PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matti Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niels Nuntjako (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kuusela
vs
Nuntjako

187 cm
25
190 lbs
13 - 6 - 1

190 cm
20
219 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 13 - 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, Niels Nuntjako!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nuntjako misses with an uppercut
and Kuusela counters with a straight right hand.
Nuntjako stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuusela. Kuusela gets slowly back to his feet.
Nuntjako misses with a leg kick

and Kuusela counters by moving into the clinch.
Nuntjako is trying to force a seperation but Kuusela has the dominant position.
A frustrated look appears on Nuntjako's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nuntjako.
Kuusela swings wildly with an uppercut but Nuntjako uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuusela prevents Nuntjako from breaking the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuusela throws a head punch that misses.
Kuusela lands a shot to the body.
Nuntjako has had enough of the clinch but Kuusela keeps him there for the moment.
Kuusela keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nuntjako's efforts to push away.
Nuntjako working hard to break the clinch.

Nuntjako breaks the clinch.
Nuntjako throws a sloppy body shot

and Kuusela counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nuntjako's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela stops Nuntjako from standing up.
Nuntjako avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Nuntjako pushes Kuusela off and gets back to his feet.
Nuntjako rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Kuusela counters with a shoot takedown. Nuntjako fights it but they end up in guard.

Kuusela drops back looking for a leg! Nuntjako is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Nuntjako manages to kick Kuusela off! Kuusela jumps back into Nuntjako's guard.
Kuusela thows a big elbow that misses.
Nuntjako is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nuntjako working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuusela.
Nuntjako really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuusela. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nuntjako working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kuusela.

Kuusela drops back, looking for a kneebar! Nuntjako looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Nuntjako looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Nuntjako!
Nuntjako tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kuusela tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Nuntjako wants to stand but Kuusela has his arm trapped.
Kuusela is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nuntjako has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Nuntjako swings widly with a right hand

and Kuusela counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Nuntjako controls Kuusela momentarily but Kuusela frees himself.
Nuntjako wants to stand up but Kuusela is controlling him.
Kuusela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Nuntjako lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kuusela!
Nuntjako looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nuntjako wants to control the pace but Kuusela is squirming around nicely.
Kuusela tries to reverse the position but Nuntjako maintains control.
Nuntjako can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuusela is looking to escape.
Kuusela is desperately trying to improve his position but Nuntjako has a good base and remains in mount.
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 shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nuntjako manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nuntjako looking for a sweep. Not yet Nuntjako, not yet.
Kuusela is in close to Nuntjako's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nuntjako looking for a sweep. Not yet Nuntjako, not yet.
Nuntjako keeping full guard, as Kuusela tries to pass.

Nuntjako has his feet on Kuusela's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Nuntjako throws a poor cross that misses

and Kuusela counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Nuntjako's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A lazy body kick from Nuntjako

so Kuusela counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nuntjako's head.
Nuntjako tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Kuusela is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kuusela connects with a couple of short punches.
Nuntjako wants to get back to his feet but Kuusela is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Nuntjako looking for a sweep. Not yet Nuntjako, not yet.
Kuusela is looking to work some ground and pound but Nuntjako has wrist control.
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.
Nuntjako trying to keep a closed guard but Kuusela is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela preventing the sweep.
Nuntjako is looking to stand up but Kuusela isn't so interested in that idea.
Kuusela is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kuusela throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nuntjako works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kuusela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kuusela is looking to work some ground and pound but Nuntjako has wrist control.
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.
Nuntjako preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kuusela trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuusela throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nuntjako works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kuusela is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nuntjako looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuusela is one step ahead there.
Nuntjako is trying to control the position but Kuusela postures up.
Nuntjako utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nuntjako not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kuusela passes Nuntjako's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Kuusela is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Nuntjako is looking for a sweep. Kuusela is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nuntjako is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kuusela frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The referee warns Nuntjako that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Nuntjako blocking the ground and pound.
Nuntjako is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nuntjako wants to control but Kuusela is having none of it.
Kuusela with good strikes from the mount here!
Kuusela throwing strikes here but Nuntjako is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Kuusela dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kuusela misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nuntjako cracks Kuusela with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nuntjako throws an off balance right hand

and Kuusela counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Nuntjako!
Kuusela landing shots from mount.
Nuntjako blocking the ground and pound.
Nuntjako is trying to escape the mount.
Kuusela throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Nuntjako tries to hold on but Kuusela postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee warns Nuntjako that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kuusela with a couple of short strikes.
Nuntjako sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nuntjako wants to improve his position but Kuusela is controlling well.
Nuntjako takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nuntjako wants to get back to his feet.
Nuntjako blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kuusela.
Kuusela tries to pass to full mount but Nuntjako defends it.
Kuusela throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kuusela sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nuntjako defending well though.
Kuusela lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Kuusela is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kuusela thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kuusela slips a nice elbow through Nuntjako's hands, connecting with Nuntjako's forehead.
Kuusela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nuntjako is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Nuntjako is looking to escape.
Kuusela thows a huge punch but Nuntjako dodges it nicely.
Kuusela throwing shots but Nuntjako is blocking nicely.

Kuusela is working for a submission of some sort.
Kuusela not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kuusela lands strikes from half guard.

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.
Nuntjako blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kuusela.
Kuusela passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kuusela postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nuntjako looks a forlorn figure.
Kuusela landing strikes from the mount.
Kuusela breaks from Nuntjako's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kuusela lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nuntjako wants to control but Kuusela is having none of it.
Kuusela looking to finish Nuntjako with some ground and pound. This is bad for Nuntjako!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Kuusela clearly takes that 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.

Kuusela tries to close the distance and clinch but Nuntjako swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nuntjako misses with a left hand

and Kuusela counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nuntjako's guard now.
Kuusela prevents Nuntjako from getting back to his feet.
Matti Kuusela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuusela with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kuusela working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nuntjako's head.
Nuntjako looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Nuntjako working a defensive guard here.
Nuntjako is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Kuusela throws a strike but Nuntjako rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuusela is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nuntjako would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nuntjako looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Kuusela working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nuntjako doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nuntjako manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuusela is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Nuntjako defends well.
Nuntjako stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuusela swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nuntjako wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Kuusela's closed guard. He's half up but Kuusela has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Kuusela pivots and extends the arm, Nuntjako falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Kuusela! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matti Kuusela!
Matti Kuusela retains his light heavyweight title!