PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Evil Kullervo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Azuma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kullervo kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Kullervo Entrance Theme. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kullervo
vs
Azuma

186 cm
31
176 lbs
22 - 9 - 1

172 cm
34
169 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Perkele!
BHP Clothing

Lion Fightwear

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 22 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Evil Kullervo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Akira Azuma!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kullervo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kullervo throws a sloppy head kick and Azuma moves out of range easily.
Kullervo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Azuma. Azuma obviously looking to wear him down.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kullervo. Azuma does a little dance to reset his feet.
Azuma fails to land with a series of punches.
Azuma with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kullervo misses with a head kick.
Kullervo staying out of range there.
Kullervo walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Azuma.
Azuma throws a leg kick but Kullervo checks it.
Kullervo has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gutz Gym in the buildup to the fight.
A head kick misses from Kullervo.
Azuma scores with a jab.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azuma misses with a body kick.
Kullervo thinks about countering with a head kick.
Azuma lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azuma lands with a thumping leg kick.
Akira Azuma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azuma throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kullervo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kullervo feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A slapping body kick lands there for Azuma.
A lazy body kick from Azuma

and Kullervo counters by moving into the clinch.

Kullervo pulls Azuma into guard.
Kullervo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Azuma with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Azuma landing with the ground and pound.
Azuma postures up.

Kullervo is looking for a triangle but Azuma pushes his legs off easily.
Azuma throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kullervo trying to keep a closed guard but Azuma is proving a slippery customer.
Azuma has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kullervo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Azuma is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Azuma got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kullervo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Azuma has managed to get both his arms back between Kullervo's legs - danger averted.
Kullervo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Azuma loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Azuma with a flurry of punches that miss.
Azuma missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Kullervo working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Azuma has passed into half guard!

Azuma 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kullervo actively working from the bottom here.
Azuma not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Azuma is thwarting Kullervo's attempts to control the position.
Azuma missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Azuma slips a nice elbow through Kullervo's hands, connecting with Kullervo's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Azuma is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Azuma landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azuma lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Kullervo looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Azuma.
Kullervo is looking to improve his position.
Azuma is nestled in close to Kullervo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Azuma lands strikes from half guard.

Kullervo is rocked!
Azuma lands a massive shot from half guard that has rocked Kullervo! More strikes land and this one is all over! Azuma jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Akira Azuma!
After winning the bout, Akira Azuma thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
The defeated Evil Kullervo had this to say: 'I think my heart is broken.'.