PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Christian Scott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Armas Kuusisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Scott
vs
Kuusisto

183 cm
22
195 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

179 cm
23
192 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

██MMA Pro Gear██

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Christian Scott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Armas Kuusisto!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Scott.
Kuusisto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Scott moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kuusisto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Scott tries to close the distance and clinch but Kuusisto swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Scott shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Kuusisto had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Scott is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kuusisto Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Scott's back instead.
Scott manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kuusisto's guard. Nice work there by Scott.

Scott avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kuusisto wants to hit a switch here but Scott passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kuusisto there!
Kuusisto is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Scott cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scott controlling from mount.
Kuusisto is trying to escape the mount.
Kuusisto is squirming around, avoiding Scott's attempts to control the action.
Kuusisto tries to hold on but Scott postures up.
Kuusisto can't escape the position.
Scott dominating with strikes here.
Scott controlling the position easily from mount.
Kuusisto is trying to escape the mount.

That's two 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.
Scott tries to control but Kuusisto wriggling away.
Scott is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kuusisto is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kuusisto throwing hammer fists to the chest of Scott. What's that going to do exactly?
The referee warns Kuusisto that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kuusisto is squirming around, avoiding Scott's attempts to control the action.
Kuusisto tries to reverse the position but Scott maintains control.
Scott with good strikes from the mount here!
Scott trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott is really struggling to control Kuusisto but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Scott landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kuusisto slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kuusisto wants to control but Scott is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kuusisto wants to get back to full guard but Scott has mounted him!
Scott can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kuusisto is looking to escape.
Kuusisto is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Scott is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kuusisto has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kuusisto!
Kuusisto scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Scott controls Kuusisto momentarily but Kuusisto frees himself.
Kuusisto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Scott swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Scott is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Scott wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Scott dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kuusisto lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Scott shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kuusisto defends it nicely.

Scott gets a takedown into half guard.

Scott is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kuusisto doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Scott.
Kuusisto wants to improve his position but Scott is controlling well.
Kuusisto gets full guard.
Scott lands a couple of digs.
Scott controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuusisto wants to sweep but no luck.
Kuusisto has a closed guard, preventing Scott from standing up.
Kuusisto manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Kuusisto with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

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.
Scott really wants to buck Kuusisto off and get back to his feet.
Scott tries to hold on but Kuusisto postures up.
Scott is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Kuusisto swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Scott is now in Kuusisto's guard. A big mistake from Kuusisto there, giving up the dominant position!
Kuusisto has a closed guard, preventing Scott from standing up.
Scott working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Scott tries to stand but Kuusisto is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuusisto throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Scott trying to control but Kuusisto is working from the bottom.

Kuusisto looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Scott has picked Kuusisto up and slammed him! Kuusisto can't keep hold of the triangle and Scott manages to pass to side control!
Kuusisto can't do much from the bottom here.

Scott stands up.
Kuusisto is breathing heavily.
Scott fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Scott fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christian Scott. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Scott tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
An inside leg kick lands from Kuusisto.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scott slips a jab and a cross from Kuusisto.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kuusisto misses with a low kick.
Scott on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kuusisto. Kuusisto obviously looking to wear him down.
Scott takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kuusisto bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kuusisto connects with a right hand. Scott shakes it off.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kuusisto.
Kuusisto dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Scott. That did some damage!
Kuusisto connects with the punch.

Kuusisto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kuusisto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Scott pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Nice body punch from Kuusisto.
Kuusisto lands a shoulder strike.
Kuusisto scores with a shoulder strike.
Scott fails to pull the fight into his guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kuusisto escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuusisto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kuusisto scores with a push kick.
Kuusisto thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Scott if he has to take too many more of those.
A good leg kick by Kuusisto.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Armas Kuusisto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kuusisto looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Scott checks a leg kick.
Kuusisto lands with a thumping leg kick.
Christian Scott seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Scott slips a jab and a cross from Kuusisto.
Scott wants to clinch but Kuusisto slips to the side

and Kuusisto counters with a single leg into guard. Scott didn't expect that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuusisto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Scott works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Scott keeping full guard, as Kuusisto tries to pass.
Scott not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kuusisto looking to pass the guard.

Scott has his feet on Kuusisto's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Scott takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Scott darts in and clinches Kuusisto up against the cage.

Kuusisto is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Scott can't fight it off and eventually Kuusisto manages to take the fight to the floor. Scott looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Scott wants to stand but Kuusisto is controlling the position.
Kuusisto pushes down on Scott's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kuusisto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kuusisto is pressing down on Scott's thigh, looking to free his foot. Scott is holding on for now.
Scott is looking for a sweep. Kuusisto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Scott trying to control here.
Kuusisto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scott wants to stand back up but Kuusisto manages to pass into side control.
Kuusisto working the head with strikes.
The strikes coming from Kuusisto are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Kuusisto has knee on belly momentarily but Scott bucks him off and regains half guard.
Scott won't allow Kuusisto to pass to mount.
Scott is pressing down on Kuusisto's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Scott lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kuusisto!
Kuusisto can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scott controlling from the full mount.
Kuusisto is wriggling around trying to escape.
Scott looking to control but Kuusisto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Scott scoring with strikes but Kuusisto is staying in there.
Scott takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Scott looking to control but Kuusisto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Christian Scott overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kuusisto tries to reverse the position but Scott maintains control.

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.
Kuusisto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kuusisto throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Kuusisto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Scott breaks from Kuusisto's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Scott sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kuusisto bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Scott trying to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Armas Kuusisto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kuusisto 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Armas Kuusisto!