PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joey Silvera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armo Kuusela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silvera's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Wedlock. Kuusela comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Promentory kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Silvera
vs
Kuusela

185 cm
33
193 lbs
28 - 17 - 1

192 cm
37
195 lbs
32 - 15 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Hellbent

All 160
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Joey Silvera!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Armo Kuusela!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuusela uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silvera.
Kuusela walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kuusela throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kuusela misses the jab.
Kuusela tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silvera was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuusela.
Jab by Silvera.
Kuusela uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Silvera.
Silvera keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuusela.
Kuusela scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Silvera misses with a hook.
Silvera throws a hook to the side of Kuusela's head but Kuusela sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kuusela moves away from the strike by Silvera.
Donk. Kuusela catches Silvera right on the button with a cross.
Kuusela throws a sloppy head kick and Silvera moves out of range easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuusela misses the shot to the body.
Silvera has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Silvera cracks Kuusela with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusela fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Silvera manages to avoid it.
Silvera bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kuusela doesn't manage to clinch there - Silvera circles away.
Kuusela tries to clinch there but Silvera circles away.
Silvera connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kuusela's hands.
Silvera moves in looking to clinch but Kuusela pushes him off.
Silvera takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kuusela steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Silvera.
Kuusela throws the left hand but Silvera avoids the punch easily.
Kuusela looks for the body kick but Silvera saw that one coming.
Silvera lands with a thumping leg kick.
Silvera is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Silvera is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silvera swinging wildly here.

Silvera clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Silvera.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kuusela.
Silvera throws a knee to the head but misses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Silvera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuusela lands a body punch.
Silvera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Silvera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kuusela is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silvera is defending well for now.
Silvera is pushing Kuusela up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kuusela throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Silveras head.
Silvera working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kuusela letting Silvera take a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvera gets through Kuusela's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Silvera tries to stall but Kuusela uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kuusela blocks an uppercut.
Silvera has a couple of punches blocked by Kuusela.
Kuusela works on Silvera's body with a couple of short punches.
A short right from Silvera on the inside.
Silvera throws a punch but it's blocked by Kuusela.
Kuusela blocks a body shot from Silvera.
Kuusela pushes Silvera back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Silvera as Kuusela tries to tie him up.
Silvera prevents a body shot from Kuusela.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuusela.
Kuusela misses with a knee strike.
Kuusela trying to land knees to the body.
Kuusela blocks the elbow strike.
Silvera working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Silvera is defending well for now.
Kuusela misses with a punch to the body.
Kuusela taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Kuusela is trying to force a seperation but Silvera has the dominant position.
Kuusela tries a knee to the head but Silvera blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusela is trying to push Silvera away but Silvera has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kuusela misses with a punch on the inside.
Silvera missing with knees to the body.
Silvera misses with the head strike.
Silvera can't find room to land a body shot as Kuusela controls the action.
Silvera blocks a body shot from Kuusela.
Kuusela blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kuusela misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuusela lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Silvera backwards.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuusela tries a knee to the head but Silvera blocks it.
Silvera misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuusela.
Silvera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kuusela's face.
Silvera working aggressively here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kuusela slips a jab from Silvera.
Silvera feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kuusela's calf.
Kuusela works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kuusela connects with an inside leg kick.
Silvera wants to clinch.
Silvera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuusela.
Kuusela swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Silvera.
Kuusela dodges the punch combination from Silvera.
A good leg kick by Kuusela.
Silvera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuusela.
A jab from Kuusela misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvera wants to clinch up but Kuusela keeps it at a distance.
Kuusela fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Silvera looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kuusela tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Silvera manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Joey Silvera is winning the standup battle so far.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kuusela.
A slow jab from Silvera misses its intended target.

Kuusela clinches up against the cage.
Silvera tries to throw a body punch but Kuusela avoids it by throwing Silvera back against the cage.
Silvera blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kuusela lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Silvera or not.
A right hook to the body lands for Kuusela.
Silvera tries to work over Kuusela's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kuusela stalling the fight.

Kuusela pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Silvera attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Silvera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela throws a leg kick which misses Silvera's front leg but catches the back leg as Silvera tries to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuusela tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Silvera was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuusela.
Silvera throws a jab when Kuusela was well out of range.
Joey Silvera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Silvera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Silvera takes one on the button.
Kuusela is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Kuusela lands with an overhand left.
Silvera throws a hook to the side of Kuusela's head but Kuusela sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Silvera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kuusela misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuusela.
Kuusela has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kuusela misses with a punch to the body.
Kuusela misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvera misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kuusela blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Silvera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kuusela avoids it.
Silvera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Silvera being controlled against the cage.
Silvera lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Silvera swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuusela uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice left hand lands by Kuusela.
Kuusela tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silvera's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Silvera.
Kuusela prevents a body shot from Silvera.
Kuusela looking to slow down the pace here.
Silvera pushes Kuusela back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Silvera controls his hands.
Silvera working aggressively here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Silvera misses with a punch on the inside.
Silvera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuusela tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Silvera avoids it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kuusela.
Silvera misses with a punch on the inside.
Kuusela working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Silvera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kuusela's elbow.
Kuusela cracks Silvera with a nice body shot.
Kuusela tries to stall but Silvera uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kuusela with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silvera is trying to stall.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
With the fighters up against the cage, Silvera throws an elbow but misses.
Kuusela works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Silvera pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Kuusela tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
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.
That's time! Silvera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kuusela thuds a left hand into Silvera's body.
Silvera moves out of range of the strikes.
Silvera uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuusela.
Silvera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kuusela swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slow jab from Silvera misses its intended target.
Silvera wants to clinch
and Kuusela makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A punch combination from Silvera misses.
Silvera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuusela.
Kuusela throws a quick inside leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Silvera.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kuusela. Silvera does a little dance to reset his feet.
Silvera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
The fight stays on the outside here - Silvera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvera listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kuusela misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Silvera.
Kuusela throws a right hand that misses

and Silvera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Silvera trying to control the position but instead, Kuusela has worked for underhooks and has pushed Silvera into the cage.
Kuusela blocking some punches.
Kuusela lands a nice uppercut.
Silvera dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kuusela leaning against his opponent.
Kuusela tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Silvera's elbow.
Kuusela tries a body shot but Silvera blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Silvera.
Kuusela lands a left hand.
A short left from Kuusela.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusela pressing his opponent against the cage.
Silvera lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kuusela looking to slow down the pace here.
Silvera has a couple of punches blocked by Kuusela.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Silvera throws an elbow but it misses.
Silvera lands a body shot.
Silvera avoids a wild elbow strike from Kuusela.
Kuusela tries to work over Silvera's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Silvera just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kuusela's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silvera will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kuusela up against the cage.
Kuusela can't find room to land a body shot as Silvera controls the action.
Silvera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silvera misses with a hook to the ribs.

Kuusela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Silvera. Kuusela does a little dance to reset his feet.
Silvera wants to clinch.
Kuusela tries a head kick but it misses.
Kuusela tries to work over Silvera's front leg with a kick but Silvera checks it.
Kuusela walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Silvera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuusela manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvera uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuusela.
Kuusela uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Silvera.
Silvera keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kuusela lands with a hook. Silvera tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Silvera misses with a looping left.
Kuusela has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Kuusela keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Silvera throws an off balance right hand
and Kuusela makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kuusela just misses with a punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Silvera. Those never looked like landing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silvera moves out of range of the body kick from Kuusela.
Kuusela throws a body kick that misses
and Silvera counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Kuusela lands a nice hook to Silvera's body. Silvera takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kuusela throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armo Kuusela really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice defenses there by Kuusela.
Kuusela connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Silvera momentarily.
Silvera misses with a left hand

and Kuusela counters by moving into the clinch.
Kuusela working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Silvera lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kuusela backwards.
Silvera swings wildly with an uppercut but Kuusela uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knees to the body from Silvera.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Silvera controls his hands.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Armo Kuusela seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuusela goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Silvera tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Silvera misses with a knee to the head.
Silvera makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kuusela.
Silvera lands a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silvera lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Silvera.
Kuusela is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Silvera struggles to land a body shot inside as Kuusela controls his hands.
Kuusela misses with a punch to the body.
Kuusela with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kuusela tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Silvera tries to work over Kuusela's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kuusela managing to block the knees to the body from Silvera.
Come on Silvera - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kuusela tries to stall but Silvera uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kuusela creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela tries to land a knee to the head but Silvera blocks with his arms.
Kuusela struggles to land a body shot inside as Silvera controls his hands.
Silvera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kuusela has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Silvera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kuusela's elbow.
Kuusela blocks an uppercut.
Silvera misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuusela stalls.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kuusela with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Silvera fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Silvera working aggressively here.
A short body shot lands from Kuusela as the two fighters clinch.
Silvera works on Kuusela's body with a couple of short punches.
Silvera unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusela misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Silvera.
Kuusela wants to break free but Silvera has control.
Kuusela dodges an elbow strike from Silvera.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Silvera creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Silvera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kuusela's defenses.
Silvera misses with an elbow strike.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kuusela blocking some punches.
Kuusela cracks Silvera with a nice body shot.
Silvera has a couple of punches blocked by Kuusela.
Silvera holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kuusela misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kuusela with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kuusela's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Silvera can't find room to land a body shot as Kuusela controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silvera has a couple of punches blocked by Kuusela.
Kuusela is looking to control Silvera's arms but Silvera gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kuusela has his back to the cage.
Silvera scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right hook to the body lands for Kuusela.
Silvera tries to land a knee to the head but Kuusela blocks with his arms.
Silvera with a knee to the head.

Kuusela is rocked!
Silvera tries to stall but Kuusela uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kuusela is still on wobbly legs! Can Silvera finish him?
Silvera misses with a hook from the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Silvera has a couple of punches blocked by Kuusela.
Kuusela tries to stall but Silvera uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kuusela seems to have recovered his senses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kuusela lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kuusela misses with a knee strike.
Silvera stalling in the clinch but Kuusela improves position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Silvera had his way with Armo Kuusela in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Silvera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Silvera works the jab nicely.
Kuusela throws a hook but Silvera avoids it easily.
The fighters circle momentarily. Silvera darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kuusela jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Silvera cracks Kuusela with a big right hand that sees him stumbling back against the cage! Kuusela falls to his knees and Silvera doesn't need a second invitatation - he rushes in and fires off several unanswered shots that force the referee to stop the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joey Silvera!
Joey Silvera retains his middleweight title!
Joey Silvera took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'In nomine dei nostri satanas luciferi excelsi!'.