PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Lusmu Kutvonen (ranked 5301 p4p, 0 weight class) and Green Cross (ranked 2398 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Kutvonen
vs
Cross

170 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
170 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lusmu Kutvonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Green Cross!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kutvonen thumps Cross with a low kick.
Kutvonen throws a body shot but no joy.
Cross wants to counter with a clinch but Kutvonen pushes him away.
Cross tries to clinch but Kutvonen moves out of range.
Green Cross seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cross fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kutvonen, pushing him back against the cage.
Kutvonen avoiding damage.
Kutvonen stalling the fight.
Kutvonen gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.

Kutvonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Some wild striking there from Kutvonen.

Cross has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kutvonen blocks a body shot from Cross.
Kutvonen lands with a right to the head.
Cross misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cross tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kutvonen's elbow.
Kutvonen will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cross up against the cage.
Come on Kutvonen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kutvonen seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kutvonen trying to stall but Cross improves his position.
Kutvonen gets underhooks to prevent Cross's takedown attempt.
Cross's coach down at Holding Cell was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Cross's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Cross throws a punch but it's blocked by Kutvonen.

Kutvonen breaks from the clinch.
Kutvonen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cross.
Kutvonen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cross.
Kutvonen keeps the fight on the outside.
Kutvonen throws a right hand that Cross ducks under and follows up with a left that Cross also avoids with ease.
Cross let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Cross clinches up against the cage.
Cross can't find room to land a body shot as Kutvonen controls the action.
Cross misses with a body punch.
Kutvonen misses with a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kutvonen is defending well for now.
Kutvonen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Cross misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cross holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kutvonen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cross up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Kutvonen.
Kutvonen lands a right hand.
Cross prevents a takedown attempt there.
Cross misses with some punches.
Cross tries a body shot but Kutvonen blocks it.
Kutvonen is pushing Cross up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kutvonen is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross misses with a punch on the inside.
Cross cracks Kutvonen with a nice body shot.
Kutvonen taking a breather.
Kutvonen stalls.
Cross tries to throw a body punch but Kutvonen avoids it by throwing Cross back against the cage.
Good body shot from Cross.
Cross goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short left from Cross.
Cross doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Cross struggles to land a body shot inside as Kutvonen controls his hands.
A short right from Cross.
Cross goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cross misses with a short punch on the inside.
Cross misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cross lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kutvonen.
Cross tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kutvonen's elbow.
Cross tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kutvonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Cross has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kutvonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kutvonen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Cross lands a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cross dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cross as Kutvonen tries to tie him up.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kutvonen as Cross tries to tie him up.
Kutvonen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Green Cross dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Cross uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kutvonen.
Cross tries to clinch there but Kutvonen circles away.
Kutvonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Cross is just out of range.
Kutvonen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kutvonen throws a hook to the side of Cross's head but Cross sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kutvonen throws out a leg kick but Cross moves out of range and Kutvonen only half commits.
Kutvonen lands with an uppercut that bounces Cross off the cage and back into range.
Cross keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Cross throws a body shot but no joy.

Cross moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kutvonen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cross up against the cage.

Kutvonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cross rushes Kutvonen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross misses with a body punch.
Kutvonen pushes Cross back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Cross misses with a short punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kutvonen controlling the action here for a moment.
Kutvonen is trying to maintain a safe position but Cross gets an underhook and turns Kutvonen into the cage.
Kutvonen prevents a body shot from Cross.
Kutvonen keeps control of Cross as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Cross fails to land.

Kutvonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cross doesn't manage to clinch there - Kutvonen circles away.
Kutvonen throws a series of punches but Cross moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kutvonen lands with a nice body kick.
Kutvonen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Cross clinches up with Kutvonen and pushes him back against the cage.
Kutvonen prevents a body shot from Cross.
Cross goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kutvonen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Cross trying to control the position but instead, Kutvonen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cross into the cage.

Kutvonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cross takes one on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross tries to clinch there but Kutvonen circles away.
Kutvonen throws a poor cross that misses
and Cross counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Cross wants to clinch up but Kutvonen keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cross digs a right hand underneath Kutvonen's ribcage. Kutvonen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kutvonen is trying to break free.
Cross tries to throw a body punch but Kutvonen avoids it by throwing Cross back against the cage.
Cross struggles to land a body shot inside as Kutvonen controls his hands.

Kutvonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cross tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Kutvonen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kutvonen.
Cross is looking to clinch but Kutvonen is avoiding it.
Kutvonen feinted with a counter takedown.
Cross is looking to clinch but Kutvonen is avoiding it.
Kutvonen attempts a counter takedown but Cross avoids it well and moves away.

Cross gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cross.

Kutvonen breaks the clinch.
Kutvonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cross tries to clinch but Kutvonen is having none of it.
Cross is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Kutvonen tries to keep at a distance but Cross has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kutvonen misses with a punch to the body.
Cross swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Cross tries a body shot but Kutvonen blocks it.
Kutvonen avoiding damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A frustrated look appears on Cross's face as he tries to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lusmu Kutvonen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kutvonen throws a hook but Cross avoids it easily.
Cross tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kutvonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Cross.
Kutvonen throws a body punch but Cross moves out of range.

Cross clinches.
Cross is trying to stall.
A short body shot lands from Cross as the two fighters clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kutvonen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kutvonen stalls.
Cross trying to land knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kutvonen breaks the clinch.

Cross moves into the clinch.
Green Cross seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cross is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kutvonen is keeping busy.
Cross fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cross lands with a light punch inside.
Kutvonen is trying to push Cross away but Cross has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cross tries to throw a body punch but Kutvonen avoids it by throwing Cross back against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Cross.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kutvonen trying to stall but Cross improves his position.
Cross misses with a punch to the body.
Kutvonen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Cross doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kutvonen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kutvonen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cross up against the cage.
Cross lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kutvonen or not.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cross blocking some punches.
Cross lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kutvonen trying to stall but Cross improves his position.
Kutvonen avoiding damage.
Cross is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cross has Kutvonen pushed against the cage.
Cross tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kutvonen smiles and moves away.

Cross closes the distance and clinches.
Cross tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kutvonen just leaning against Cross, taking a breather.
Kutvonen taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cross trying to control the position but instead, Kutvonen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Cross into the cage.
Cross jumps guard but Kutvonen stands there with Cross around his waist. Cross gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lusmu Kutvonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Green Cross.
Kutvonen displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cross up against the cage.
Kutvonen throws a head punch that misses.
A bit of stalling here from Kutvonen.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Lusmu Kutvonen.
Kutvonen throws a leg kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cross looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cross fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kutvonen throws a lazy right hand but Cross sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kutvonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kutvonen misses with an uppercut
letting Cross counter with a right hand.
Kutvonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kutvonen looks to land a left hand but Cross moved out of range nicely.
Kutvonen throws a jab when Cross was well out of range.
Cross with the counter takedown but Kutvonen avoids it easily.
Kutvonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Cross tries to clinch up

and Kutvonen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kutvonen sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kutvonen wants to control from the top but Cross keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Lusmu Kutvonen.
I think Kutvonen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lusmu Kutvonen!