PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tito Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armas Kuusisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuusisto has chosen System of a down - Chop Suey as his entrance music. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Henry
vs
Kuusisto

188 cm
26
193 lbs
14 - 9 - 1

179 cm
32
192 lbs
20 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

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 14 - 9 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tito Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Armas Kuusisto!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick but Henry sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The fighters circling - Henry throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Henry swinging wildly here.
Henry throws a lazy right hand but Kuusisto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kuusisto connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Henry jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Henry will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kuusisto tries to score with a low kick but Henry moves his leg out of the way.
Tito Henry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henry misses with a jab, cross combination.
Henry swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kuusisto.
Kuusisto tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kuusisto fails with the takedown.
Henry rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuusisto moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Henry misses with a hook
and Kuusisto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry throws an overhand right that lands on Kuusisto's shoulder, as Kuusisto tries to avoid the shot.

Kuusisto decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Henry won't allow Kuusisto to pass to mount.
Kuusisto is trying to control the action in half guard but Henry is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kuusisto missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kuusisto content to control rather than advance.
Kuusisto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Let's hope that Kuusisto has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Armas Kuusisto wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kuusisto takes one on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto throws a low kick but Henry avoids it.
Henry dips to his left and cracks Kuusisto with an uppercut!

Kuusisto shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Henry napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuusisto controlling from side mount.
Kuusisto tries to move to mount but Henry blocks the move with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kuusisto swings around for an armbar but Henry sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kuusisto's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kuusisto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Henry throwing strikes but missing.
Henry is looking to work some ground and pound but Kuusisto has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry throws a strike but Kuusisto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Henry 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.
Kuusisto trying to control but Henry is working from the bottom.
Henry is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Henry sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuusisto defending well though.
Kuusisto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Henry missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto is trying to get back to full guard.
Henry thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kuusisto's head.
Kuusisto regains full guard. Nicely done.
Henry postures up and lands a big shot to Kuusisto's brow.
Henry in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Henry scoring with punches to the head and body.
Henry looking to pass the guard.
Henry stopping the sweep attempt from Kuusisto.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henry stands up over Kuusisto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuusisto lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Henry!
Kuusisto tries to control but Henry wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Armas Kuusisto will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kuusisto misses with a looping left.
The fighters circling - Kuusisto throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kuusisto scores with a hook to the body. Henry takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Sloppy strikes from Henry. Those never looked like landing.
Henry moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Henry closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kuusisto to the mat! Kuusisto manages to get full guard.
Henry stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuusisto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kuusisto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Henry chips away with some ground and pound.

Kuusisto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Henry can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Henry throws a big right hand that misses.
Henry throwing strikes from guard but Kuusisto blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kuusisto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Henry's guard.
Kuusisto throwing strikes from guard but Henry blocks nicely.
Henry has his hands on Kuusisto's head, controlling the position.
Henry has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kuusisto has passed into side control.
Kuusisto tries to advance to mount but Henry instead regains half guard.
Henry wants to control but Kuusisto is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Armas Kuusisto has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry is in trouble now - Kuusisto has advanced to mount!
Kuusisto can't control as he wanted to and Henry manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Henry missing with punches from the bottom.
Kuusisto trying to control from half guard but Henry is working away.
Kuusisto sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Henry defending well though.
Henry is looking for a sweep. Kuusisto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto wants to free his trapped foot but Henry is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Henry is not content to let Kuusisto control the position.
Kuusisto is just content to waste time from the top position. Henry takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kuusisto trying to control but Henry is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henry is on top in guard.
Kuusisto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuusisto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Henry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuusisto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Henry gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Henry is pushing down on Kuusisto's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kuusisto is fighting to maintain full guard but Henry has managed to sneak the leg through.
Henry seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kuusisto moves into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henry preventing the sweep.
Kuusisto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kuusisto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Henry's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuusisto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Henry keeping moving, preventing Kuusisto from controlling successfully.
Henry utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Armas Kuusisto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kuusisto moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kuusisto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Henry throws a shot from downtown. Kuusisto moves away and avoids it.
Kuusisto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Henry looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice defenses there by Kuusisto.
Henry tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kuusisto swivels and escapes.
Kuusisto takes one to the chin there.
Henry checks a leg kick.
Henry throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Armas Kuusisto has been cut.
Henry looks to land a combination but Kuusisto avoids it well.
Henry wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Henry throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kuusisto throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusisto lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kuusisto tries to score with a low kick but Henry moves his leg out of the way.
Kuusisto lands a nice leg kick that just misses Henry's sensitive parts.
Henry throws an off balance right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kuusisto connects with a leg kick. Henry looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuusisto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kuusisto lands a lovely overhand right.

Kuusisto changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Henry looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
You can see the frustration on Henry's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kuusisto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henry keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry sneaks back into half guard.
Tito Henry has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henry wants to get back to full guard.

Kuusisto is working for a kimura but Henry is defending it quite comfortably.
Kuusisto is trying to control the action in half guard but Henry is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kuusisto in particular looking to stall.
Kuusisto is trying to control the action in half guard but Henry is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Henry is trying to get back to full guard.

Kuusisto is trying to work for a kimura but Henry is defending well.
Henry misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto blocks the strikes from Henry.
Henry is looking for a sweep. Kuusisto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Armas Kuusisto is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kuusisto is keen to just control but Henry is a slippery customer.
Henry moves into full guard.

Henry wriggles free and stands up.
Kuusisto shoots in for a double leg but Henry sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kuusisto lands with a kick to the ribs.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henry takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Henry takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henry misses with a wild combination.
Kuusisto lands with a straight right. Henry didn't see that one coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armas Kuusisto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kuusisto has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armas Kuusisto!
An out of breath Armas Kuusisto thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.