PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Keni Susi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taz Devil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Susi might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Metallica - Hero of the Day. The crowd seem to be enjoying Devil's choice of entrance music: Motorhead-Enter Sandman. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Susi
vs
Devil

175 cm
34
158 lbs
26 - 23 - 0

175 cm
33
148 lbs
27 - 18 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 26 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keni Susi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taz Devil!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Susi is defended easily by Devil.
Susi avoids the head kick by Devil.
Devil displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Susi.
Susi shoots in for a double leg but Devil sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keni Susi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Devil lands with a thumping leg kick.
Susi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Devil but Devil pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Devil lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Susi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Devil manages to avoid it.
Devil tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Devil defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Susi.
Susi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Devil avoids it really well and circles away.
Susi throws a right and a left that Devil avoids nicely.
Taz Devil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A jab from Devil misses.
Susi shoots in and drives through. Devil sprawls well.
Devil lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A slow jab from Susi misses its intended target.
Devil stuffs the takedown.
Devil looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Susi takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Susi shoots in looking for a takedown but Devil manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Susi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Susi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Susi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Devil's waist but Devil gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Susi off to one side.
Susi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Devil circles away.
Susi fails to land the takedown.
Susi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Devil circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil misses with a head kick.
Devil uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Susi has time to react.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Devil misses with a head kick.
Devil throws a head kick but Susi moves out of range.

Susi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Susi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Devil is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Susi is trying to work for a kimura but Devil is defending well.
Susi prevents Devil from standing back up.

Susi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Devil is just riding it out for now. Susi eventually gives up the hold.
Devil makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Devil.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Susi looking to pass the guard.
Susi is working hard here to advance position.
Devil wants to stand but Susi is controlling the position.
Susi looking to pass the guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Devil is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Susi is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taz Devil dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Devil misses with a head kick.
Devil catches Susi with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Susi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Devil swivels and escapes.
Susi shoots in looking for a takedown. Devil tries to sprawl out of it but Susi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Devil manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Susi misses with a looping left.
Susi has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keni Susi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Devil throws a big shot that misses.
Devil stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Devil wants it to stay on the feet.
Devil looks to land a left hand but Susi moved out of range nicely.
Susi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Devil misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Susi.
Susi fails to land the takedown.
Keni Susi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susi shoots and misses

and Devil counters by moving into the clinch.
Susi tries to pull guard but Devil holds him up against the cage and eventually Susi drops back down to his feet.

Devil breaks from the clinch.

Devil moves into the clinch.
Devil scores with a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Devil scores with a nice short uppercut.

Devil breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Susi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Susi takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Susi shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Devil as he avoids it easily.
Devil fails with an attempt to clinch.

Susi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Susi lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Devil preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Susi trying to control but Devil is working from the bottom.
Devil is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Devil is pulling down on Susi's head. It's preventing any offense from Susi, at least for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Devil wants to get back to his feet but Susi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Susi passes Devil's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Susi is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Devil as he works his way to full guard.
Devil is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devil is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Susi is controlling him.
Susi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Susi trying to control the position but Devil is working away.

Susi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Devil, who protects the arm well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Devil sneaks back into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Taz Devil showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Susi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Susi has a takedown stuffed.
Devil throws a head kick but Susi moves out of range.
Horrible takedown by Susi or perhaps it was just good defense by Devil which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keni Susi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Devil throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Susi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Devil pinned against the cage. Devil gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Devil tries to clinch there but Susi circles away.
Devil throws a big shot that misses.
Devil stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Devil wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susi avoids the head kick by Devil.

Devil clinches.

Devil breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Susi fails with a takedown attempt.
Susi shoots in but no luck this time.

Susi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Susi lands in his opponent's guard.

Susi drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Devil manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Susi has Devil in his guard.
Devil wants to stand but Susi is controlling his posture from full guard.
Devil must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Susi throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Devil escapes and throws Susi's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Devil working away.
Susi tries to bench press Devil off him but Devil keeps the position.
Keni Susi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Devil stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Susi has his takedown stuffed

and Devil counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Devil.

Devil pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Susi shoots in for a takedown but Devil shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Devil thows a body shot but no joy.

Susi looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Devil keeping moving, preventing Susi from controlling successfully.
Susi being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Devil tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Devil keeping full guard, as Susi tries to pass.
Devil working a defensive guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Taz Devil hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Devil rushes Susi and presses him up against the cage.

Devil breaks the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Devil connects with a single shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Susi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Keni Susi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Taz Devil is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Susi looks to score with a jab to the body but Devil is just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Taz Devil comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Devil 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

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