sprawls well.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rocha looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuusela feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kuusela trying to control but Rocha is working from the bottom.
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.
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.
Kuusela missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rocha pushes Kuusela off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rocha loads up on a big right hand but Kuusela slips the punch.
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 round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!
Rocha tries to clinch but Kuusela moves out of range.
Kuusela pushes Rocha up against the cage in a clinch.
Rocha misses with a punch on the inside.
Rocha scores with a shoulder strike.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rocha throws an elbow but misses.
A short right from Rocha on the inside.
Kuusela tries to throw a body punch but Rocha avoids it by throwing Kuusela back against the cage.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Rocha controls his hands.
Kuusela blocks an elbow strike from Rocha.
Kuusela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rocha manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Rocha misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kuusela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rocha lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kuusela backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kuusela as Rocha tries to tie him up.
Rocha misses with an elbow strike.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kuusela.
Rocha tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kuusela tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kuusela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rocha is trying to maintain a safe position but Kuusela gets an underhook and turns Rocha into the cage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kuusela here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Rocha missing with knees to the body.
Kuusela tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rocha's elbow.
Rocha takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rocha cracks Kuusela with a nice body shot.
Rocha swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kuusela is leaning against Rocha and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Kuusela tries to throw a body punch but Rocha avoids it by throwing Kuusela back against the cage.
Kuusela wants the takedown. Rocha is fighting it off but Kuusela persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Rocha's guard against the cage.
Kuusela wants to control from the top but Rocha keeps moving.
Kuusela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rocha wants to stand but Kuusela is controlling the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rocha avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuusela slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rocha is looking to stand up but Kuusela isn't so interested in that idea.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rocha manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kuusela has Rocha in his guard.
Kuusela is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
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.
Rocha stands up from Kuusela's guard - Rocha perhaps looking for a knockout.
The fight moves into the clinch position.
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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Matti Kuusela!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Matti Kuusela!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Matti Kuusela!
Matti Kuusela wins by unanimous decision!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
28% |
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