PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Armas Kuusisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ice Lander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuusisto comes to the cage accompanied by System of a down - Chop Suey. The crowd seem to be enjoying Lander's choice of entrance music: Tribute. 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?

Kuusisto
vs
Lander

179 cm
30
192 lbs
18 - 5 - 1

190 cm
24
198 lbs
18 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
Conviction

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients
{GTI} - HGH Nutrients

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Armas Kuusisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ice Lander!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuusisto throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lander checks a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Lander checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kuusisto misses with a leg kick
and Lander counters with a good low kick that Kuusisto was not able to check.
Lander checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kuusisto scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kuusisto misses with a low kick.
Lander scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick but Lander moved away.
Kuusisto throws a low kick, looking for Lander's leg but Lander calmly moves out of range.
Kuusisto throws a nice inside leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A low kick from Kuusisto misses
and Lander connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lander pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lander looks for the body kick but Kuusisto saw that one coming.
Kuusisto throws a head kick but Lander moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusisto fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lander.
Armas Kuusisto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuusisto lands with a right hand.

Lander darts in and clinches Kuusisto up against the cage.
Kuusisto misses with a short punch on the inside.

Lander breaks the clinch.
Lander takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Kuusisto scores with a takedown into Lander's guard.
Kuusisto is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusisto trying to control the position from guard on top but Lander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuusisto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lander seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kuusisto might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kuusisto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lander is keeping the position for now.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kuusisto thumps Lander with a low kick.
Kuusisto misses with a wild body shot.
Kuusisto fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lander.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kuusisto checks a leg kick.
Lander tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuusisto paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lander throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kuusisto throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lander.
Kuusisto staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kuusisto lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lander has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lander and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A low kick from Kuusisto misses
and Lander counters with a left to the body.
Lander takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kuusisto lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd cheers as Kuusisto lands an impressive looking overhand right. Lander doesn't seem phased though.
Lander on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kuusisto. Kuusisto obviously looking to wear him down.
Kuusisto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick
and Lander counters with a straight right hand.
Decent striking displayed by Lander there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusisto lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lander blocks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lander fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Lander scores with a nice head shot.
Lander stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lander wants it to stay on the feet.
Lander has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kuusisto throws a body kick the misses
enabling Lander to counter with a crisp jab.
Lander turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lander's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Kuusisto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lander sprawls well initially but Kuusisto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kuusisto is just content to waste time from the top position. Lander takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Lander keeping moving, preventing Kuusisto from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuusisto throwing strikes but missing.
Kuusisto trying to control but Lander is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armas Kuusisto dominated that round.
That's time! Kuusisto's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lander lands with a good body shot.
Lander stuffs the takedown.
Some wild striking there from Lander.
Kuusisto throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lander thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lander swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lander throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lander checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Lander is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kuusisto tries to work over Lander's front leg with a kick but Lander checks it.
Kuusisto tries to land a front kick but Lander steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Lander tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuusisto swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Kuusisto there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kuusisto pivots, looking for a leg kick but Lander is out of range and Kuusisto settles back down.
Kuusisto throws a low kick, looking for Lander's leg but Lander calmly moves out of range.
Lander slaps away a takedown attempt from Kuusisto, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ice Lander is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuusisto connects with an inside leg kick.
Kuusisto misses with a low kick.
Lander checks a leg kick nicely.
Kuusisto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Lander has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A low kick from Kuusisto is predictable there
enabling Lander to counter with a crisp jab.
Lander tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lander comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Lander gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuusisto tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lander just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armas Kuusisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kuusisto manages to break the clinch.
Kuusisto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lander checks it well.
Lander motions for Kuusisto to come forward. Lander throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd cheers as Lander lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kuusisto doesn't seem phased though.
Armas Kuusisto is winning the standup battle so far.
Kuusisto ducks under a wild hook from Lander.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lander looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A jab from Kuusisto misses.

Lander has Kuusisto up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lander takes a shot to the head.
Kuusisto can't find room to land a body shot as Lander controls the action.
Kuusisto goes for a takedown attempt but Lander pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lander lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lander.
Lander blocks a low kick nicely.
Good work by Lander as he checks the leg kick.
Lander throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kuusisto lands a head kick. Lander smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kuusisto throws a low kick but Lander moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lander checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Lander checks a leg kick.
Lander throws a big shot that misses.
Lander loads up on a big right hand but Kuusisto slips the punch.
Lander swings for the body but Kuusisto moves out of range.
Jab from Lander.
Nice takedown defense from Lander. No joy for Kuusisto on that attempt.
Kuusisto misses with a body kick.
Lander loads up on a big right hand but Kuusisto slips the punch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuusisto throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Lander finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lander scores with a jab to the jaw.
Nice body punch from Lander.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Armas Kuusisto will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A solid leg kick lands there for Kuusisto.
Kuusisto fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Lander is out of range.
Kuusisto throws a head kick but Lander moves out of range.
Kuusisto thumps Lander with a low kick.
Kuusisto thumps Lander with a low kick.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick
and Lander counters with a nice uppercut.
Kuusisto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Lander checks it well.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick
and Lander counters with a nice uppercut.

Lander rushes Kuusisto and presses him up against the cage.
Lander tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kuusisto wants to take the fight to the mat but Lander manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kuusisto tries to work over Lander's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Kuusisto.
Lander prevents a body shot from Kuusisto.
Lander prevents a body shot from Kuusisto.
Lander tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuusisto.

Kuusisto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuusisto throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kuusisto throws the kick towards the body but Lander avoids it.
Kuusisto throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lander misses the shot to the body.
Lander lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Good work by Lander as he checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lander throws a head kick but Kuusisto moves out of range.
Kuusisto tried to score with a low kick but Lander checks it.
Lander throws the left hand but Kuusisto avoids the punch easily.
Kuusisto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lander checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Lander tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick
and Lander counters with a head kick. That will keep Kuusisto thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kuusisto misses with a low kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lander tries a low kick but Kuusisto avoids it.
Lander is looking to chop away at Kuusisto's legs.
Kuusisto misses with a low kick as Lander jumps back.
Lander checks the leg kick nicely there.
Lander connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lander looks to land a body kick but Kuusisto moved away.
Kuusisto fails with a takedown attempt.
Lander fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick but Lander sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Lander throws a chopping leg kick but Kuusisto manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Good leg kick by Kuusisto there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kuusisto checks a leg kick.
Lander thows a body shot but no joy.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick but Lander sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lander.
Kuusisto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuusisto throws a front kick aimed at Lander's knee but Lander avoids it well.
Kuusisto goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kuusisto buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kuusisto shoots for a double leg takedown but Lander sprawls well. He's pushed Kuusisto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armas Kuusisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lander throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Kuusisto.
Lander checks a low kick from Kuusisto.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lander keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kuusisto, right into the meat.
A bone on bone clash there as Lander blocks the leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Armas Kuusisto did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lander ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Kuusisto decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kuusisto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lander trying to control from the bottom.
Lander is looking to escape.

Kuusisto is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lander sees it coming and defends easily.
Lander is staying active underneath Kuusisto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lander is looking to improve his position.
Kuusisto stops Lander from getting back to his feet.
Lander is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lander wants to get back to full guard.
Kuusisto looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kuusisto wants to pass the guard but Lander is defending well.
Lander trying to get back to full guard but Kuusisto takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Lander is squirming around, avoiding Kuusisto's attempts to control the action.
Lander is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lander in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Kuusisto connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lander has given up his back here. Will Kuusisto look for the submission or keep pounding away?

Kuusisto has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Lander has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Lander covering up well under a series of strikes from Kuusisto.
Kuusisto thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuusisto wants to control but Lander is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lander controlling his opponent's hands, preventing the submission attempt.
Kuusisto not allowing Lander to control his hands.

Kuusisto working for the choke.
Armas Kuusisto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lander takes a big shot to the side of the head.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kuusisto's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Lander defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Kuusisto's arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Lander hold on?!

Kuusisto gets back to his feet. Lander is certainly not going to complain about that decision.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lander just misses with a punch to the body.
Lander defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kuusisto.
Lander throws a hook but Kuusisto avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuusisto tries a low kick but Lander avoids it.
Kuusisto throws a lazy head kick
and Lander counters with a leg kick.
Lander thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armas Kuusisto had his way with Ice Lander in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A good leg kick by Kuusisto.
Lander connects with an inside leg kick.
Kuusisto fails with a takedown attempt.
Lander stuns Kuusisto with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kuusisto takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Kuusisto misses with a low kick.
Kuusisto throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Lander misses with a looping right.
Lander throws a right hand that Kuusisto ducks under and follows up with a left that Kuusisto also avoids with ease.
Kuusisto is looking to slow Lander down with leg kicks.
Kuusisto attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lander chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kuusisto misses with a low kick.
Lander tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kuusisto manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kuusisto shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lander but Lander pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Good leg kick by Kuusisto there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kuusisto throws out a leg kick but Lander moves out of range and Kuusisto only half commits.
Lander throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kuusisto counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Lander is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Lander checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kuusisto uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lander.
Kuusisto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ice Lander has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lander.
Kuusisto throws a sloppy head kick and Lander moves out of range easily.
Kuusisto lunges at Lander with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Lander's hand.
Kuusisto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kuusisto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kuusisto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lander moves away.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Lander lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kuusisto has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kuusisto and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Lander throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuusisto.
Lander avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuusisto turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lander connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kuusisto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Armas Kuusisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lander throws a leg kick that is checked
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kuusisto's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Lander connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kuusisto scrambles back to his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuusisto.
Lander misses the jab.
Kuusisto tries to score with a low kick but Lander moves his leg out of the way.
Lander takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Lander swings for the body but Kuusisto moves out of range.
Kuusisto fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lander on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kuusisto. Kuusisto obviously looking to wear him down.
Armas Kuusisto is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kuusisto lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Lander has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lander and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kuusisto lands a head shot.
Lander scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuusisto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lander circles away.
Kuusisto tries for a takedown but Lander circles away easily
letting Lander counter with a right hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuusisto walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lander checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick but Lander sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kuusisto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armas Kuusisto showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kuusisto has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 50:45
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 49:46
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 50:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armas Kuusisto!
Armas Kuusisto gave a mention to SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).