PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kalle Kortelainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Souza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabriel Souza is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Kortelainen
vs
Souza

180 cm
20
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
225 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kalle Kortelainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gabriel Souza!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kortelainen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Souza looking to control.
Kortelainen pushing down on Souza's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Souza throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Kortelainen is looking to advance position but Souza won't allow it.
Souza is trying to get back to full guard.

Souza actively working from the bottom here.
Still in half guard, Kortelainen seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Souza is defending against the submission attempts here by Kortelainen.
Kortelainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Souza keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souza tries to get to full guard but Kortelainen has control of the leg.

Kortelainen is working for a kimura but Souza is defending it quite comfortably.
Souza felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Kortelainen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Souza is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kortelainen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kortelainen's back!
Kortelainen turns into Souza and is now in his guard.
Souza should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Kortelainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kortelainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kortelainen tries to free his leg and advance position but Souza is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Souza looking for subs off his back but Kortelainen has passed one foot through into half guard.

Souza looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kortelainen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kortelainen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kortelainen controlling the pace.
Souza tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kortelainen seems to be working for a kimura but Souza defends the submission attempt.
Kortelainen stalling.
Kortelainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Souza keeps working.
Kortelainen tries to pass to full mount but Souza defends it.
Souza tries to roll over but Kortelainen keeps him under control.
Kortelainen is looking to take a break and control but Souza is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Souza won't allow Kortelainen to pass to mount.

Kortelainen is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kortelainen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Souza is looking to control Kortelainen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Souza avoid being mounted?
Souza tries to get to full guard but Kortelainen has control of the leg.

Souza looking for a kimura from the bottom but Kortelainen passes into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalle Kortelainen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kortelainen misses the jab.
Souza tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Kortelainen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Kortelainen is working for a submission of some sort.
Kortelainen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kortelainen tries to control but Souza wriggling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kortelainen working for a guillotine from mount but Souza is in no mood to give up.
Souza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kalle Kortelainen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kortelainen pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Kortelainen looking to control but Souza is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kortelainen controlling the position easily from mount.
Kortelainen takes Souza's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Souza is in trouble.

Souza preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Kortelainen.

Souza defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Souza is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Kortelainen gets his way!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kortelainen working for the choke.
Kortelainen keeps control of the position as Souza tries to break free.
Souza manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kortelainen's guard. Nice work there by Souza.
Kortelainen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kortelainen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kortelainen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Souza knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Souza is looking to improve his position.

Kortelainen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Kortelainen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Souza has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kortelainen trying to pass the guard but Souza defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.

Kortelainen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Well, if Kortelainen 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.
Souza is looking to get back to full guard here but Kortelainen has managed to pass to side control instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kortelainen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Souza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalle Kortelainen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kortelainen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Kortelainen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kortelainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Souza swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kortelainen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Souza can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kortelainen 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.
Kortelainen pushing down on Souza's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kortelainen wants to pass to mount but Souza is defending the position.
Souza strikes from the bottom but Kortelainen passes into mount!
Kortelainen is trying to control here but Souza has managed to regain half guard.

Souza actively working from the bottom here.
Kortelainen is trying to control. Souza wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kortelainen moves into full mount! Souza won't be happy about that!
Souza is desperately trying to improve his position but Kortelainen has a good base and remains in mount.
Souza is still trying to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kortelainen controlling from the full mount.

Kortelainen wants to finish this one by submission but Souza is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kortelainen.
Souza is trying to escape the mount.
Kortelainen content just to control the position here.
Souza is working to get back to half guard.
Kortelainen wants to control the pace but Souza is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souza throwing hammer fists to the chest of Kortelainen. What's that going to do exactly?
Kortelainen fails to take his opponent's back.

Kortelainen working for a guillotine from mount but Souza is in no mood to give up.
Kortelainen wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Kortelainen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kortelainen is trying to take his opponent's back.
Gabriel Souza has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souza throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Souza sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kortelainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Souza keeps working.
Souza throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

Kortelainen looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Souza looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kalle Kortelainen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kortelainen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight for Kalle Kortelainen!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Kalle Kortelainen!
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight for Kalle Kortelainen!

Kalle Kortelainen wins by unanimous decision!