PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mark Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaquin Salgado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Salgado is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Pissing Razors - You never know. Joaquin Salgado will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Kuusela
vs
Salgado

177 cm
19
146 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
22
140 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Kuusela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joaquin Salgado!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuusela tries to clinch there but Salgado circles away.
Salgado keeps the fight on the outside.
Salgado keeps the fight on the outside.
Salgado circles away from the clinch attempt
and Salgado makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salgado throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kuusela counters by clinching up.
Kuusela lands a shoulder strike.
Kuusela digs a right hand underneath Salgado's ribcage. Salgado let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kuusela swings wildly with an uppercut but Salgado uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kuusela lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kuusela can't find room to land a body shot as Salgado controls the action.
Kuusela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kuusela can't find room to land a body shot as Salgado controls the action.
Kuusela tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salgado's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela has Salgado pressed against the cage, preventing Salgado from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kuusela misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuusela lands a shot to the body.
Salgado blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kuusela misses with a short punch on the inside.
Salgado fails to pull guard.
Kuusela works on Salgado's body with a couple of short punches.
Kuusela misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuusela tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Kuusela.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salgado prevents a body shot from Kuusela.
Kuusela presses Salgado against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salgado pulls guard effortlessly.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Salgado is on top in guard.
Kuusela wants to get back to his feet but Salgado is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kuusela keeping moving, preventing Salgado from controlling successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kuusela wants to stand but Salgado is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Joaquin Salgado.
Salgado keeps the fight on the outside.
Kuusela tries to clinch there but Salgado circles away.
Salgado rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuusela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kuusela dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Salgado misses with a jab, cross combination.
Salgado tries to bum rush Kuusela with a series of wild strikes but Kuusela uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Salgado throws a series of punches but Kuusela moves out of range.
Salgado moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuusela wants to clinch up but Salgado keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuusela moves into the clinch.
Kuusela misses with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salgado.
Salgado jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kuusela walks away with a smile on his face. Salgado gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Salgado throws a series of punches but Kuusela moves out of range.
Salgado misses with a wild combination.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Kuusela fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Salgado paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Salgado jabs Kuusela right on the nose. Kuusela blinks but takes it well.
Salgado fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Salgado. Those never looked like landing.

Kuusela rushes Salgado and presses him up against the cage.
Kuusela tries to work over Salgado's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kuusela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Kuusela.
Kuusela misses with a body punch.
Kuusela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kuusela has a couple of punches blocked by Salgado.
Kuusela lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela can't find room to land a body shot as Salgado controls the action.
Kuusela lands with a right to the head.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Salgado controls his hands.
Kuusela swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kuusela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kuusela misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuusela misses with a punch to the body.
Kuusela working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Salgado controls his hands.
Kuusela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Salgado is trying to break the clinch but Kuusela has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Kuusela dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Salgado keeps the fight on the outside.

Kuusela clinches up with Salgado and pushes him back against the cage.
Kuusela makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kuusela lands an uppercut.
Kuusela lands a right hand.
Salgado blocking some punches.
Kuusela lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kuusela tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Salgado tries to pull guard but Kuusela won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for Kuusela.
Kuusela tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salgado's elbow.
Salgado blocks a body shot from Kuusela.
Kuusela works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kuusela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kuusela scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kuusela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Salgado controls his hands.
Kuusela misses with some punches.
Kuusela misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Joaquin Salgado has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela tries a body shot but Salgado blocks it.
Kuusela misses with a punch on the inside.
Mark Kuusela has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A frustrated look appears on Salgado's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Salgado.
Kuusela lands a body shot.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Salgado controls his hands.
Kuusela misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kuusela scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kuusela is working Salgado over against the cage.
Kuusela can't find room to land a body shot as Salgado controls the action.
Kuusela tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Salgado's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salgado prevents a body shot from Kuusela.
Kuusela lands with a short shot to the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Kuusela.
Kuusela throws a head punch that misses.
Salgado is trying to push Kuusela away but Kuusela has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kuusela tries to throw a body punch but Salgado avoids it by throwing Kuusela back against the cage.
Kuusela misses with the head strike.
Kuusela scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A shot in the inside from Kuusela.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kuusela.
Kuusela's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela misses with a body punch.
Salgado blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Nice body punch from Kuusela.
Salgado blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A left hand lands to the body for Kuusela.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Salgado.
Salgado's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
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!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kuusela.
Salgado takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Salgado is trying to break the clinch but Kuusela is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuusela misses with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Kuusela.
A head punch on the inside from Salgado fails to land.
Salgado tries to throw a body punch but Kuusela avoids it by throwing Salgado back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Kuusela showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kuusela, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27

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