PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Leo Sarsola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armo Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuusela has chosen Promentory as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Armo Kuusela will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Sarsola
vs
Kuusela

180 cm
21
197 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

192 cm
24
198 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leo Sarsola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Armo Kuusela!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuusela keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Sarsola.
Kuusela jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sarsola throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Horrible takedown by Sarsola or perhaps it was just good defense by Kuusela which made him look bad.
Kuusela throws a head kick but Sarsola moves out of range.
Sarsola misses with a looping right.
Sarsola shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kuusela as he jumps to the side.
Sarsola slips a jab from Kuusela.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sarsola tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kuusela sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sarsola somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Sarsola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sarsola stuns Kuusela with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kuusela avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sarsola tests Kuusela's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kuusela thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fighters circling - Kuusela throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kuusela throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sarsola throws a body punch but Kuusela moves out of range.
Sarsola throws an overhand right that lands on Kuusela's shoulder, as Kuusela tries to avoid the shot.
Kuusela lands the left hand.
Sarsola lands with a nice body punch.
Sarsola avoids the head kick by Kuusela.
Sarsola throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kuusela scoring well with a low kick there.
Leo Sarsola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kuusela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sarsola manages to avoid it.
Sarsola is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Kuusela's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Sarsola lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kuusela throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Sarsola swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kuusela counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sarsola throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kuusela's waist but Kuusela gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sarsola off to one side.
Kuusela ducks under a wild hook from Sarsola.
Kuusela scores with a push kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sarsola displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuusela throws out the jab.

Sarsola throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kuusela tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Sarsola is in Kuusela's guard.
Sarsola wants to pass the guard but Kuusela is keeping the position.
Kuusela has his hands on Sarsola's head, controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sarsola throws a big right hand that misses.
Kuusela pulls Sarsola in close to prevent any damage.
Sarsola might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Sarsola looking to pass the guard.
Kuusela has control of Sarsola's left arm, preventing Sarsola from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Armo Kuusela hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sarsola misses with a wild body shot.
Sarsola fails with the takedown
and Kuusela counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sarsola shoots and misses

and Kuusela counters with a head kick that drops Sarsola to the mat! Sarsola scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Sarsola is rocked!
Sarsola moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Oh Sarsola is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kuusela wants to slow Sarsola down by chopping away at his legs.
Sarsola seems to have got his legs back now.
Armo Kuusela is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuusela avoids the body shot from Sarsola.

Sarsola scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sarsola is looking to advance position but Kuusela won't allow it.
Kuusela blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sarsola.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armo Kuusela dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sarsola misses with a takedown attempt
and Kuusela makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Sarsola tries for a takedown but Kuusela circles away easily
and Kuusela counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sarsola shoots for a takedown but Kuusela saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leo Sarsola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice jab there from Kuusela.
Armo Kuusela seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sarsola throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kuusela's waist but Kuusela gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sarsola off to one side.
Sarsola has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kuusela finds it's way round the side to connect with Sarsola's head.
Kuusela ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kuusela lands with an uppercut that bounces Sarsola off the cage and back into rage.
A big left from Sarsola misses.
Kuusela throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuusela swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Sarsola counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kuusela won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuusela sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela won't allow Sarsola to pass to mount.
Sarsola thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Sarsola throwing shots but Kuusela is blocking nicely.
Kuusela preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Sarsola trying to control the pace.
Sarsola thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kuusela to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kuusela is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kuusela keeping moving, preventing Sarsola from controlling successfully.
Sarsola postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kuusela is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Armo Kuusela hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kuusela bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kuusela takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kuusela will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sarsola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuusela.
Kuusela takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Sarsola misses with a jab to the body
and Kuusela counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Sarsola throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kuusela throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sarsola on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Sarsola throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Decent striking displayed by Sarsola there.
Kuusela ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sarsola takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Sarsola checks a leg kick nicely.
Sarsola misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Kuusela. No joy for Sarsola on that attempt.
Kuusela looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
That kick from Kuusela tenderised Sarsola's leg. Sarsola is trying to keep his angry face on.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sarsola dodges the punch combination from Kuusela.
Sarsola fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kuusela connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kuusela is looking to clinch.
Sarsola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuusela.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuusela changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kuusela looking to land some kicks to the body here.
An inside leg kick lands from Kuusela.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armo Kuusela showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuusela throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sarsola takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kuusela goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kuusela lands a brutal head kick. Sarsola looks out on his feet and Kuusela throws more strikes until the ref is forced to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick and Punches). Armo Kuusela!