PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jaani Latvala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Angle Kurtis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kurtis comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Savages by Theory of a Deadman kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Latvala
vs
Kurtis

191 cm
25
273 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

194 cm
25
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaani Latvala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Angle Kurtis!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kurtis closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kurtis lands in his opponent's guard.
Kurtis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kurtis throwing strikes from guard but Latvala blocks nicely.
Kurtis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Latvala is keeping the position for now.

Kurtis 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.
Kurtis distracts Latvala with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Latvala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kurtis on the ground.
Latvala preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kurtis is pushing down on Latvala's leg trying to pass to half guard. Latvala is fighting to maintain full guard but Kurtis has managed to sneak the leg through.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurtis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Kurtis is working for a kimura but Latvala is defending it quite comfortably.
Kurtis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Latvala's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurtis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Latvala on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Latvala tries to get out of the position.

Kurtis is working for a kimura but Latvala is defending it quite comfortably.

Kurtis seems to be working for a kimura but Latvala defends the submission attempt.
Kurtis looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Latvala is looking for a sweep. Kurtis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kurtis seems to be looking for submissions.
Kurtis not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Latvala could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kurtis not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kurtis is looking to advance position but Latvala won't allow it.
Latvala tries to get to full guard but Kurtis has control of the leg.
Latvala is controlling Kurtis's position as best he can from this difficult position.

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

Kurtis 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.
Kurtis wants to pass the guard but Latvala is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Latvala preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Latvala looks like he's trying to stand up.
Latvala tries to get to full guard but Kurtis has control of the leg.
Kurtis not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kurtis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Latvala defending well though.

Kurtis is working for a kimura but Latvala is defending it quite comfortably.
Latvala is controlling Kurtis's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's four 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.
Kurtis working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Latvala tries to roll over but Kurtis keeps him under control.
Latvala is trying to maintain the position but Kurtis is very close to passing his half guard.
Latvala on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Kurtis is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Latvala defends it well.
Kurtis working Latvala over with strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kurtis uses his free foot to push down on Latvala's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Latvala.
Latvala looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Latvala taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Angle Kurtis 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.

Kurtis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Latvala lands with a shot to the body.
Kurtis fails with a takedown attempt.

Kurtis shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Latvala napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Kurtis is trying to get an arm triangle but Latvala is defending well.
Kurtis misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Latvala holding on.

Kurtis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Latvala is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kurtis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kurtis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Latvala is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kurtis looks up at the clock and then as Latvala takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kurtis smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Kurtis looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kurtis misses with the ground and pound.

Kurtis tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kurtis has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kurtis in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Latvala tries to improve position but can't.
Latvala is working hard here to advance position.
You can see the frustration on Latvala's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kurtis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Latvala, who protects the arm well.
Latvala tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kurtis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Latvala struggling a bit here.

Kurtis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Latvala, who protects the arm well.
Kurtis working away.
Angle Kurtis has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kurtis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Latvala, who protects the arm well.

Kurtis is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Latvala has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Latvala manages to get back to half guard.
Kurtis looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kurtis working Latvala over with strikes.

Kurtis is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Latvala is holding on to half guard well.
Kurtis works his way into full mount!
Kurtis thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Latvala holds on to Kurtis as tight as he can, avoiding damage.
Latvala wants to control but Kurtis is having none of it.
Kurtis throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Latvala tries to reverse the position but Kurtis maintains control.
Kurtis tries to push Latvala's head away but Latvala is holding on tight.
Latvala takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Kurtis has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Latvala is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Angle Kurtis!
During a confident post fight interview, Angle Kurtis thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.