PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight kickboxing rules bout between Sami Kuristaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rain Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hernandez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Crush 'Em by Megadeth. This should be fireworks!

Kuristaja
vs
Hernandez

189 cm
23
195 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

193 cm
27
202 lbs
16 - 17 - 0

Solid boxing
Very quick

Good low kicks
Powerful

Real Fighters Nutrition

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 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sami Kuristaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rain Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuristaja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A combination from Hernandez does no damage.
Hernandez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hernandez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hernandez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hernandez throws a sloppy head kick and Kuristaja moves out of range easily.
Hernandez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hernandez misses with a head kick.
Hernandez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hernandez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hernandez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuristaja throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hernandez looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuristaja cracks the inside of Hernandez's front leg.
Kuristaja throws a head kick that half lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hernandez creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hernandez holding his opponent close, against the ropes.
Hernandez misses with a knee strike.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kuristaja avoiding damage as Hernandez throws knees to the body.
Kuristaja lands with a short shot to the head.
Hernandez letting Kuristaja take a breather here.
Kuristaja lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez wants to stall.
Kuristaja scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hernandez tries to land a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks with his arms.
Kuristaja being controlled against the ropes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuristaja keeps control of Hernandez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kuristaja crunches a lovely knee into Hernandez's ribcage.
Hernandez landing knees to the head.
Kuristaja blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hernandez misses with an elbow strike.
Kuristaja throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hernandez trying to stall but Kuristaja improves his position.
Kuristaja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hernandez throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Kuristaja softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Kuristaja missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes 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.
The referee calls for Hernandez to work.
Hernandez managing to block the knees to the body from Kuristaja.
A knee to the head by Hernandez.
Hernandez takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but Hernandez blocks with his arms.
Kuristaja missing with knees to the body.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but Hernandez blocks it.
Hernandez throws an elbow that misses.
Kuristaja missing with knees to the body.
Kuristaja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hernandez has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hernandez can't find room to land a body shot as Kuristaja controls the action.
Hernandez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hernandez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hernandez scores with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez lands a good knee to the midsection. Kuristaja won't want to take too many of those.
Hernandez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hernandez looking to stall.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuristaja tries to land knees in the clinch but Hernandez avoids the damage to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kuristaja.
Kuristaja is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hernandez is defending well for now.
Kuristaja managing to block the knees to the body from Hernandez.
Knees to the body from Kuristaja.
Kuristaja throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuristaja takes a knee to the side of the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuristaja avoids a wild elbow strike from Hernandez.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Hernandez throws an elbow but misses.
Hernandez tries to land a knee to the head but Kuristaja blocks with his arms.
Kuristaja blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sami Kuristaja will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hernandez looks to clinch
and Kuristaja counters with a body kick.
Kuristaja connects with a high kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuristaja looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A low kick from Hernandez is predictable there
and Kuristaja counters with a stiff right hand.
Kuristaja throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hernandez moves into the clinch.
Hernandez throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hernandez misses with a body punch.
Hernandez managing to block the knees to the body from Kuristaja.
Sami Kuristaja has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hernandez looking to stall.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hernandez with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuristaja being controlled against the ropes.
Hernandez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kuristaja lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hernandez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but Hernandez blocks with his arms.
Kuristaja looking to throw knees to the head but Hernandez is blocking nicely.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Kuristaja working Hernandez over with knees to the body.
Hernandez lands an elbow inside that Kuristaja shrugs off.
Hernandez misses with an elbow over the top.
Kuristaja working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kuristaja blocks an elbow strike from Hernandez.
Hernandez is trying to break the clinch but Kuristaja has him pressed against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez throws an elbow but it misses.
Kuristaja throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hernandez blocks it with crossed arms.
Hernandez with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hernandez looking to throw knees to the head but Kuristaja is blocking nicely.
Hernandez 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.
Hernandez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kuristaja tries a knee to the head but Hernandez blocks it.
Hernandez is trying to stall.
Kuristaja tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A knee to the head by Kuristaja.

Hernandez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kuristaja.
Hernandez throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Hernandez just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kuristaja can pounce on him.
Kuristaja scores with a head kick. Hernandez tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kuristaja bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hernandez's head backwards.
Hernandez fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuristaja lands with an uppercut that bounces Hernandez off the ropes and back into range.
Kuristaja fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hernandez manages to avoid it.
Hernandez avoids the head kick by Kuristaja.
A leg kick checked by Hernandez.
Hernandez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kuristaja's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez avoids the head kick by Kuristaja.
Hernandez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A head kick from Hernandez lands but Kuristaja takes it in his stride.
Hernandez doesn't manage to clinch there - Kuristaja circles away.

Kuristaja rushes Hernandez and presses him up against the ropes.

Hernandez breaks the clinch.
Hernandez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kuristaja counters with a two punch combo.
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 Sami Kuristaja will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kuristaja misses with a straight left.
Sami Kuristaja is winning the standup battle so far.
Hernandez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hernandez misses with a head kick.
Kuristaja throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hernandez.
Kuristaja is looking to slow Hernandez down with leg kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kuristaja. Hernandez does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kuristaja avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hernandez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kuristaja jabs Hernandez right on the nose. Hernandez blinks but takes it well.
Hernandez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuristaja looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hernandez tries to clinch but Kuristaja moves away
and Kuristaja counters with a straight right hand.
Kuristaja attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hernandez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hernandez misses with a double jab.
Hernandez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hernandez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hernandez swinging wildly here.
Rain Hernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuristaja is looking to clinch but Hernandez is avoiding it.
Kuristaja misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuristaja misses with a low kick.
Kuristaja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kuristaja pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hernandez lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hernandez.
Kuristaja throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuristaja throws a head kick that misses.
Kuristaja takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hernandez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kuristaja circles away quickly and effectively.
Kuristaja avoids the head kick by Hernandez.
Kuristaja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sami Kuristaja is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hernandez throws a head kick that misses.
Kuristaja tries to score with a low kick but Hernandez moves his leg out of the way.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kuristaja checks a leg kick.
Kuristaja avoids the head kick by Hernandez.
Kuristaja lands with a slapping head kick.
Sami Kuristaja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuristaja throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Kuristaja attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A combination from Hernandez does no damage.
Hernandez tries to clinch up but Kuristaja circles away and keeps his distance.
Hernandez avoids the head kick by Kuristaja.
Hernandez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hernandez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kuristaja circles away quickly and effectively.
Kuristaja lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hernandez's sensitive parts.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rain Hernandez.
Well Kuristaja 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Kuristaja!
In his post fight interview, Sami Kuristaja started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.