PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Evil Kullervo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Player (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kullervo comes to the cage accompanied by Kullervo Entrance Theme. Player has chosen Kevin Gates feat. August Alsina - I Don't Get Tired as his entrance music. 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
Player

186 cm
32
176 lbs
22 - 10 - 1

178 cm
41
173 lbs
34 - 20 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)
Voodoo Nutrition

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 - 10 - 1, fighting out of London, Evil Kullervo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gary Player!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kullervo throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Player bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Player lands a really nice looking cross but Kullervo seems unphased.
Kullervo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Player.
Player bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Player lands with an overhand left.
Kullervo ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Player lands with a slapping head kick.
Kullervo looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kullervo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Player eats them both and turns towards Kullervo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Player looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kullervo throws a body punch but Player moves out of range.
Kullervo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kullervo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Player.
Kullervo takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Player scores with a body shot.
Kullervo misses with a body shot.
Kullervo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Player lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A jab from Kullervo does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Player takes one to the chin there.
Player tries a head kick but it misses.
Kullervo misses with a wild combination.
Kullervo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Player throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kullervo fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kullervo throws a body punch but Player moves out of range.
Player throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kullervo moves away from the strike by Player.
Kullervo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Player paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kullervo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Player avoids the body shot from Kullervo.
Player uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kullervo.
Kullervo on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Player. Player obviously looking to wear him down.
Kullervo throws a right hand that misses
and Player counters with a big head kick but Kullervo shrugs it off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good leg kick by Player there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kullervo tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Player was well out of range. Poor timing from Kullervo.
Kullervo slips a jab from Player.
Kullervo ducks under a wild hook from Player.
Kullervo throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kullervo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Player swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Player blocks a jab.
Player lands a really nice looking cross but Kullervo seems unphased.
Player connects with a solid leg kick.
Player throws a jab when Kullervo was well out of range.
Kullervo connects with a body shot that sends Player's belly button to the back.
Player fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kullervo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Nice cross by Player.
Player slips a jab and a cross from Kullervo.
Player thumps Kullervo with a low kick.
Kullervo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kullervo lands with an uppercut that bounces Player off the cage and back into range.
Kullervo is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Player pivots, looking for a leg kick but Kullervo is out of range and Player settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Player keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Kullervo throws a head kick that lands with a deafening thwack! The crowd roars as Player stumbles backwards and falls to the mat. Kullervo follows into mount!

Player is rocked!
Player bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Player wants to control from the top but Kullervo keeps moving.

Kullervo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Player is aware though and is defending well.
Player looking to sit in guard and control but Kullervo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kullervo stopping the sweep attempt from Player.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kullervo tries to free his leg and advance position but Player is retaining full guard.
Player with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Kullervo can't handle though.
Kullervo won't allow Player to sweep him here.
Player is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kullervo looking to pass the guard.
Player controls Kullervo momentarily but Kullervo frees himself.
Player is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kullervo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Player swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Player tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evil Kullervo 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.

Player avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Player steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kullervo.
Player lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Player.
Kullervo digs a good body shot into Player's ribs.
Player moves out of range as Kullervo strikes.
Kullervo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kullervo just misses with a punch to the body.
Kullervo feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Players jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Player scores with a nice strike.
Player looks to throw the jab but Kullervo is out of range.
Kullervo slips a jab from Player.
Kullervo looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Kullervo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Player fails to land.
Kullervo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kullervo.
Player wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kullervo has him pressed against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kullervo.
Kullervo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kullervo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Players head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kullervo.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kullervo.
Kullervo misses with a body punch.
Kullervo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kullervo working aggressively here.
Kullervo scores with a shot to the side of Player's head.

Player escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kullervo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Player keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kullervo throws a series of punches but Player avoids them all with ease.
Kullervo slips a jab from Player.
Kullervo takes a swing at Player's ribcage but misses.
Kullervo throws a hook but Player blocks it.
Kullervo misses the shot to the body.
Kullervo blocks the body kick.
Kullervo checks a leg kick nicely.
Donk. Kullervo catches Player right on the button with a cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Player scores with a nice head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Player fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kullervo misses with an uppercut.
Kullervo misses with an uppercut.
Player throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Player lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Player throws a leg kick but Kullervo sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kullervo wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Kullervo takes the fight into the clinch.

Kullervo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kullervo tries to clinch there but Player circles away.

Kullervo knocks Player to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

It looks like Gary Player has been cut.
Player is trying to improve his position.
Kullervo working away.
Player gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Player is looking to improve his position.
Kullervo has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Kullervo is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Player is just riding it out for now. Kullervo eventually gives up the hold.
Player makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Player.
Player controls Kullervo momentarily but Kullervo frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Player wants to sweep here but Kullervo controlling him for the moment.
Player striking off his back but it's not causing Kullervo any problems.
Kullervo pushes down on Player's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kullervo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Player is squirming around, avoiding Kullervo's attempts to control the action.
Kullervo controlling from mount.
Player has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Player tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evil Kullervo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gary Player's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kullervo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kullervo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kullervo throws a head kick that misses.
Player takes one to the side of the head.
Kullervo avoids the head kick by Player.
Kullervo takes a swing at Player's ribcage but misses.
Player defending well as Kullervo loads up on a big left hand.
Player scores with a kick to the body.
Evil Kullervo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Player lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kullervo takes a step back to recover.
Kullervo slips a jab from Player.
Kullervo throws a body punch but Player moves out of range.
Player cracks Kullervo with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kullervo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Player moves away.
Kullervo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Player misses with a left hand

and Kullervo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Player manages to break the clinch.
Player misses with an uppercut. Kullervo saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kullervo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kullervo.
Kullervo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Player misses with a low kick.
The fighters circling - Kullervo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Player tries to counter by closing the distance.
Player drops his hands momentarily and Kullervo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kullervo throws an overhand right that lands on Player's shoulder, as Player tries to avoid the shot.
Player throws a looping overhand right but Kullervo ducks down to avoid it.
Player uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kullervo.
Kullervo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kullervo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Player.
Kullervo slips a straight right by Player.
Kullervo misses with an uppercut.
Kullervo tries to clinch there but Player circles away.
Player fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kullervo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Kullervo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kullervo throws an off balance right hand
and Player cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kullervo misses with a straight right.
Kullervo misses with a hook. Player ducked under it nicely.
Kullervo misses with a series of wild punches.
Kullervo scores with a sloppy right hand. Player should have avoided that one.
Player ducks under a wild hook from Kullervo.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Player.
Player bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Player avoids the head kick by Kullervo.
Player ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kullervo moves away.
Kullervo just misses with a punch to the body.
Player tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kullervo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Player counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kullervo thinking.
Kullervo scores with a jab to the body.
Player throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kullervo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Player chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Player tries to land a leg kick but Kullervo saw it coming and moves away.
Player connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Player misses with a leg kick
and Kullervo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Player lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kullervo misses with a looping left.
Player drops his hands momentarily and Kullervo takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kullervo fails with an attempt to clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Player.
Kullervo is looking to clinch but Player is avoiding it.
Player avoids the head kick by Kullervo.
Player misses with a low kick.
Kullervo misses with a hook. Player ducked under it nicely.
A jab from Kullervo misses.
Player changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Kullervo takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kullervo walks into a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Player scores with a jab. Kullervo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Player motions for Kullervo to come forward. Player throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
That kick from Player tenderised Kullervo's leg. Kullervo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Kullervo darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kullervo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Player moves away.
Kullervo lands with a nice body punch.
Player lands a head kick. Kullervo smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Kullervo fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kullervo takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kullervo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kullervo misses the jab.
A big left from Kullervo misses.
Kullervo misses with a jab, cross combination.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kullervo throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kullervo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gary Player has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Player takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evil Kullervo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kullervo 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evil Kullervo!
A determined Evil Kullervo didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!