PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Abs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juha Kuivanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abs's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Theme of Exodus. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Abs
vs
Kuivanen

185 cm
25
197 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

183 cm
27
195 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Abs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Kuivanen!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Yves DeLean and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Abs fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuivanen, pushing him back against the cage.
Abs pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Abs trying to land knees to the body.

Abs decides to pull guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Abs keeping moving, preventing Kuivanen from controlling successfully.
Kuivanen throws a big elbow that misses.
Kuivanen postures up in Abs's guard and throws a big left but Abs blocks it.
Abs 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.
Abs managing to control the position.
Abs is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kuivanen preventing the sweep.
Kuivanen trying to control but Abs is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Abs clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abs keeps control of Kuivanen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Abs tightens his grip and picks Kuivanen up, before dumping him to the ground. Kuivanen manages to land in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Abs's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Abs drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kuivanen dives on top into guard.
Kuivanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Abs escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kuivanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kuivanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Abs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuivanen throwing strikes from guard but Abs blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Abs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kuivanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen looking to pass the guard.
Abs avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kuivanen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuivanen won't allow Abs to get back to his feet.
Kuivanen throws a big elbow that misses.
Abs is trying to control the position but Kuivanen postures up.
Abs looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kuivanen postures up in Abs's guard and throws a big left but Abs blocks it.
Kuivanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Abs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abs is looking to stand up but Kuivanen isn't so interested in that idea.
Kuivanen advances to half guard.
Abs keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kuivanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Abs defending well though.
Abs wants to control but Kuivanen is keeping busy.
Abs is staying active underneath Kuivanen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Abs gets a double leg takedown into Kuivanen's guard.
Abs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kuivanen on the ground.
Abs tries to stand but Kuivanen is controlling from the bottom.
Abs postures up.

Kuivanen is working an open guard so Abs takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kuivanen throws the kick towards the body but Abs avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen throws a head kick but Abs moves out of range.
Abs tries to clinch but Kuivanen moves out of range.
Abs lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abs checks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kuivanen. Abs does a little dance to reset his feet.

Abs clinches with his opponent.
Abs leaning his opponent against the cage.
Abs lands a knee to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abs scores with a knee to the head.

Abs breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Abs tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuivanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Abs dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Abs plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Abs rushes Kuivanen and presses him up against the cage.
Abs lands a body punch.

Abs manages to break the clinch.
Abs works Kuivanen's body with a nice hook.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Abs.
Abs uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kuivanen.
Abs throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abs fails with an attempt to clinch.

Abs has taken the fight to the clinch.

Abs pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Abs is looking to clinch but Kuivanen is avoiding it.
Kuivanen tries to land a front kick but Abs steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Abs closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kuivanen managing to block the knees to the body from Abs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Abs manages to break the clinch.
Kuivanen keeps the fight on the outside.

Abs has taken the fight to the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Abs tries to work over Kuivanen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kuivanen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Abs displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kuivanen up against the cage.
Kuivanen is looking to break free of the clinch but Abs has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abs has Kuivanen pushed against the cage.

Abs manages to break the clinch.
Juha Kuivanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kuivanen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abs manages to avoid it.
James Abs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kuivanen throws a body punch but Abs moves out of range.
Kuivanen misses with a low kick.
Abs keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kuivanen throws the kick towards the body but Abs avoids it.
Abs tries to clinch but Kuivanen moves out of range.
Kuivanen throws a half hearted mid kick.

Abs shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Abs was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abs in side control lands a decent elbow.
Abs wants to stand but Kuivanen is controlling his arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
James Abs overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Abs looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kuivanen is avoiding damage well.
Abs fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kuivanen on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Abs has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Kuivanen!
Kuivanen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Abs unloading with bombs!
Abs trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Abs looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Abs with the ground and pound from mount.

Kuivanen is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen tries to hold on but Abs postures up.
Kuivanen sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Abs is looking to take a break and control but Kuivanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuivanen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Abs tries to stand but Kuivanen is controlling from the bottom.
Kuivanen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Abs manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuivanen postures up in Abs's guard and throws a big left but Abs blocks it.
Abs wants to stand and escape but Kuivanen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Abs dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Crunch! Abs slams his shin into Kuivanen's torso.
Abs scores with a one two! Kuivanen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kuivanen takes a swing at Abs's ribcage but misses.
Abs tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuivanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Abs rushes Kuivanen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Abs's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Abs tries to clinch up.

Abs fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuivanen, pushing him back against the cage.
Abs tries to work over Kuivanen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Abs has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Kuivanen regains guard immediately.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Abs trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Kuivanen manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Kuivanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuivanen trying to control but Abs is working from the bottom.
Kuivanen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kuivanen trying to control but Abs is working from the bottom.
Abs has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kuivanen forces his way into half guard.
Abs trying to hold on to Kuivanen's head to control him but Kuivanen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abs tries to get to full guard but Kuivanen has control of the leg.
Abs moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kuivanen trying to control but Abs is working from the bottom.
Abs tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuivanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Abs is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Abs preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Abs isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kuivanen stacks Abs on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kuivanen!
Abs is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuivanen can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Kuivanen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Sloppy strikes there by Kuivanen.
Abs struggling a bit here.
Abs wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abs avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Kuivanen.
Abs is trying to escape the position but Kuivanen is controlling the position.
Kuivanen trying to control the position but Abs is working away.
Kuivanen fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kuivanen in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuivanen working away.
Abs looks to move to half guard but instead Kuivanen has passed into mount! Damn!
Kuivanen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kuivanen avoids the attempt from Abs to control.
Abs wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kuivanen.
Kuivanen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Abs blocking the ground and pound.
Juha Kuivanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuivanen sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Abs on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Abs tries to get out of the position.
Abs avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kuivanen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kuivanen working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
James Abs is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Abs holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kuivanen tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Juha Kuivanen.
Well Abs has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Abs!
James Abs tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.