PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Psa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Kuristaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Psa
vs
Kuristaja

193 cm
21
200 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

189 cm
21
195 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

FULL METAL GEAR
FULL METAL GEAR

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sam Psa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Kuristaja!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuristaja tries to work over Psa's front leg with a kick but Psa checks it.
A low kick from Psa is predictable there
and Kuristaja counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Psa misses with a leg kick.
Psa looks for the body kick but Kuristaja saw that one coming.
Kuristaja throws a body punch but Psa moves out of range.
Kuristaja misses with a body shot.
Psa lands a slapping body shot.
Kuristaja misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kuristaja throws a quick inside leg kick.
Psa jabs at Kuristaja's body.
Psa just misses with a punch to the body.
Psa plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Kuristaja lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kuristaja closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Psa.
Psa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Psa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuristaja blocks it with crossed arms.
Kuristaja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kuristaja managing to block the knees to the body from Psa.
The referee is keeping an eye on Psa - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Psa avoiding damage as Kuristaja throws knees to the body.
Kuristaja connects with a nasty looking knee right to Psa's face.
Kuristaja stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Psa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja landing knees to the head.
Psa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Psa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kuristaja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A right handed body shot lands from Psa.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kuristaja takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja avoiding damage as Psa throws knees to the body.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja connects with a nasty looking knee right to Psa's face.
Kuristaja looks gassed!
Kuristaja on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Psa trying to land knees to the body.
Psa dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Psa.
Kuristaja manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Psa connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Psa trying to land knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Kuristaja.
Kuristaja throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Psas head.
Kuristaja trying to land knees to the body.
Kuristaja looking to throw knees to the head but Psa is blocking nicely.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but Psa blocks with his arms.
Psa is pushing Kuristaja up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Psa misses with a knee strike.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but Psa blocks it.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks with his arms.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja managing to block the knees to the body from Psa.
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kuristaja avoiding damage as Psa throws knees to the body.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks with his arms.
Psa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuristaja's face.
Kuristaja working Psa over with knees to the body.
Kuristaja stalling in the clinch.
Psa looking to throw knees to the head but Kuristaja is blocking nicely.
Kuristaja trying to land knees to the body.
Kuristaja working Psa over with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Psa avoiding damage as Kuristaja throws knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Psa.
Psa tries a body shot but Kuristaja blocks it.
Kuristaja tries to land knees in the clinch but Psa avoids the damage to the body.
Kuristaja dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Psa is defending well for now.
A knee to the head by Kuristaja.
Psa misses with a knee strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Psa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Psa as Kuristaja tries to tie him up.
Psa lands a knee to the head.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Psa landing knees to the head.
Kuristaja with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Psa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuristaja blocks it with crossed arms.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

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.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Psa scores a nice knee to the body.
Kuristaja unloads a knee to the mid-section. Psa lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A right hand to the body from Kuristaja.
Psa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja is trying to maintain a safe position but Psa gets an underhook and turns Kuristaja into the cage.
Psa tries a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks it.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Psa tries a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks it.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja tries to land knees in the clinch but Psa avoids the damage to the body.
Psa missing with knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Psa.
Kuristaja looking to throw knees to the head but Psa is blocking nicely.
Psa lands a knee to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuristaja is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kuristaja fails to land.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja misses with a knee strike.
Kuristaja connects with a nasty looking knee right to Psa's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sami Kuristaja will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Psa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuristaja blocks a head kick by Psa.
Psa walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kuristaja checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Psa throws a front kick that sends Kuristaja stumbling back into the cage.
Psa avoids the body shot from Kuristaja.

Psa pushes Kuristaja up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuristaja looking to slow down the pace here.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Psa looking to throw knees to the head but Kuristaja is blocking nicely.
Psa tries a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks it.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa trying to land knees to the body.
Psa avoiding damage as Kuristaja throws knees to the body.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kuristaja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Psa utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Psa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kuristaja lands an elbow inside.
Kuristaja landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuristaja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kuristaja connects with a nasty looking knee right to Psa's face.
Kuristaja misses with an elbow strike.
Psa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kuristaja is defending well for now.
Good body shot from Kuristaja.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but Psa blocks it.
Kuristaja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Psa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuristaja blocks it with crossed arms.
Psa is trying to stall.
Kuristaja throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Psa blocks it with crossed arms.
Psa with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Psa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuristaja is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kuristaja lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Psa misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja looking to throw knees to the head but Psa is blocking nicely.
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kuristaja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Psa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Psa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two 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.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Psa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Psa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuristaja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuristaja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Psa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuristaja lands a right hand.
Psa scores a nice knee to the body.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Psa landing knees to the head.
Kuristaja trying to land knees to the body.
Psa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja pressing his opponent against the cage.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Psa stalling in the clinch but Kuristaja improves position.
Kuristaja lands a body punch.
Kuristaja throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Psa blocks it with crossed arms.
Psa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Psa misses with a knee strike.
Kuristaja lands a knee to the head.
Kuristaja tries to land knees in the clinch but Psa avoids the damage to the body.
Psa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Psa avoids it.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but Psa blocks it.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks with his arms.
Kuristaja trying to land knees to the body.
Kuristaja takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kuristaja blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kuristaja cracks Psa with a nice body shot.
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuristaja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuristaja with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja lands a knee to the body.
Psa misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuristaja throws a punch but it's blocked by Psa.
Kuristaja looking to throw knees to the head but Psa is blocking nicely.
Kuristaja swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Psa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuristaja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kuristaja crunches a lovely knee into Psa's ribcage.
Kuristaja is trying to maintain a safe position but Psa gets an underhook and turns Kuristaja into the cage.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks with his arms.
Kuristaja is trying to stall.
Psa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuristaja blocks it with crossed arms.

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.
Kuristaja scores with a shoulder strike.
Psa tries a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks it.
Kuristaja lands a body punch.
Psa looking to stall.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa looking to throw knees to the head but Kuristaja is blocking nicely.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kuristaja takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Psa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Psa tries to land knees in the clinch but Kuristaja avoids the damage to the body.
Psa takes a shot to the head.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Psa misses with a knee to the head.
Psa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Psa avoids it.
Psa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kuristaja is keeping busy.
Kuristaja throws a knee to the head but misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kuristaja.
Kuristaja crunches a lovely knee into Psa's ribcage.
Kuristaja takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but Psa blocks with his arms.
Kuristaja misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Psa.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sami Kuristaja will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Psa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

Kuristaja has managed to clinch.
Psa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuristaja's face.
Psa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuristaja blocks it with crossed arms.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but Psa blocks with his arms.
Kuristaja crunches a lovely knee into Psa's ribcage.
Kuristaja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Psa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuristaja looking to throw knees to the head but Psa is blocking nicely.
Psa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Psa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuristaja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Psa.
Psa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuristaja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stalling in the clinch from Kuristaja.
Psa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kuristaja connects with a knee to the head.
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kuristaja lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Psa looking to throw knees to the head but Kuristaja is blocking nicely.
Psa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Psa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kuristaja being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kuristaja.
Kuristaja pressing his opponent against the cage.
Psa lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Psa stalling in the clinch but Kuristaja improves position.
Psa has a couple of punches blocked by Kuristaja.
Kuristaja misses with a knee strike.
Psa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuristaja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuristaja is looking to control Psa's arms but Psa gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kuristaja has his back to the cage.
Kuristaja with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Psa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuristaja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuristaja lands a knee to the head.
Psa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Psa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuristaja lands a nice knee to the body.
Kuristaja stalling in the clinch but Psa improves position.
Kuristaja misses with a knee strike.
Psa tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Psa is trying to stall.
Psa misses with a knee strike.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Psa avoids it.

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.
Psa avoiding damage as Kuristaja throws knees to the body.
Kuristaja misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Psa.
Psa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Kuristaja connects with a nasty looking knee right to Psa's face.
Psa lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but Psa blocks with his arms.
Psa landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Psa taking a breather.
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kuristaja is defending well for now.
Kuristaja using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja is trying to stall.
Kuristaja looking to throw knees to the head but Psa is blocking nicely.
Psa misses with a knee strike.
Psa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuristaja blocks it with crossed arms.
Psa managing to block the knees to the body from Kuristaja.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja avoiding damage as Psa throws knees to the body.
Kuristaja is stalling here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kuristaja.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuristaja swings wildly with an uppercut but Psa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuristaja on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Psa avoiding damage as Kuristaja throws knees to the body.
Kuristaja looking to slow down the pace here.
A short right from Psa on the inside.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Psa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Sami Kuristaja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but Psa blocks it.
Psa tries to land knees in the clinch but Kuristaja avoids the damage to the body.
Psa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Psa misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja connects with a nasty looking knee right to Psa's face.
Psa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuristaja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sam Psa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuristaja pushes Psa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Psa misses with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Psa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Psa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuristaja connects with a knee to the head.
Kuristaja pushes Psa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Kuristaja misses with a knee to the head.
Psa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kuristaja.
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Psa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa tries a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks it.
Psa looking to throw knees to the head but Kuristaja is blocking nicely.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Psa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Psa missing with knees to the body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but Psa blocks it.
Psa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kuristaja looking to throw knees to the head but Psa is blocking nicely.
Kuristaja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Psa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Psa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuristaja has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kuristaja with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Kuristaja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kuristaja winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Kuristaja!