PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Duddy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armo Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duddy comes into the arena with Dropkick Murphys - 'Loyal to No One' blaring out of the sound system. Kuusela is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Promentory. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Duddy
vs
Kuusela

182 cm
32
196 lbs
24 - 14 - 0

192 cm
35
195 lbs
24 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!

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 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Duddy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Armo Kuusela!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duddy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuusela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Duddy drops Kuusela with a beautiful combination! Kuusela stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Duddy is looking for the KO!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duddy is looking to slow Kuusela down with leg kicks.
Duddy avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A low kick from Duddy misses
and Kuusela counters with a stiff right hand.
Kuusela ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Duddy moves away.
Duddy doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kuusela throws a big shot that misses.
Duddy takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kuusela connects with a body shot that sends Duddy's belly button to the back.
Kuusela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Duddy.
Kuusela connects with a body shot.
Duddy connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Kuusela gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kuusela misses with a knee strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela tries to work over Duddy's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kuusela creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kuusela can't find room to land a body shot as Duddy controls the action.
Kuusela misses with a body punch.
Kuusela pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kuusela digs a right hand underneath Duddy's ribcage. Duddy let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kuusela holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Duddy tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Kuusela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuusela connects with a leg kick. Duddy looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela misses the jab.
Duddy circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab from Duddy misses.
Duddy attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kuusela with a nice cross.

It looks like John Duddy has been cut.
Duddy turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuusela looks to score with a jab to the body but Duddy is just out of range.
Kuusela is looking to chop away at Duddy's legs.
Duddy works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Duddy is trying to break the clinch but Kuusela is controlling him.
Duddy lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kuusela backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duddy fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kuusela with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kuusela is stalling here.
Kuusela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Duddy blocks a body shot from Kuusela.
Kuusela pushes Duddy back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Kuusela lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kuusela trying to land knees to the body.
Kuusela lands a nice shot to the body.
A short body shot lands from Kuusela as the two fighters clinch.
Kuusela has Duddy pushed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duddy has Kuusela pressed against the cage.
Kuusela can't find room to land a body shot as Duddy controls the action.
Kuusela lands a body shot in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Still in the clinch, Kuusela scores with a nice short uppercut.
A bit of stalling here from Kuusela.
A right hand to the body from Kuusela.

Kuusela pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Duddy scores with the left hand. Kuusela knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuusela looks to land a right hand but Duddy moved out of range.
Kuusela looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kuusela takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armo Kuusela dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Duddy's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kuusela misses with a looping right.
A punch lands to the side of Duddy 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Duddy throws a head kick that misses.
Duddy on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Duddy just misses with a punch to the body.
Duddy walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Duddy lands an overhand right.
Duddy ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kuusela staying out of range there.
Kuusela dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Duddy smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kuusela defending well as Duddy loads up on a big left hand.
Kuusela cracks Duddy with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kuusela connects with a right hand. Duddy shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Duddy.
Kuusela throws a leg kick but Duddy checks it.
Duddy throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kuusela swinging wildly here.

Kuusela darts in and clinches Duddy up against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Duddy is looking to break free of the clinch but Kuusela has double underhooks.
Kuusela lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela is working Duddy over against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuusela scores with a hook to the body.
Kuusela pressing his opponent against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Kuusela throws an elbow but misses.
Armo Kuusela seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A right hook to the body lands for Kuusela.
Kuusela tries to land knees in the clinch but Duddy avoids the damage to the body.
Kuusela lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nice body punch from Kuusela - that landed with a thud.
Kuusela misses with a knee strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duddy tries to pull guard but Kuusela holds him up against the cage and eventually Duddy drops back down to his feet.
Kuusela gets through Duddy's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kuusela working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Duddy jumps guard but Kuusela turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
A short left from Kuusela.
Duddy trying to stall but Kuusela improves his position.
A nice left hand lands by Kuusela.

Kuusela pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Duddy misses.
Kuusela misses with a body kick.
Duddy throws a head kick but Kuusela moves out of range.
Kuusela connects with a body shot that sends Duddy's belly button to the back.
Kuusela has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuusela thumps Duddy with a low kick.
John Duddy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Duddy rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuusela moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Duddy takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Duddy takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Kuusela looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kuusela scores with a leg kick.
Kuusela lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Duddy at a distance.
Duddy's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kuusela connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Duddy scrambles back to his feet.
Kuusela fakes the leg kick and cracks Duddy in the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A slapping body kick lands there for Kuusela.
Kuusela has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kuusela.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Duddy crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kuusela - the referee stops the clock and Duddy gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kuusela. Duddy manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armo Kuusela showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on John Duddy's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Duddy takes one to the side of the head.
Duddy scores with a spinning back kick!
Duddy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kuusela slips a jab from Duddy.
Duddy checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Duddy swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Duddy takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kuusela fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuusela misses with a few strikes there.
Duddy connects with a looping right hand.
Duddy throws a body punch but Kuusela moves out of range.
Duddy jabs Kuusela right on the nose. Kuusela blinks but takes it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Oooooh!!! Kuusela has knocked Duddy down with a huge combo! Kuusela steps away and waves a wobbly Duddy back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Duddy is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Duddy connects with a jab.
Oh Duddy is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kuusela drives through and clinches with Duddy against the cage.
Kuusela effectively controlling the action here.
Kuusela lands with a short shot to the head.
Kuusela works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Duddy seems to have got his legs back now.
Kuusela lands on the inside with an uppercut.

John Duddy's cut is getting worse.
Kuusela tries to throw a body punch but Duddy avoids it by throwing Kuusela back against the cage.
Duddy avoiding damage as Kuusela throws knees to the body.
Kuusela can't find room to land a body shot as Duddy controls the action.
Kuusela cracks Duddy with a nice body shot.
Kuusela lands a left hand.
Duddy on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Kuusela.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuusela stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela cracks Duddy with a nice body shot.

Kuusela drops Duddy onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Duddy is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!
Kuusela avoiding damage.
Kuusela misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Duddy.
Kuusela scores with a hook to the body.
Armo Kuusela is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kuusela cracks Duddy with a nice body shot.
Duddy has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kuusela tries to land knees in the clinch but Duddy avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Duddy with a big uppercut! Duddy tries to clinch up but Kuusela pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Duddy to the mat! Duddy covers up and Kuusela unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Armo Kuusela!
Armo Kuusela managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, CEC Nutrition Q160, into his post fight interview.