PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lemmy Krusic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Kuivanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Krusic might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Lazy Bones - Warrior. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Krusic
vs
Kuivanen

170 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lemmy Krusic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antonio Kuivanen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuivanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Krusic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuivanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kuivanen shoots in looking for a takedown but Krusic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kuivanen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Kuivanen forces Krusic back against the cage and clinches.
Krusic prevents Kuivanen from breaking the clinch.

Krusic manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Krusic looking for a sweep. Not yet Krusic, not yet.
Kuivanen throwing strikes from guard but Krusic blocks nicely.

Krusic throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kuivanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Krusic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krusic looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuivanen is one step ahead there.
Kuivanen wants to control from the top but Krusic keeps moving.
Kuivanen stopping the sweep attempt from Krusic.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Krusic holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Krusic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Krusic defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kuivanen.
Kuivanen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Lemmy Krusic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Kuivanen.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kuivanen.

Kuivanen gets a clinch.
Krusic has Kuivanen pressed against the cage.
Kuivanen wants to break free but Krusic has control.
Krusic is trying to force a seperation but Kuivanen has the dominant position.
Kuivanen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Krusic smiles and moves away.

Krusic shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kuivanen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Krusic works over Kuivanen with some ground and pound from guard.
Krusic landing with the ground and pound.
Krusic is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kuivanen is adopting a defensive guard.
Krusic stands and throws Kuivanen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Krusic is trying to get an arm triangle but Kuivanen is defending well.
Krusic is looking to take a break and control but Kuivanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Krusic in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Krusic trying to control the action but Kuivanen is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lemmy Krusic dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Krusic closes the distance and clinches.
Krusic lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kuivanen backwards.

Krusic ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Krusic no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Krusic seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kuivanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Krusic is keeping the position for now.
Kuivanen trying to move into half guard but instead Krusic has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Krusic gets to his feet. Kuivanen looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Krusic stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kuivanen.

Krusic gets tackled into the cage by Kuivanen. Kuivanen maintains the clinch.
Krusic jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kuivanen walks away with a smile on his face. Krusic gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kuivanen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kuivanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kuivanen has a takedown stuffed.
Lemmy Krusic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kuivanen rushes Krusic and presses him up against the cage.
Krusic taking a breather.
Kuivanen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kuivanen prevents a body shot from Krusic.

Krusic breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kuivanen moves into range and clinches up with Krusic.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Krusic as Kuivanen tries to tie him up.
Kuivanen jumps guard but Krusic stands there with Kuivanen around his waist. Kuivanen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lemmy Krusic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Kuivanen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Krusic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Krusic tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Krusic throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kuivanen blocks it with crossed arms.
Kuivanen tries for a takedown but Krusic manages to get underhooks.
The referee calls for Kuivanen to work.
Kuivanen is breathing heavily.
Kuivanen dodges an elbow strike from Krusic.
Kuivanen wants to take the fight to the mat but Krusic manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Krusic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Krusic avoids the head kick by Kuivanen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuivanen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Krusic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Krusic pushes Kuivanen up against the cage in a clinch.
Krusic dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Kuivanen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kuivanen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Krusic prevents it.
Krusic will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kuivanen up against the cage.
Krusic gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kuivanen.

Krusic decides to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen throws a strike but Krusic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Krusic trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuivanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krusic stays in close to Kuivanen's body and controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Krusic drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Krusic jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lemmy Krusic dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Krusic moves into range and clinches up with Kuivanen.
With the fighters up against the cage, Krusic throws an elbow but misses.

Krusic pulls guard.
Kuivanen trying to move into half guard but instead Krusic has managed to sweep!
Krusic trying to control but Kuivanen is working from the bottom.
Krusic makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kuivanen looking to control.

Krusic stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Krusic tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuivanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Krusic takes a jab right on the kisser.

Krusic darts in and clinches Kuivanen up against the cage.
Kuivanen is trying to pull guard but Krusic turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krusic missing with knees to the body.
Krusic lands with a left to the head.
Krusic lands with a right to the head.

Krusic escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Krusic closes the distance and clinches.
Kuivanen trying to control the position but instead, Krusic has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kuivanen into the cage.
Krusic throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Krusic tries to pull guard but Kuivanen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Kuivanen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Krusic has him pressed against the cage.

Krusic pulls guard successfully.
Krusic keeping moving, preventing Kuivanen from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lemmy Krusic overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kuivanen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kuivanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Krusic leaves Kuivanen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kuivanen has his takedown stuffed

and Krusic counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Lemmy Krusic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antonio Kuivanen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kuivanen is working an open guard so Krusic takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Krusic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kuivanen sprawls well initially but Krusic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Krusic escapes and gets back to his feet.

Krusic forces Kuivanen back against the cage and clinches.
Lemmy Krusic has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Krusic stalling.
Kuivanen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Krusic after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Krusic has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kuivanen uses from the top position.
Kuivanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kuivanen wants to control from the top but Krusic keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Krusic pushes Kuivanen off and gets back to his feet.
Krusic tries to clinch up.

Krusic clinches up with Kuivanen and pushes him back against the cage.
Krusic misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kuivanen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krusic prevents the takedown attempt.

Krusic manages to break the clinch.
Krusic tries to clinch but Kuivanen moves out of range.

Krusic closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kuivanen to the mat! Kuivanen manages to get full guard.
Kuivanen looking to control.
Krusic stands and throws Kuivanen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Krusic looks up at the clock and then as Kuivanen takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Krusic smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Krusic is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Kuivanen looks calm but he's in trouble here. Krusic gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Kuivanen is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Krusic lets go of the hold and Kuivanen can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Lemmy Krusic!
Lemmy Krusic bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.