PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Ottway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kuku Xumusu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ottway
vs
Xumusu

189 cm
24
200 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

191 cm
27
215 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Ottway!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kuku Xumusu!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xumusu tries to land a leg kick but Ottway saw it coming and moves away.

Xumusu closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Xumusu prevents Ottway from improving his position.

Ottway looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Xumusu is taking a breather. Ottway says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Ottway looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Xumusu is trying to control. Ottway wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Xumusu sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Ottway looking for subs from the bottom but Xumusu mounts him!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ottway tries to reverse the position but Xumusu maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xumusu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Xumusu seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Ottway is holding on tight.
Xumusu takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
It looks like Xumusu might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Xumusu lands a big elbow.
Ottway is in all sorts of trouble here.

Xumusu stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Ottway fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ottway tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Xumusu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Ottway has taken the fight to the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ottway pulls guard effortlessly.
Ottway wants to sweep here but Xumusu controlling him for the moment.
Xumusu wants to control from the top but Ottway keeps moving.
Xumusu preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xumusu postures up and lands a big shot to Ottway's brow.
Xumusu wants to pass the guard but Ottway is keeping the position.
Xumusu slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

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

Ottway feints and as Xumusu raises his hands in defense, Ottway changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Xumusu looking for a guillotine here but Ottway defends easily.
Ottway working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Xumusu's head.
Ottway has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ottway stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Xumusu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Xumusu is on top in guard.
Xumusu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Xumusu wants to control from the top but Ottway keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xumusu is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ottway is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Xumusu defends well.

Ottway is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Xumusu is aware though and is defending well.
Xumusu sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ottway can't keep his opponent in guard - Xumusu advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ottway looks like he's trying to stand up.
Xumusu seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kuku Xumusu dominated that round.
That's time! Ottway's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Xumusu swats away the attempt to clinch by Ottway.
Ottway wants to clinch.

Ottway fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Xumusu sprawls well initially but Ottway persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Xumusu manages to get to full guard.
Xumusu working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ottway.
Xumusu manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ottway manages to get himself to full guard.
Xumusu stands up over Ottway, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Xumusu gets to his feet - Ottway follows without any prompting.

Ottway darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kuku Xumusu has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Xumusu is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ottway decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Ottway feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Ottway throws a big elbow that misses.
Xumusu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Xumusu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ottway is one step ahead there.
Xumusu not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Xumusu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ottway postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ottway looking to pass the guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Xumusu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ottway stopping the sweep attempt from Xumusu.
Ottway throws a big right hand that misses.
Ottway trying to stand up but can't free himself from Xumusu's guard.
Xumusu throws a nice elbow from the bottom.
Ottway would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xumusu pulls Ottway in to control the position.
Xumusu avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ottway stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Xumusu swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Xumusu 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.
Xumusu trying to keep a closed guard but Ottway is proving a slippery customer.
Xumusu keeping full guard, as Ottway tries to pass.
Xumusu is trying to keep Ottway in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kuku Xumusu was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Ottway tries to close the distance and clinch but Xumusu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Xumusu drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ottway wants to get back to his feet but Xumusu passes into half guard.
Ottway is in trouble now - Xumusu has advanced to mount!
Xumusu tries to control but Ottway wriggling away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Xumusu with a couple of short strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ottway is looking to get to half guard.
Ottway is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kuku Xumusu will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Xumusu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ottway swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Xumusu lands with a cross.
Xumusu keeps the fight on the outside.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ottway.
Xumusu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Xumusu wants it to stay on the feet.
Xumusu is looking to clinch but Ottway is avoiding it.
Ottway is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ottway stuffs the takedown.
Ottway doesn't manage to clinch there - Xumusu circles away.

Ottway moves into the clinch successfully.
Ottway stalling the fight.

Ottway pulls guard effortlessly.
Xumusu seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ottway is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Xumusu decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Xumusu stuffs the takedown attempt from Ottway. Ottway gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Ottway. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ottway has his takedown stuffed
and Xumusu counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Xumusu shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ottway but Ottway pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Xumusu scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Xumusu is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Xumusu trying to control the action but Ottway is working from the bottom.

Xumusu tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Xumusu trying to control the action but Ottway is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xumusu is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ottway will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Ottway is looking for a sweep.

Xumusu decides to stand back up.
Xumusu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ottway gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Ottway escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Xumusu gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ottway is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Xumusu drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Xumusu jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Xumusu stands and throws Ottway's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ottway is trying to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
John Ottway has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuku Xumusu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

And that's the end of the fight!
Kuku Xumusu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Xumusu 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 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kuku Xumusu!