PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tre Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalle Kortelainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Cruz
vs
Kortelainen

201 cm
20
290 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
240 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Good knees
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Fast

Underworld Clothing

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tre Cruz!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kalle Kortelainen!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Steve Montenegro and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kortelainen defending well as Cruz loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Kortelainen misses.
Kortelainen scores with a leg kick.
Kortelainen misses with an uppercut. Cruz saw that one coming.
Kortelainen has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Kortelainen shoots for a takedown but Cruz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A quick step to the side and Cruz tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kortelainen is looking to chop away at Cruz's legs.
Kortelainen scores with a leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kortelainen.
Cruz takes a swing at Kortelainen's ribcage but misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kortelainen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kortelainen throws a hook but Cruz blocks it.
Cruz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kortelainen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Cruz counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz cracks Kortelainen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kortelainen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kalle Kortelainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kortelainen throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kortelainen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cruzs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Kortelainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Cruz.
We've been told by Cruz's head coaches at Thunder MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kortelainen stuns Cruz with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kortelainen connects with a solid leg kick.
Kortelainen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Kortelainen throws a lazy right hand but Cruz sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kortelainen, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz slips under a jab.
Cruz was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kortelainen.
Kortelainen avoids the body shot from Cruz.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kortelainen, right into the meat.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kortelainen, right into the meat.
Kortelainen misses with a body shot.
Kortelainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Cruz is just out of range.
Kortelainen blocks a low kick nicely.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Kortelainen.
Cruz is looking to counter punch.
Kortelainen misses with a leg kick.
Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kortelainen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Cruz lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kortelainen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kortelainen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kortelainen connects with a looping right hand.
Kortelainen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Cruz.
Cruz throws a front kick aimed at Kortelainen's knee but Kortelainen avoids it well.
Kortelainen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cruz's calf.
A jab from Kortelainen misses.
Cruz tries to land a body kick
and Kortelainen counters with a leg kick.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
Cruz tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kortelainen connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kortelainen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Cruz.
Kortelainen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tre Cruz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kalle Kortelainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kortelainen throws a big shot that misses.
Cruz is looking to counter with a body kick.
Kortelainen misses with a looping right.
Cruz takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Cruz misses with a right hand
and Kortelainen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cruz thinking.
Kortelainen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cruz ducks right into an uppercut from Kortelainen.
Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Kortelainen.
Kortelainen scoring well with a low kick there.
Kortelainen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalle Kortelainen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kortelainen misses with a hook
and Cruz counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kortelainen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cruz's head backwards.
Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Kortelainen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Cruz darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kortelainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Cruz.
Cruz misses with a head kick.
Kortelainen misses with a leg kick.
Cruz is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kortelainen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kortelainen throws a leg kick
and Cruz counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kortelainen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kortelainen keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kortelainen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kortelainen advances to mount.
Kortelainen content just to control the position here.
Kortelainen won't let Cruz get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Kortelainen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Cruz is looking to escape.
Cruz's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Kortelainen content just to control the position here.
Cruz is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz has given up his back here. Will Kortelainen look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Kortelainen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Cruz manages to escape to his feet.
Cruz throws a head kick but Kortelainen moves out of range.
Kortelainen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kortelainen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kortelainen. That's going to slow Cruz down.
Kortelainen tests Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kortelainen.
A jab from Kortelainen misses.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Kortelainen.
Kortelainen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kortelainen lands with a shot to the body.
Kortelainen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Kortelainen scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kortelainen throws a leg kick which misses Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as Cruz tries to avoid it.
That kick from Kortelainen tenderised Cruz's leg. Cruz is trying to keep his angry face on.
That kick from Kortelainen tenderised Cruz's leg. Cruz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Cruz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kortelainen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Cruz misses with an uppercut. Kortelainen saw that one coming.
Cruz looks to land a right hand but Kortelainen moved out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Kortelainen misses.
Cruz swings widly with a right hand
and Kortelainen counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cruz comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Cruz just misses with a punch to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Cruz blocks the leg kick.
Cruz swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Cruz looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kortelainen thumps Cruz with a low kick.
Kortelainen jabs Cruz to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Cruz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Kortelainen misses the target.
A little feinted left hand from Cruz on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kortelainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Kortelainen scores with a shot to the body.
Kortelainen misses with a left hand
and Cruz counters with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kalle Kortelainen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Cruz throws a body punch but Kortelainen moves out of range.
Kortelainen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cruz throws a body kick that misses.
A low kick from Kortelainen misses
and Cruz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Cruz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kortelainen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kortelainen blocks a jab.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kortelainen.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kortelainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kortelainen lands a really nice looking cross but Cruz seems unphased.
Kortelainen rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Cruz counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kortelainen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cruz's sensitive parts.
Kortelainen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kalle Kortelainen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A big right from Cruz misses.
Kortelainen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Cruz momentarily.
Kortelainen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Kortelainen misses with a straight left.
Cruz was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Kortelainen connects with a crisp jab.
Cruz moves away from the strike by Kortelainen.
As Kortelainen backs away, Cruz returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kortelainen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cruz throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kortelainen needs to keep his hands up - Cruz had a free shot at his head there.
Kortelainen connects with a leg kick. Cruz looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kortelainen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cruz's sensitive parts.
Kortelainen connects with an inside leg kick.
Good shot there by Cruz.
Tre Cruz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kortelainen lands with a shot to the body.
Kortelainen throws a body punch but Cruz moves out of range.
Cruz is looking to counter punch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kortelainen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kortelainen blocks a head kick by Cruz.
Kortelainen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Cruz is out of range and Kortelainen settles back down.
Kortelainen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Cruz moves away.
Kortelainen throws a front kick aimed at Cruz's knee but Cruz avoids it well.
Kortelainen connects with a body shot.
Kortelainen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cruz. That did some damage!
Kortelainen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kortelainen throws a looping overhand right but Cruz ducks down to avoid it.
Cruz tries a head kick but it misses.
Cruz ducks under a wild hook from Kortelainen.
Cruz appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kortelainen wants to slow Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
Kortelainen scores with a leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Cruz checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cruz tries to land a body kick
and Kortelainen counters with a good low kick that Cruz was not able to check.

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

Cruz throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A leg kick checked by Kortelainen.
Cruz cracks Kortelainen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kortelainen clobbers Cruz with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kortelainen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalle Kortelainen really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kortelainen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Cruz looks to throw the jab but Kortelainen is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Cruz.
A low kick from Cruz misses
and Kortelainen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kortelainen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Cruz.
Cruz avoids the body shot from Kortelainen.
Cruz's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Cruz throws a hook to the side of Kortelainen's head but Kortelainen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kortelainen lands with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kortelainen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Cruz is defending against the submission attempts here by Kortelainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruz is not content to let Kortelainen control the position.
Kortelainen prevents Cruz from standing back up.

Kortelainen is looking for a kimura here.

Kortelainen is trying to work for a kimura but Cruz is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Kortelainen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Kortelainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cruz keeps working.
Cruz is trying to stand up here but Kortelainen is controlling him well.
Kalle Kortelainen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cruz is refusing to be controlled, as Kortelainen sits in half guard.
Kortelainen uses his free foot to push down on Cruz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Cruz.

Kortelainen looking for a guillotine from mount but Cruz is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kortelainen with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Cruz is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Kortelainen moves to back control.
Cruz is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Cruz is trying to get back to his feet but Kortelainen has full control of the position and if anything, Cruz has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kortelainen keeps control of the position easily here as Cruz tries to buck him off.

Kortelainen is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Cruz is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kalle Kortelainen!
Kalle Kortelainen is the new super heavyweight champion!
After winning the bout, Kalle Kortelainen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.