PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joseph DeAngelo (ranked 1029 p4p, 925 weight class) and Jarna Kuiva (ranked 155 p4p, 137 weight class). 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.

DeAngelo
vs
Kuiva

185 cm
23
180
10 - 3 - 0

183 cm
29
189
15 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Fast

MKFC
Conquer

Altitude Clothing
Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joseph DeAngelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarna Kuiva!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Darius Henderson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kuiva clinches.

DeAngelo breaks the clinch.
Kuiva misses the shot to the body.
DeAngelo is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kuiva.
DeAngelo throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kuiva sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kuiva scores with a nice head shot.
Kuiva takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kuiva lands the left hand.
Kuiva misses with a telegraphed body shot
and DeAngelo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kuiva throws an off balance right hand
and DeAngelo counters with a stiff right hand.
DeAngelo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuiva throws out the jab.
Kuiva throws a right hand that DeAngelo ducks under and follows up with a left that DeAngelo also avoids with ease.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuiva jabs at DeAngelo's body.
Kuiva wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
A big right from Kuiva misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuiva scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. DeAngelo doesn't seem bothered though.
Kuiva lands a jab.
DeAngelo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kuiva's coach down at Zenarals' House was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kuiva's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Jarna Kuiva seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuiva throws an off balance right hand
enabling DeAngelo to counter with a crisp jab.
Kuiva throws a big shot that misses.
DeAngelo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
DeAngelo with a nice cross.
Kuiva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from DeAngelo.

Kuiva gets in close and instigates a clinch.
DeAngelo blocking some punches.
DeAngelo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

DeAngelo jumps guard.

DeAngelo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kuiva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kuiva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kuiva must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
DeAngelo trying to keep a closed guard but Kuiva is proving a slippery customer.

DeAngelo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kuiva defends well.
DeAngelo looking to control.
Kuiva content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

DeAngelo has his foot on Kuiva's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kuiva works his way back into a safe position though.
DeAngelo is pulling down on Kuiva's head. It's preventing any offense from Kuiva, at least for the moment.
Kuiva controls from within his opponent's guard.
DeAngelo pulls Kuiva in close to his closed guard and prevents Kuiva from doing any damage or advancing position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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.
Kuiva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
DeAngelo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kuiva scores with a hook to the body. DeAngelo takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kuiva tries to close the distance and clinch up but DeAngelo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
DeAngelo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kuiva connects with a crisp jab.
Nice shot by DeAngelo.
DeAngelo jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kuiva misses the body punch
and DeAngelo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jarna Kuiva will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kuiva slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kuiva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
DeAngelo is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
DeAngelo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
DeAngelo swinging wildly here.
Kuiva staying out of range there.
Kuiva is clearly trying to counter these attacks from DeAngelo with a body shot.
DeAngelo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kuiva looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
DeAngelo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kuiva.
A little feinted left hand from DeAngelo on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kuiva shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Kuiva listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
DeAngelo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuiva misses with a wild body shot.
DeAngelo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kuiva slips under a jab from DeAngelo.
DeAngelo lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
DeAngelo throws a series of punches but Kuiva moves out of range.
DeAngelo tries to clinch but Kuiva moves away
and Kuiva counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Kuiva has DeAngelo up against the cage in a clinch.
DeAngelo lands with a right to the head.
Kuiva is trying to break free.
DeAngelo prevents a body shot from Kuiva.
DeAngelo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short right from Kuiva.
Kuiva misses with a shot to the kidneys.
DeAngelo has a couple of punches blocked by Kuiva.
DeAngelo tries to throw a body punch but Kuiva avoids it by throwing DeAngelo back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeAngelo takes a shot to the head.
DeAngelo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Kuiva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but DeAngelo has him pressed against the cage.
DeAngelo lands a shot to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kuiva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but DeAngelo has him pressed against the cage.
DeAngelo blocking some punches.
Kuiva wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but DeAngelo has him pressed against the cage.
Kuiva blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kuiva lands a nice uppercut.
DeAngelo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kuiva misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Kuiva breaks the clinch.
A punch combination from Kuiva misses.
Kuiva misses with a hook to the body
and DeAngelo counters with a straight right hand.
Kuiva is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down DeAngelo rather than just go for the knockout.
Kuiva moves away from the strike by DeAngelo.
Kuiva misses with a body shot.
No joy there for Kuiva, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuiva tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. DeAngelo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kuiva misses the body punch
and DeAngelo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kuiva slips a straight right by DeAngelo.
Kuiva throws a shot from downtown. DeAngelo moves away and avoids it.
DeAngelo went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
DeAngelo tries to clinch up.
A nice side step and Kuiva releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Kuiva is looking to clinch.
Kuiva lands a slapping body shot.
Kuiva swings for the body but DeAngelo moves out of range.
Kuiva looks to throw the jab but DeAngelo is out of range.
Kuiva looks to land a left hand but DeAngelo moved out of range nicely.
Kuiva moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuiva misses with a two punch combination.
Kuiva doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kuiva feints a jab promting DeAngelo to slip. Kuiva then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. DeAngelo slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
DeAngelo tries to clinch but Kuiva is having none of it.
DeAngelo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kuiva appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
DeAngelo slips under a jab from Kuiva.
Kuiva uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from DeAngelo.
A telegraphed right hand from DeAngelo misses the target.
Kuiva uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from DeAngelo.
Kuiva misses with a telegraphed body shot
and DeAngelo counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jarna Kuiva will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

DeAngelo misses with a hook. Kuiva ducked under it nicely.
DeAngelo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kuiva throws a predictable looking body shot
and DeAngelo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
DeAngelo lands with a right hand.
Kuiva throws a hook but DeAngelo avoids it easily.
DeAngelo walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Kuiva throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Jarna Kuiva seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kuiva connects with a body shot that sends DeAngelo's belly button to the back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuiva swings and misses with a shot to the body
and DeAngelo counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kuiva misses with a body shot.
DeAngelo misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuiva swings away with a body shot that misses

and DeAngelo counters with a crisp right hand that drops Kuiva! DeAngelo lets Kuiva back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

Kuiva is rocked!
DeAngelo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kuiva is still on wobbly legs! Can DeAngelo finish him?
Kuiva swings widly with a right hand
and DeAngelo counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from DeAngelo.
DeAngelo throws a shot from downtown. Kuiva moves away and avoids it.
Kuiva doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kuiva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but DeAngelo manages to avoid it.
DeAngelo lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
DeAngelo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kuiva avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kuiva looks to land a right hand but DeAngelo moved out of range.
DeAngelo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
DeAngelo throws a series of punches but Kuiva avoids them all with ease.
Kuiva swings for the body but DeAngelo moves out of range.
Kuiva seems to have recovered his senses.
DeAngelo doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
DeAngelo is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuiva swinging wildly here.
Kuiva tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but DeAngelo was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuiva.
DeAngelo tries to counter by clinching up but Kuiva breaks away and moves out of range.
Kuiva scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
DeAngelo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuiva throws out the jab.
Kuiva throws a jab but it's blocked by DeAngelo.
Kuiva misses with a straight left.
DeAngelo is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Kuiva swings and misses with a shot to the body
and DeAngelo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kuiva closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
DeAngelo avoids the body shot from Kuiva.
Kuiva misses the body punch
and DeAngelo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for DeAngelo. That snapped Kuiva's head back.
Kuiva scores with a jab.
DeAngelo moves out of range of the strikes.
DeAngelo moves in looking to clinch but Kuiva pushes him off.
DeAngelo missing with a left hand there. Kuiva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Joseph DeAngelo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuiva looks to score with a jab to the body but DeAngelo is just out of range.
Kuiva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from DeAngelo.
DeAngelo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kuiva.
DeAngelo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kuiva just misses with a punch to the body.
DeAngelo was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuiva connects with a looping right hand.
Kuiva slips a jab from DeAngelo.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kuiva! But no joy.
Jarna Kuiva is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kuiva has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
A slow jab from Kuiva misses its intended target.
Kuiva digs a good hook to DeAngelo's body.
DeAngelo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Kuiva.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuiva throws out a powerful jab.
DeAngelo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuiva.
It looked like DeAngelo wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kuiva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but DeAngelo manages to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joseph DeAngelo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kuiva has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarna Kuiva!
Jarna Kuiva thanked the fans post fight for their support.