PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mart Kuus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and King KarteL (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kuus
vs
KarteL

225 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mart Kuus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, King KarteL!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuus misses with a takedown

and KarteL counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kuus's guard now.
KarteL slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
KarteL staying calm.
KarteL wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuus keeps working.

KarteL decides to stand back up. KarteL steps back and let's Kuus get back to his feet.
KarteL fails with a takedown attempt.
Kuus really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kuus throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

KarteL has Kuus up against the cage in a clinch.

Kuus gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kuus trying to control from KarteL's half guard. KarteL has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
KarteL controlling the position.
KarteL looking for a sweep. Not yet KarteL, not yet.
KarteL wants to stand and escape but Kuus is having none of it.
KarteL 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.
KarteL manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
KarteL avoids the attempt from Kuus to control.
KarteL looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kuus is desperately trying to improve his position but KarteL has a good base and remains in mount.
KarteL trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
KarteL controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
KarteL's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by King KarteL.
No luck for KarteL with that takedown attempt.
Kuus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and KarteL counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kuus is breathing heavily.
KarteL cracks Kuus with a solid left hand.

KarteL avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
KarteL controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
KarteL passes Kuus's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
KarteL prevents Kuus from standing back up.
KarteL wants to pass to mount but Kuus is defending the position.
KarteL sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King KarteL dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kuus has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by KarteL.
Mart Kuus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
KarteL misses with a combination
and Kuus counters with a two punch combo.
A slapping leg kick lands for KarteL.
Kuus takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

Kuus gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows KarteL to score an easy takedown into full guard.
KarteL looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
KarteL tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuus is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuus looking to control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells KarteL's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kuus can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as KarteL controls the pace.

KarteL gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

KarteL clinches.

KarteL has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kuus is trying to keep an underhook but KarteL manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

KarteL is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kuus defends it well.
Well, if KarteL is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
KarteL not landing any meaningful shots this time.
KarteL controlling the action here.
KarteL seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with KarteL in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. King KarteL was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A head kick from KarteL lands but Kuus takes it in his stride.

KarteL shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kuus is trying to defend but KarteL finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
King KarteL has got the better of the ground game so far.
KarteL content to control rather than advance.

KarteL looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
KarteL stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
KarteL drops an elbow to the side of Kuus's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
KarteL trying to control the pace.
Kuus is trying to control but KarteL manages to pass to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

King KarteL showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

KarteL closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
KarteL frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
KarteL pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
KarteL takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kuus tries to hold on but KarteL pushes him away.
KarteL working away from the top, dropping strikes.
KarteL controlling the pace for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuus tries to control the position but KarteL now has his back.

KarteL working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Kuus is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and KarteL has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Kuus taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). King KarteL!