PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matti Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Manoel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Manoel has chosen Hino do Flamengo as his entrance music. 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
Manoel

187 cm
26
190 lbs
15 - 7 - 1

193 cm
20
222 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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[PROG] Garra Suplementos (EnergyQ150 10$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Matti Kuusela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Manoel!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manoel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kuusela.
Manoel defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kuusela.
Manoel thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kuusela throws a nice looking combination but Manoel bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Manoel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kuusela counters with an inside leg kick.
Manoel throws a poor cross that misses

and Kuusela counters with a single leg into guard. Manoel didn't expect that.
Kuusela trying to control the position from guard on top but Manoel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kuusela postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Manoel is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kuusela, into his guard.
Kuusela keeping full guard, as Manoel tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manoel stopping the sweep attempt from Kuusela.
Kuusela working a defensive guard but Manoel manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's two 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.
Manoel controls the position.
Manoel working away.
Manoel taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Manoel trying to control the position but Kuusela is working away.

Antonio Manoel has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kuusela displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Manoel throws out the jab.
Kuusela lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kuusela has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.

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.
Manoel misses with a hook

and Kuusela counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuusela controlling the action here.
Kuusela looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kuusela is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kuusela looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Manoel is not content to let Kuusela control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Kuusela dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Manoel misses with an uppercut. Kuusela saw that one coming.
Kuusela has a takedown stuffed.
Manoel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kuusela.
Manoel misses with a left hand
and Kuusela counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Decent striking displayed by Manoel there.
Kuusela misses with a takedown attempt - Manoel sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Manoel, as that shot connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Manoel connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kuusela scrambles back to his feet.
Manoel swings widly with a right hand

and Kuusela counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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.
Kuusela throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Manoel 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.
Manoel keeping moving, preventing Kuusela from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manoel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kuusela controls the pace.
Manoel has his hands on Kuusela's head, controlling the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kuusela fails to land the takedown.
Matti Kuusela is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manoel rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Kuusela counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Manoel keeping moving, preventing Kuusela from controlling successfully.
Kuusela controls from within his opponent's guard.
Manoel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuusela sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Manoel's guard.
Kuusela works his way into full mount!
Matti Kuusela overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuusela throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela prevents Manoel from getting the reversal.
Kuusela throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kuusela content just to control the position here.
Manoel is looking to get to half guard.
Kuusela controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Kuusela dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Manoel as Kuusela shoots in.
Manoel displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kuusela.
Kuusela looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Manoel is fending him off so far but Kuusela persists. Nope, Manoel circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manoel lands a really nice looking cross but Kuusela seems unphased.
Manoel connects with a body shot.
Manoel lands a jab.

It looks like Matti Kuusela has been cut.
Manoel might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manoel throws out a powerful jab.
Manoel lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Manoel misses with a lunging right hand
and Kuusela counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Manoel connects with a body shot.
Manoel throws a shot from downtown. Kuusela moves away and avoids it.
Manoel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kuusela gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Matti Kuusela is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela misses with a hook to the body
and Manoel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuusela dives in and grabs Manoel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Manoel pushes down on Kuusela's head and hops out.
Kuusela uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Manoel.
Kuusela shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Manoel looks to land a right hand but Kuusela moved out of range.
Manoel looks to land a right hand but Kuusela moved out of range.
Manoel misses with a lunging right hand

and Kuusela counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kuusela.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Manoel looking for a sweep. Not yet Manoel, not yet.
Kuusela seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

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.
Antonio Manoel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Matti Kuusela.
Manoel slaps away a takedown attempt from Kuusela, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Manoel throws a series of punches but Kuusela avoids them all with ease.

Kuusela shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kuusela passes to full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Manoel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuusela has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Kuusela!