PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matti Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Victor Smith told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kuusela
vs
Smith

187 cm
24
190 lbs
11 - 6 - 1

180 cm
20
192 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Victor Smith!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuusela avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smith tries to clinch up.
Kuusela throws a nice head kick!

Kuusela clinches with his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Smith's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Smith jumps guard but Kuusela stands there with Smith around his waist. Smith gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smith is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kuusela gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kuusela has Smith pressed against the cage, preventing Smith from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kuusela.
Smith is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kuusela lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Smith has had enough of the clinch but Kuusela keeps him there for the moment.
Smith misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Kuusela.
Smith misses with the head strike.
Smith wants to stall.
Smith wants to get back to striking at distance but Kuusela won't allow it.
Kuusela lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Smith backwards.
A shot in the inside from Kuusela.
Smith misses with the head strike.
Smith is trying to maintain a safe position but Kuusela gets an underhook and turns Smith into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith is trying to slow the pace down but that's a couple of times in a row that he's tried to get underhooks and Kuusela has denied him.
Smith's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kuusela lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kuusela lands a hook to the side of the head.

Smith is rocked!
Smith tries to work over Kuusela's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Kuusela finish him?
Kuusela lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Kuusela has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smith is trying to keep an underhook but Kuusela manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Kuusela is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Kuusela is working for a submission of some sort.
Smith works his way to full guard. Good work.
Smith is trying to control the position but Kuusela postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuusela passes Smith's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Kuusela has control of the leg.
Kuusela is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kuusela moves nicely into side control.
Kuusela controls the position from side control.
Smith looks to move to half guard but instead Kuusela has passed into mount! Damn!
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
Kuusela sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Smith working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to hold on but Kuusela postures up.
Smith can't escape the position.
Smith looks gassed!
Kuusela lands a heavy elbow.
Kuusela looking to finish Smith with some ground and pound. This is bad for Smith!
Kuusela scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kuusela in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kuusela lands with some strikes.
Kuusela lands a big shot there that rocks Smith but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kuusela punishing his opponent with strikes.
A nice elbow there by Kuusela.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Smith tries to improve his position but Kuusela has taken his back! Kuusela has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Smith tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Kuusela pushes Smith away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matti Kuusela!
Matti Kuusela retains his light heavyweight title!