PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mark Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Glen Dale Arizona (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Glen Dale Arizona told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kuusela
vs
Dale Arizona

165 cm
20
163 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

180 cm
31
163 lbs
14 - 19 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mark Kuusela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Glen Dale Arizona!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Donatello Bradman and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Arizona decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Arizona throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kuusela wants to control but Arizona is keeping busy.
Arizona throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Arizona throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Arizona is looking to take a break and control but Kuusela is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Arizona thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Arizona wants to control but Kuusela is keeping him busy.
Kuusela trying to control here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Arizona gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kuusela is trying to pull guard but Arizona turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arizona breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Arizona closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Arizona sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuusela defending well though.

Arizona stands up and beckons Kuusela to join him on the feet.
Kuusela takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Arizona throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kuusela showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arizona.
Arizona misses with a jab, cross combination.
Arizona looks winded!
Kuusela takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Arizona connects with a body shot.
Arizona fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kuusela avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Arizona tries to clinch but Kuusela moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Arizona looking to score a takedown here. Kuusela is defending well but Arizona drives through and ends up in Kuusela's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Arizona drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Arizona jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kuusela controls Arizona momentarily but Arizona frees himself.
Arizona wants to stand but Kuusela is controlling his posture from full guard.
Arizona must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kuusela is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Arizona loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arizona accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Arizona stands up and waves to Kuusela to follow him.

Arizona closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Arizona prevents Kuusela from improving his position.
Arizona wants to stand but Kuusela has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Arizona decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Kuusela throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Arizona scores with a head kick.
Arizona fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kuusela throws a body punch but Arizona moves out of range.

Arizona has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Arizona breaks the clinch.

Arizona has closed the distance and engaged Kuusela in a clinch.

Arizona pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Arizona gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Arizona lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arizona lands a nice knee to the body.
Arizona with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Arizona lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Kuusela takes an elbow to the forehead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Glen Dale Arizona dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A left and a right from Arizona both land. Nice combination.
Arizona moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Arizona dives in and scores a takedown into Kuusela's guard.
Kuusela trying to control the position.
Arizona pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuusela is keeping the position for now.
Arizona slips nicely into half guard.
Arizona is trying to control. Kuusela wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kuusela has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Arizona is on him like a limpet, forcing Kuusela back against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuusela.
Kuusela letting Arizona take a breather here.
Arizona is breathing heavily.
Kuusela fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Arizona escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Glen Dale Arizona is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Arizona looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kuusela!
Kuusela manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Arizona passes into side control, despite Kuusela's attempt to control the position.

Arizona stands up and beckons Kuusela to his feet.

Arizona changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kuusela looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Arizona is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kuusela knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Arizona looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arizona tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Arizona has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arizona working away.

Arizona stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kuusela has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Kuusela tries to sprawl but Arizona drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Arizona seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Kuusela trying to control but Arizona postures up.

Kuusela looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Arizona wants to stand up but Kuusela has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arizona decides to stand and escape the position.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Arizona - that will leave a mark!
Arizona fails to land with a series of punches.

Arizona gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kuusela jumps guard but Arizona turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Arizona breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Arizona gets a clinch.

Kuusela is fighting off a takedown attempt but Arizona is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kuusela to the mat. Kuusela regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kuusela not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arizona has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kuusela is proving hard to escape from.
Kuusela keeping full guard, as Arizona tries to pass.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kuusela looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Arizona wanted to stand there but Kuusela had control of the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mark Kuusela just wasn't active enough.
Arizona lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Arizona.
Arizona looks to land a combination but Kuusela avoids it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuusela will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuusela throws the kick towards the body but Arizona avoids it.
Glen Dale Arizona seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Arizona clinches up with Kuusela and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Glen Dale Arizona showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Kuusela's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Arizona scores with a push kick.
Kuusela fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Arizona tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kuusela paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kuusela fails to land the takedown.

Arizona has Kuusela up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuusela tries to pull guard but Arizona won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Kuusela. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Arizona breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuusela takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Arizona moves into the clinch.
Kuusela tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Arizona smiles and moves away.
Arizona paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arizona throws a nice inside leg kick.

Arizona fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuusela, pushing him back against the cage.

Arizona escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuusela shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Arizona but Arizona pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Arizona pushes Kuusela up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuusela is trying to stall.
Arizona taking a breather.
Arizona lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Arizona smiles and moves away.

Arizona fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuusela, pushing him back against the cage.
Come on Arizona - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kuusela jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Arizona walks away with a smile on his face. Kuusela gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Arizona goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Arizona stuffs the takedown attempt from Kuusela. Kuusela gets slowly back to his feet.

Arizona fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kuusela sprawls well initially but Arizona persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuusela is trying to maintain the position but Arizona is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arizona gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Arizona looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Arizona accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mark Kuusela has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kuusela is working an open guard so Arizona takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
A head kick from Arizona lands but Kuusela takes it in his stride.
Kuusela takes a jab right on the kisser.

Arizona fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kuusela, pushing him back against the cage.

Arizona breaks the clinch.

Arizona looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kuusela!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Arizona wants to stand but Kuusela is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arizona is looking to take a break and control but Kuusela is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee asks Arizona politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Arizona prefers to stall for the moment though.
Kuusela wants to control but Arizona postures up.
Arizona is putting a hurting on Kuusela here, landing some big shots from side control.
Glen Dale Arizona is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Arizona decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kuusela shoots for a double leg takedown but Arizona sprawls well. He's pushed Kuusela's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Kuusela. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Arizona gets a clinch.
Arizona just leaning against Kuusela, taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Arizona.

And that's the end of the fight!
Glen Dale Arizona comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Arizona has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Glen Dale Arizona!
Glen Dale Arizona took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.