PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jurmas Uusisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Sykloni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Uusisto comes to the cage accompanied by System Of A Down - B.Y.O.B.. Sykloni comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Within Temptation - Whole World Is Watching kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Uusisto
vs
Sykloni

177 cm
34
178 lbs
37 - 18 - 1

188 cm
32
184 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Modern Wear Apparel & Laundry Services 80% LAUNDRY

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jurmas Uusisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sami Sykloni!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uusisto throws a looping overhand right but Sykloni ducks down to avoid it.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Sykloni has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Uusisto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sykloni raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Uusisto moves out of range as Sykloni strikes.
Uusisto shoots and misses
and Sykloni makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Uusisto.
Uusisto lands with a cross.
A head kick misses from Uusisto.
Uusisto on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A jab from Sykloni finds it's way through Uusisto's defenses.
Uusisto takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Sykloni moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like Jurmas Uusisto has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A left lands for Sykloni.
Uusisto walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Sykloni lands a jab to the nose.

Uusisto is rocked!
Sykloni slips under a jab.
Oh Uusisto is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Sykloni checks a leg kick.
Uusisto seems to have got his legs back now.
Sykloni avoids a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uusisto fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sykloni is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Uusisto.
Sykloni has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Uusisto uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sykloni.
Uusisto drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sykloni sprawls and moves away.
Sykloni swings widly with a right hand
and Uusisto counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Uusisto fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Good standup being displayed there by Sykloni as he connects with a hook.

Sykloni 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sykloni controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni stopping the sweep attempt from Uusisto.
Uusisto can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Sykloni controls the pace.
Sykloni trying to control but Uusisto is working from the bottom.

Uusisto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sykloni slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sykloni throws a strike but Uusisto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uusisto is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Sykloni keeping moving, preventing Uusisto from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Sykloni has Uusisto pulled in close to control his posture.
Uusisto trying to control the position from guard on top but Sykloni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Sykloni drives through with a takedown into Uusisto's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Uusisto being controlled here, momentarily.
Sykloni stands up over Uusisto, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Sykloni stopping the sweep attempt from Uusisto.
Sykloni tries to free his leg and advance position but Uusisto is retaining full guard.
Uusisto is pulling down on Sykloni's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Sykloni dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jurmas Uusisto's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Uusisto gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Sykloni counters with a straight right hand.
Sykloni with a jab.
Sykloni connects with the punch.
Sykloni lands with a cross.
Horrible takedown attempt by Uusisto or perhaps it was just good defense by Sykloni, which made it look bad.
Sami Sykloni seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Sykloni has Uusisto up against the cage in a clinch.
Sykloni blocks a body shot from Uusisto.
Good body shot from Uusisto.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sykloni lands a left hand that snaps the head of Uusisto backwards.
Uusisto blocking some punches.
Uusisto swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A bit of stalling here from Uusisto.
Uusisto looking to slow down the pace here.
Sykloni scores with a shot to the side of Uusisto's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uusisto blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sykloni scores with a shot to the side of Uusisto's head.
Uusisto tries to work over Sykloni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Sykloni pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sykloni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Uusisto.
It seemed like Sykloni was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Sykloni turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Uusisto on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Uusisto misses with a hook.
Uusisto looks for the body kick but Sykloni saw that one coming.
Sykloni looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Uusisto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sykloni fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Uusisto looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Uusisto avoids the body shot from Sykloni.
Uusisto half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Sykloni.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sykloni looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sykloni manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Uusisto on his heels. He'll look to pass Uusisto's guard now, I'm sure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Uusisto looking for a guillotine here but Sykloni defends easily.
Sykloni stays in close to Uusisto's body and controls the position.
Sykloni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Uusisto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sykloni stopping the sweep attempt from Uusisto.

Uusisto looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sykloni trying to control but Uusisto is working from the bottom.
Uusisto trying to control the position.

Uusisto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Uusisto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sykloni passes Uusisto's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sykloni is trying to control the action in half guard but Uusisto is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sykloni wants to pass to mount but Uusisto is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sykloni is thwarting Uusisto's attempts to control the position.
Sykloni wants to control but Uusisto is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Uusisto throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sykloni looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Uusisto darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Uusisto keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Uusisto, right into the meat.
Sykloni tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Uusisto tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sykloni sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Uusisto somewhat.
A shot to the liver by Sykloni. Beautiful body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Sykloni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jurmas Uusisto's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A lazy body kick from Uusisto
and Sykloni counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Sykloni closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Sykloni lands in his opponent's guard.
Sykloni 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.
Sykloni pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Uusisto is keeping the position for now.
Uusisto trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Uusisto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Uusisto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sykloni is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Sykloni passes Uusisto's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Sykloni lands strikes from half guard.
Sykloni seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Uusisto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Sykloni has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sykloni with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Uusisto won't allow Sykloni to pass to mount.

Uusisto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Uusisto has hold of Sykloni's hands but Sykloni slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Uusisto is trying to control but can't.
Uusisto wants to improve his position but Sykloni is controlling well.
Uusisto trying to control here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sykloni scores with a nice head shot.
Sykloni bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Uusisto's head backwards.
Jurmas Uusisto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sykloni smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Uusisto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Sykloni circles away quickly and effectively.
Sykloni with a nice cross.
Uusisto lands with a cross.
Uusisto misses with a hook.

Sykloni shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Sykloni prevents Uusisto from improving his position.
Sami Sykloni is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Sykloni is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Uusisto wants to get back to full guard.
Sykloni keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Let's hope that Sykloni has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A big right from Uusisto misses.
Uusisto tries to clinch there but Sykloni circles away.
A combination from Uusisto does no damage.
Sykloni scores with a jab to the body.
Uusisto lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sykloni decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Uusisto has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sykloni is working away from the top position though.
Sykloni stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Sykloni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sykloni 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Sykloni!
During a confident post fight interview, Sami Sykloni thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.