PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matti Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dejan Petkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Petkovic is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hiski Salomaa - Tiskarin Polkka. 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
Petkovic

187 cm
24
190 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

185 cm
20
201 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matti Kuusela!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dejan Petkovic!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petkovic tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuusela swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Petkovic shoots in for a takedown but Kuusela shows good takedown defense.
The fight stays on the outside here - Petkovic looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Petkovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petkovic tries to clinch up but Kuusela circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petkovic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kuusela but Kuusela pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Petkovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuusela paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kuusela leaves Petkovic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Matti Kuusela has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dejan Petkovic.
Kuusela staying out of range there.

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.
Kuusela moves in looking to clinch but Petkovic pushes him off.
Petkovic tries to clinch
and Kuusela counters with a two punch combo.
Petkovic closes the distance but Kuusela moves to the side
and Kuusela cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petkovic darts in trying to clinch

and Kuusela counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kuusela not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kuusela wants to take a breather but Petkovic is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuusela is thwarting Petkovic's attempts to control the position.
Petkovic is trying to get back to full guard.
Kuusela seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Petkovic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuusela controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matti Kuusela just wasn't active enough.
Petkovic throws a shot from downtown. Kuusela moves away and avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Kuusela dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kuusela drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Petkovic is looking to stand up but Kuusela isn't so interested in that idea.
Petkovic 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.
Kuusela pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Petkovic is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petkovic is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Petkovic looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petkovic wants to sweep but no luck.
Kuusela trying to control the position from guard on top but Petkovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Petkovic closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kuusela counters with a single leg into guard. Petkovic didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela trying to control the position from guard on top but Petkovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuusela is stalling in the full guard.
Kuusela is in close to Petkovic's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kuusela is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kuusela is looking to work some ground and pound but Petkovic has wrist control.
Petkovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Petkovic keeping moving, preventing Kuusela from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petkovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kuusela controlling from the top position.

We're going to have a standup here because Matti Kuusela wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Petkovic tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kuusela counters with a takedown into side control.
Petkovic is not content to let Kuusela control the position.

Kuusela swings around for an armbar but Petkovic sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kuusela's guard.

Kuusela is looking for a triangle but Petkovic pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petkovic content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Kuusela looking for a guillotine here but Petkovic defends easily.
Petkovic controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Petkovic tries to clinch up

and Kuusela counters with a nice double leg into side control. Petkovic won't be happy with that.
Petkovic is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kuusela's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kuusela trying to control from half guard but Petkovic is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petkovic keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Petkovic is trying to get back to full guard.
Petkovic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kuusela trying to control the action but Petkovic is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matti Kuusela wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kuusela blocks a jab.
Kuusela darts in trying to clinch
and Petkovic counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petkovic wants to clinch
letting Kuusela counter with a right hand.
Kuusela slips a jab from Petkovic.
Kuusela tries for a takedown but Petkovic circles away easily

and Petkovic moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Petkovic content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Kuusela scores with a shoulder strike.
Petkovic is trying to maintain a safe position but Kuusela gets an underhook and turns Petkovic into the cage.
Kuusela avoids a wild elbow strike from Petkovic.
Petkovic looking to stall.
Petkovic is struggling to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Dejan Petkovic.
Kuusela doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Petkovic counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Kuusela clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Petkovic tries to clinch
and Kuusela counters with a left and a right that stings Petkovic.
Kuusela tries for a takedown but Petkovic circles away easily

and Petkovic counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Petkovic.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuusela avoids a wild elbow strike from Petkovic.
A bit of stalling here from Petkovic.
The crowd are getting on Petkovic's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Kuusela scores with a shot to the side of Petkovic's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petkovic wants to stall.
Kuusela avoids a wild elbow strike from Petkovic.
Kuusela dodges an elbow strike from Petkovic.
Petkovic blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kuusela has a couple of punches blocked by Petkovic.
Petkovic is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kuusela is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kuusela is trying to push Petkovic away but Petkovic has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Petkovic stalling in the clinch but Kuusela improves position.
Kuusela doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Petkovic is trying to maintain a safe position but Kuusela gets an underhook and turns Petkovic into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Dejan Petkovic.
Nice defenses there by Kuusela.

That's two 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 shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Petkovic's guard.

Kuusela drops back, looking for a kneebar! Petkovic looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Petkovic looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Petkovic!
Petkovic trying to control the position but Kuusela is working away.
Petkovic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kuusela kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petkovic working away.
Petkovic is looking to take a break and control but Kuusela is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kuusela is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.
Petkovic working the ground and pound but Kuusela is defending the strikes.
Petkovic wants to control but Kuusela is keeping him busy.
Petkovic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuusela tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Matti Kuusela will probably get the nod.
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!

Kuusela wants to clinch but Petkovic slips to the side

and Petkovic moves into the clinch.
Kuusela doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Petkovic stalling the fight.
Petkovic throws an elbow that misses.
Kuusela goes for a takedown in the clinch but Petkovic prevents it.
Kuusela blocks the elbow strike.
Kuusela blocks an elbow strike.
Petkovic blocks a body shot from Kuusela.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuusela dodges an elbow strike from Petkovic.
Kuusela throws a punch but it's blocked by Petkovic.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kuusela lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petkovic misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuusela works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kuusela can't get the takedown.
Kuusela takes an elbow to the forehead.

It looks like Matti Kuusela has been cut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Petkovic.
Petkovic avoiding damage.
Petkovic is trying to stall.
Kuusela can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petkovic has Kuusela pressed against the cage.
Petkovic throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Petkovic is struggling to control the position.
A nice right hand lands inside from Petkovic.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petkovic stalling.
Kuusela blocking some punches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Dejan Petkovic.
Petkovic looks to clinch

and Kuusela counters with a nice double leg into side control. Petkovic won't be happy with that.
Kuusela content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Kuusela tries for a kimura but Petkovic is defending well.
Petkovic regains half guard there - taking advantage of Kuusela's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Petkovic defending well though.
Petkovic wants to get back to his feet.
Petkovic is trying to get back to full guard.
Kuusela thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Petkovic's head.
Kuusela thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kuusela takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Petkovic is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kuusela scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kuusela trying to control from Petkovic's half guard. Petkovic has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kuusela with a flurry of punches that miss.
Petkovic trying to keep a closed guard but Kuusela is proving a slippery customer.
Petkovic is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Kuusela passes easily into side control. Nice work.

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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Matti Kuusela!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Matti Kuusela!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Matti Kuusela!

Matti Kuusela wins by unanimous decision!
Matti Kuusela is the new middleweight champion!