PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fritz Kongo (ranked 6525 p4p, 6713 weight class) and Kalle Kuula (ranked 113 p4p, 121 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kongo
vs
Kuula

179 cm
19
190
1 - 2 - 0

173 cm
26
209
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fritz Kongo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalle Kuula!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kuula enables Kongo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kuula manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kongo wants to pass the guard but Kuula is keeping the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kongo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kuula looking to control.

Kuula working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kongo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kongo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kongo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Kuula is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kuula should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kongo won't allow Kuula to sweep him here.
We've been hearing good reports from Kongo's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Kuula looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kongo wants to pass the guard but Kuula is keeping the position.
Kuula trying to keep a closed guard but Kongo is proving a slippery customer.
Kongo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kuula on the ground.
Kongo wants to pass the guard but Kuula is keeping the position.
Kuula trying to keep a closed guard but Kongo is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuula tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kongo postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kongo wanted to stand there but Kuula had control of the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kongo's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kongo controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kongo blocks a jab.
Kuula misses with a hook
and Kongo counters with a nice uppercut.
Kuula swings widly with a right hand

and Kongo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kongo.
Kongo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kuula avoids it.
Kuula has Kongo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kongo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo stalls.

Kongo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuula tries to clinch up.
Kuula shoots in for a takedown but Kongo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kuula fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kuula fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kongo is looking to counter the offense by Kuula and move into the clinch.

Kongo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kongo lands in his opponent's guard.
Kuula can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kongo controls the pace.

Kuula looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuula trying to control the position.
Kuula looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kuula is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kuula is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kongo defends it well.
Kongo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kuula is working away from the top position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kongo tries to get to full guard but Kuula has control of the leg.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fritz Kongo dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kuula tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kuula doesn't manage to clinch there - Kongo circles away.
Kuula rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kongo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kuula's knee momentarily.

Kongo gets a double leg takedown into Kuula's guard.
Kuula wants to sweep but no luck.
Kongo controlling from the top position.

Kuula has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kongo is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kuula.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuula tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kongo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Kongo decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuula tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kongo defends well and Kuula ends up having to push Kongo into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kuula has eaten all the pies!

Kongo shoots in and bounces Kuula off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Kuula looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kongo passes into half guard.
Kuula is trying to maintain the position but Kongo is very close to passing his half guard.
Kuula slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kongo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kongo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Kongo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kuula tries to clinch but Kongo moves away
and Kongo counters with a two punch combo.
Kuula swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kongo counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Kuula successfully pulls guard.
Kongo postures up in Kuula's guard and throws a big left but Kuula blocks it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kuula is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kongo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kuula has his foot on Kongo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kongo works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kongo controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kongo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuula is trying to keep Kongo in close.
Kuula looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kongo is one step ahead there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kongo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Kongo decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kongo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kuula tries to roll over but Kongo keeps him under control.
Kuula wants to control but Kongo is keeping busy.
Kongo trying to pass the guard but Kuula defending well.
Kongo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuula is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kongo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kongo's back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fritz Kongo dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Kongo breaks from the clinch.

Kongo shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kuula napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kuula gets back to half guard.
Kongo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kuula makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kuula.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kongo looking to pass the guard.
Kongo controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuula utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fritz Kongo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuula trying to keep a closed guard but Kongo is proving a slippery customer.

Kuula looking for a guillotine here but Kongo defends easily.
Kongo preventing the sweep.
Kuula trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kuula tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kuula is trying to keep Kongo in close.
Kongo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kongo slips nicely into half guard.
Kuula regains full guard. Nicely done.

Kuula escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kongo gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kongo stays in close to Kuula's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuula wants to sweep here but Kongo controlling him for the moment.
Kongo sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kongo wants to stand but Kuula is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kuula is looking to clinch but Kongo is avoiding it.

Kongo closes the distance and clinches.
Kongo stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kuula takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kongo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kongo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kuula.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuula takes a swing at Kongo's ribcage but misses.
Kongo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Kuula misses with a takedown
and Kongo counters with a left to the body.

Kuula gets tackled into the cage by Kongo. Kongo maintains the clinch.
Kongo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kongo working Kuula over with knees to the body.
Kongo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kuula can do to turn this around?

Kongo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kuula shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kongo closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kuula quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kongo controlling the pace.

Kuula looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fritz Kongo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kongo 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fritz Kongo!