PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luiz Gusmao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henrik Luhtanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gusmao
vs
Luhtanen

183 cm
21
182 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

181 cm
21
180 lbs
5 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Elite Golden Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luiz Gusmao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Henrik Luhtanen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luhtanen takes one to the side of the head.
Gusmao displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Luhtanen throws out the jab.
Gusmao shoots in but no luck this time.
Luhtanen throws a series of punches but Gusmao moves out of range.
Luhtanen misses with an uppercut.

Gusmao shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Gusmao was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gusmao fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Gusmao has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Luhtanen's face.
Gusmao thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Poor strikes thrown by Gusmao there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gusmao trying to control but Luhtanen is having none of it.
Luhtanen trying desperately to get to his feet.
Gusmao sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Gusmao won't let Luhtanen get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusmao looking to ground and pound but Luhtanen is blocking nicely.
Gusmao 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.
Gusmao lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Gusmao looking for a guillotine from mount but Luhtanen is having none of it.
Poor strikes thrown by Gusmao there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Gusmao landing punches.
Gusmao with good strikes from the mount here!
Gusmao can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Luhtanen is looking to escape.
Gusmao throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Gusmao landing strikes from the mount and Luhtanen is in trouble!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gusmao cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poor strikes thrown by Gusmao there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Luhtanen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gusmao with the ground and pound from mount.
A nice elbow there by Gusmao.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gusmao with the ground and pound from mount.

Luhtanen is rocked!
Gusmao misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Luhtanen tries to reverse the position but Gusmao maintains control.
Gusmao unloads with some shots from mount but Luhtanen bucks and avoids them well.
Gusmao working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Gusmao looking to ground and pound but Luhtanen is blocking nicely.
Luhtanen is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Gusmao is just content to waste time from the top position. Luhtanen takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Gusmao trying to control but Luhtanen is working from the bottom.
Gusmao throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gusmao accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Luhtanen keeping full guard, as Gusmao tries to pass.

Gusmao is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Luhtanen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Luhtanen has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gusmao wants to control but Luhtanen passes easily into half guard.
Luhtanen is looking to pass Gusmao's guard but actually Gusmao recovers to full guard.
Luhtanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gusmao seems keen to control Luhtanen's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Luhtanen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Luhtanen trying to control but Gusmao is working from the bottom.
Gusmao has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luiz Gusmao dominated that 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.

Some wild striking there from Luhtanen.
Luhtanen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Luhtanen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Luhtanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Luhtanen moves out of range of the strikes.
Sloppy strikes from Luhtanen. Those never looked like landing.
Luhtanen lands with a nice body punch.
Gusmao steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Luhtanen.
Gusmao falls off balance throwing a combination
and Luhtanen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gusmao misses with a straight left.
Gusmao tries to score a power double leg takedown but Luhtanen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gusmao somewhat.
Gusmao has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Gusmao throws a left and a right that both miss
and Luhtanen counters with a straight right hand.
Luhtanen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusmao throws a looping overhand right but Luhtanen ducks down to avoid it.
Gusmao misses with a jab, cross combination.
Luhtanen displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Henrik Luhtanen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gusmao throws the left hand but Luhtanen avoids the punch easily.
Gusmao fails to land the takedown.
Henrik Luhtanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Luhtanen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Gusmao misses with an uppercut. Luhtanen saw that one coming.
Luhtanen throws an overhand right that lands on Gusmao's shoulder, as Gusmao tries to avoid the shot.
Luhtanen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Luhtanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Gusmao misses.
Gusmao misses with an uppercut. Luhtanen saw that one coming.
Gusmao slips a straight right by Luhtanen.
The fighters circling - Gusmao throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Luhtanen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Gusmao.
Luhtanen misses with an uppercut. Gusmao saw that one coming.
Luhtanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gusmao has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gusmao there as he acknowledges the shot.
Luhtanen slips under a jab from Gusmao.
Luhtanen throws a jab when Gusmao was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Luhtanen finds it's way through Gusmao's defenses.
Luhtanen scores with a nice right hand.
Luiz Gusmao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luhtanen scores with a hook.
Luhtanen throws a lazy right hand but Gusmao sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gusmao.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luiz Gusmao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice cross by Gusmao.
Luhtanen missing with a left hand there. Gusmao was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A shot to the liver by Luhtanen. Beautiful body shot.
Luhtanen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Luhtanen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gusmao misses with an uppercut. Luhtanen saw that one coming.
Gusmao takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gusmao lands with a nice body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luhtanen connects with the punch.
Gusmao keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Gusmao misses with a takedown
and Luhtanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gusmao scores with a jab to the jaw.
Gusmao is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Luhtanen stuns Gusmao with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gusmao fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Luhtanen manages to avoid it.
Gusmao lands a nice shot that snaps Luhtanen's head back.
Gusmao waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Luhtanen.
Gusmao shoots for a takedown but Luhtanen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Luhtanen lands with a good body shot.
Luhtanen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gusmao looks to land a left hand but Luhtanen moved out of range nicely.
Luhtanen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Luhtanen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Gusmao throws a looping overhand right but Luhtanen ducks down to avoid it.
Luhtanen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Luhtanen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gusmao momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice uppercut lands for Luhtanen. That snapped Gusmao's head back.
Gusmao takes one to the chin there.
Jab, jab by Luhtanen - just one landing.
Gusmao takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gusmao walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Luhtanen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Luhtanen lands with a hook. Gusmao tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Gusmao takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A cross from Luhtanen lands.
Gusmao takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Henrik Luhtanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gusmao on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Luhtanen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Luhtanen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Luhtanen throws a series of punches but Gusmao avoids them all with ease.
Luhtanen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A jab from Gusmao misses.
Gusmao looks to land a right hand but Luhtanen moved out of range.
Luhtanen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Luhtanen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gusmao takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Luhtanen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gusmao momentarily.
Gusmao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Luhtanen.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luhtanen throws a series of punches but Gusmao avoids them all with ease.
Luhtanen moves into range and connects with a jab.
Luhtanen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Gusmao pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henrik Luhtanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gusmao throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gusmao throws an overhand right that lands on Luhtanen's shoulder, as Luhtanen tries to avoid the shot.
Gusmao avoids the body shot from Luhtanen.
Gusmao is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Luhtanen.
Gusmao throws a combination that misses
and Luhtanen counters with a two punch combo.
Gusmao looks to land a right hand but Luhtanen moved out of range.
Gusmao looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Luhtanen slips a straight right by Gusmao.
Gusmao missing with a left hand there. Luhtanen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Luhtanen moves out of range of the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Luhtanen. Gusmao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nice defenses there by Gusmao.
Luhtanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Luhtanen works the jab nicely.
Luhtanen misses with a few strikes there.
Luhtanen works Gusmao's body with a nice hook.
Gusmao looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Gusmao slips under a jab.
Luhtanen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Luhtanen slips under a jab.
Luhtanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice jab there from Luhtanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luhtanen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Luhtanen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gusmao looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Luhtanen scores with a hook.
Luhtanen digs a good hook to Gusmao's body.
Luhtanen jabs at Gusmao's body.
Gusmao takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Luhtanen lands with a straight right. Gusmao didn't see that one coming.
Nice uppercut there from Luhtanen.
A jab lands there for Luhtanen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Luhtanen misses with a wild combination.
Luhtanen scores with a nice strike.
Luhtanen scores with the left hand. Gusmao knows he should have avoided that one.
Gusmao tries to move into range but Luhtanen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Luhtanen tries to bum rush Gusmao with a series of wild strikes but Gusmao uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Luhtanen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Luhtanen.
Luhtanen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gusmao.
Luhtanen scores with a decent looking hook.
Gusmao misses with a looping left.
Gusmao misses with a shot to the body
and Gusmao takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen cracks a nice hook into Gusmao's ribs.
Gusmao throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Luhtanen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gusmao slips a jab and a cross from Luhtanen.
Gusmao uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Luhtanen.
Nice shot by Luhtanen.
Luhtanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gusmao takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Luhtanen blocks a jab.
Gusmao misses with a looping right.
Luhtanen connects with a nice looking jab.
Luhtanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gusmao backs up against the cage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Luhtanen.
Luhtanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gusmao backs up against the cage.
Luhtanen fails to land with a series of punches.
Gusmao throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Luhtanen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Good shot there by Luhtanen.
Luhtanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Gusmao, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gusmao has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Luhtanen, as that shot connected.
Luhtanen falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gusmao counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Luhtanen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Luhtanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Luhtanen throws a big shot that misses.
Gusmao swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Luhtanen scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A jab from Gusmao misses.
Luhtanen misses with a few strikes there.
Gusmao jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Luhtanen lands with a cross.
Luhtanen thows a body shot but no joy.
Gusmao slips under a jab from Luhtanen.
Luhtanen catches Gusmao with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Gusmao moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Luhtanen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Gusmao takes one to the chin there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luhtanen misses with a double jab.
The fighters circling - Gusmao throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Luhtanen.
Gusmao tests Luhtanen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Luhtanen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Luhtanen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gusmao counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Luhtanen with a jab.
Luhtanen looks to land a combination. Gusmao sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gusmao connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Luhtanen's hands.
Luhtanen lands a nice shot that snaps Gusmao's head back.
Luhtanen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gusmao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gusmao takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Gusmao lands with an overhand left.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luhtanen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gusmao has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gusmao there as he acknowledges the shot.
Gusmao shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luiz Gusmao. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Luhtanen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Luhtanen loads up on a big right hand but Gusmao slips the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henrik Luhtanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Luhtanen 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 26:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henrik Luhtanen!