PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Kuula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otto Zander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuula kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil. Sergei Kuula has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kuula
vs
Zander

180 cm
23
204 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergei Kuula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Otto Zander!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuula tests Zander's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kuula lands a jab to the head.
Kuula ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Zander moves away.
Kuula connects with a leg kick. Zander looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kuula throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Kuula decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kuula seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zander does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kuula is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zander tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuula looking to sit in guard and control but Zander gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zander is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Zander throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuula utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kuula is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zander content to stall in guard here.

Otto Zander has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Kuula looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Zander!

Kuula tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zander is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kuula off and has taken his back!
Zander controlling the position well here. Kuula rolled but Zander kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Zander is working the ground and pound. Can Kuula escape?
Zander keeps control of the position easily here as Kuula tries to buck him off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Let's hope that Zander 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.
Zander is hanging on to Kuula's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zander biding his time, controlling Kuula.
Zander is punishing Kuula with strikes - can he finish him?!
Zander is riding his opponent, not letting Kuula buck him off.
Kuula is trying to break free.
Kuula takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Kuula trying to control the hands but Zander won't let him.
Kuula tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zander has good solid back control here.
Zander is landing with strikes. Kuula can't take much more of this.

Zander is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zander is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Otto Zander will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kuula scores with a takedown into Zander's guard.
Kuula preventing the sweep.
Zander keeping moving, preventing Kuula from controlling successfully.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Zander has eaten all the pies!
Zander is pulling down on Kuula's head to control his posture.
Kuula trying to control the position from guard on top but Zander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Sergei Kuula.
Zander shoots in and drives through. Kuula sprawls well.
Sloppy strikes from Kuula. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Kuula.

Zander gets a double leg takedown into Kuula's guard.
Otto Zander has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zander landing with the ground and pound.
Kuula can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zander controls the pace.
Zander really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kuula. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kuula looking for a sweep. Not yet Kuula, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zander sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Otto Zander.

Kuula manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Zander on his heels. He'll look to pass Zander's guard now, I'm sure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zander is adopting a defensive guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zander tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuula has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zander is proving hard to escape from.
Zander looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuula is one step ahead there.
Kuula pushes down on Zander's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kuula is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zander keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Kuula passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Zander!
Zander is trying to escape the mount.
Zander wants to hold on but Kuula pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuula wants to stand but Zander is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Kuula looking to control but Zander is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Zander tries to hold on but Kuula postures up.
Zander regains half guard.
Zander is holding on to half guard well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zander can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zander regains full guard. Nicely done.
Zander controlling the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuula has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Zander is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Zander dives in and grabs Kuula's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kuula pushes down on Zander's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Otto Zander will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Zander gets the takedown into side control.
Kuula seems a little lost for a moment, as Zander dominates the positioning.
Kuula is trying to buck Zander off.
You can see the frustration on Kuula's face as Zander controls the position.
Kuula tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zander controls the position.

Otto Zander has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kuula tries to clinch there but Zander circles away.
Kuula misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zander enables Kuula to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zander manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Zander is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Zander is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Kuula tries to roll over but Zander keeps him under control.
Kuula has hold of Zander's hands but Zander slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zander seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Otto Zander wasn't active enough on the ground.

Kuula shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zander controlling the position well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zander has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kuula is working away from the top position though.
Kuula is keen to just control but Zander is a slippery customer.
Zander makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zander.
Zander 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.
Zander keeping full guard, as Kuula tries to pass.
Zander wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zander is adopting a defensive guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kuula swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Kuula throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Zander tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kuula is in Zander's guard.
Kuula preventing the sweep.
Kuula is looking to work some ground and pound but Zander has wrist control.
Kuula tries to free his leg and advance position but Zander is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zander manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zander landing strikes from the mount and Kuula is in trouble!
Sergei Kuula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Otto Zander is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zander controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Otto Zander comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zander winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Otto Zander!
Otto Zander decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.