PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fantinaz Del Norte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalle Kula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Del Norte comes to the cage accompanied by La Coka Nostra - Malverde Market. Kula comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bullet - Bite the Bullet kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Del Norte
vs
Kula

165 cm
35
138 lbs
19 - 9 - 1

158 cm
27
133 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)
Hellbent

SP Ultimate Nutrition
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fantinaz Del Norte!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalle Kula!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Del Norte coming out on top.

Kula looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Del Norte!

Kula is trying to get an arm triangle but Del Norte is defending well.
Del Norte can't do much from the bottom here.
Del Norte is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Kula tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Del Norte is looking to reverse the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Del Norte is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kula off and has taken his back!
Kula is in bad spot here.

Del Norte is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Kula knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Kula for a finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Del Norte working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Kula turns into Del Norte and is now in his guard.

Kula avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Del Norte swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Del Norte has his foot on Kula's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kula works his way back into a safe position though.

Kula is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kula trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kula thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Del Norte 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.

Del Norte has his foot on Kula's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kula works his way back into a safe position though.
Kula tries to free his leg and advance position but Del Norte is retaining full guard.

Del Norte had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kula defends it easily.
Kula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Del Norte swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kula passes Del Norte's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Kula is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Del Norte sees it coming and defends easily.
Del Norte works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kula forces his way into half guard.

Kula is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kula is working away from the top position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kula seems to be looking for submissions.
Del Norte regains full guard. Nicely done.

Kula is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Kula got a little sloppy there for a moment and Del Norte has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kula has managed to get both his arms back between Del Norte's legs - danger averted.
Kula is pushing down on Del Norte's leg trying to pass to half guard. Del Norte is fighting to maintain full guard but Kula has managed to sneak the leg through.
Del Norte trying to control from the bottom.

Del Norte looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte wants to improve his position but Kula is controlling well.

Kula is working for a kimura but Del Norte is defending it quite comfortably.

Kula is working for a submission of some sort.

Kula is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Del Norte doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kula.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Del Norte is defending against the submission attempts here by Kula.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalle Kula dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kula drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Del Norte throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kula stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Kula closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Del Norte to the mat! Del Norte manages to get full guard.

Kula drops back looking for a leg! Del Norte is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Del Norte manages to kick Kula off! Kula jumps back into Del Norte's guard.

Del Norte throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Del Norte is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kula drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kula jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Del Norte can't keep his opponent in guard - Kula advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kula is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Del Norte defends it well.

Kula seems to be looking for submissions.
Del Norte is looking for a sweep. Kula is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Del Norte is working hard here to advance position.

Kula wants to work for an arm triangle but Del Norte is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Del Norte looking for submissions off his back.
Del Norte tries to roll over but Kula keeps him under control.

Kula seems to be working for a kimura but Del Norte defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Del Norte gets back to full guard.
Del Norte trying to keep a closed guard but Kula is proving a slippery customer.

Del Norte had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kula defends it easily.

Kula drops back looking for a leg! Del Norte is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Del Norte manages to kick Kula off! Kula jumps back into Del Norte's guard.
Kula tries to free his leg and advance position but Del Norte is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Del Norte working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kula doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kula manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kula pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Del Norte is keeping the position for now.
Kula sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Del Norte's guard.

Kula seems to be looking for submissions.
Del Norte wants to improve his position but Kula is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kula has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Del Norte has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kula is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Del Norte.
Del Norte tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Kula goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Del Norte has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kula but great work by Del Norte.
Kula is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Del Norte off and has taken his back!

Kula is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Del Norte defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Del Norte just trying to survive but Kula is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Del Norte fending off the submission attempt from Kula.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalle Kula showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jab from Del Norte.
Del Norte misses with a wild body shot.
Del Norte misses with a wild body shot.
Del Norte dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kula.
Kula takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kula tries to move into range but Del Norte moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Del Norte cracks Kula with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kula.
Kula takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kula on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Del Norte throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A lazy left from Del Norte finds it's target.
Del Norte digs a good hook to Kula's body.
Del Norte throws a lazy uppercut

and Kula counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kula drops back looking for a leg! Del Norte is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Del Norte manages to kick Kula off! Kula jumps back into Del Norte's guard.

Del Norte had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kula defends it easily.
Kalle Kula has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Del Norte swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Del Norte is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Kula rolls with it to try and escape but Del Norte cranks on the arm and Kula is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Fantinaz Del Norte!
Fantinaz Del Norte is the new bantamweight champion!
Fantinaz Del Norte took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Dynamo Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.
Kalle Kula spoke after the fight, saying 'Tonight he was stronger then me, but I'll come back, better and stronger then ever! Thanks to all my fans for showing your support!!'.