PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luis Kasongo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Nufir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luis Kasongo could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Max Nufir's chin.

Kasongo
vs
Nufir

188 cm
25
179 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

180 cm
26
167 lbs
4 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luis Kasongo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Max Nufir!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kasongo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nufir.
Kasongo swinging wildly here.
Kasongo seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Nufir throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nufir falls off balance throwing a combination

and Kasongo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Nufir manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nufir changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kasongo fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Kasongo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Nufir. Those never looked like landing.
Kasongo displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Nufir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nufir shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Luis Kasongo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Max Nufir.
Nufir looks winded!
Kasongo swats away the attempt to clinch by Nufir.
Nufir throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kasongo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Nufir throws out the jab.
Kasongo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kasongo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Nufir moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice defenses there by Nufir.
It seemed like Nufir was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Kasongo lands a nice looking body shot.
Kasongo misses the shot to the body.
Nufir displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kasongo throws out the jab.
Nufir misses with a takedown attempt
and Kasongo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Nufir rushes Kasongo and presses him up against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Kasongo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nufir is trying to break the clinch but Kasongo is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Nufir's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nufir misses with a short punch on the inside.
Nufir is trying to break the clinch but Kasongo is controlling him.

Kasongo breaks from the clinch.
Nufir doesn't manage to clinch there - Kasongo circles away.

Kasongo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Nufir throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nufir slips a jab and a cross from Kasongo.
Despite the aggression on Nufir's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Nufir fails to land with a series of punches.
It looked like Kasongo was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo cracks Nufir with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kasongo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Nufir counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kasongo throws an overhand right that lands on Nufir's shoulder, as Nufir tries to avoid the shot.
Max Nufir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nufir tries to clinch
and Kasongo counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kasongo lands a head shot.
Kasongo throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Nufir counter with a right hand.
A combination from Nufir does no damage.
Kasongo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kasongo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kasongo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kasongo in side control, throwing shots but Nufir defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasongo is looking to take a break and control but Nufir is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kasongo working the ground and pound from side control.
Nufir is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kasongo asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Nufir takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Kasongo tries for a kimura but Nufir is defending well.
Nufir gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luis Kasongo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nufir throws a right hand that Kasongo ducks under and follows up with a left that Kasongo also avoids with ease.
A slow jab from Nufir misses its intended target.
Kasongo throws a hook but Nufir blocks it.
Nufir looks like he wants to counter punch here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Nufir.
Kasongo takes a swing at Nufir's ribcage but misses.
Luis Kasongo is winning the standup battle so far.
Nufir uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kasongo.
Nufir tries to clinch but Kasongo is having none of it.
Nufir swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kasongo throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nufir misses with a series of wild punches.
Kasongo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nufir moves away.
Nufir is breathing heavily.
Nufir shoots for a takedown but Kasongo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasongo lands an overhand right.
Nufir throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Kasongo shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nufir's guard.
Nufir utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kasongo throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kasongo wants to pass the guard but Nufir is keeping the position.
Kasongo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kasongo wants to control from the top but Nufir keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nufir can't keep his opponent in guard - Kasongo advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kasongo trying to mount his opponent but Nufir defends it.
Kasongo trying to control the action but Nufir is working from the bottom.
We've been informed that Nufir has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Kasongo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kasongo slips a nice elbow through Nufir's hands, connecting with Nufir's forehead.
Nufir is trying to stand up here but Kasongo is controlling him well.
Kasongo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nufir pushes Kasongo off looking to stand but Kasongo dives back in and keeps control.
Kasongo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nufir keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kasongo not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kasongo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kasongo is trying to work for a kimura but Nufir is defending well.
Kasongo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nufir with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kasongo is trying for a kimura here. Nufir looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Kasongo wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Luis Kasongo!