PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tomomi Tsuruta (ranked 2424 p4p, 2538 weight class) and Kalle Kula (ranked 280 p4p, 293 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Tsuruta
vs
Kula

192 cm
26
209
9 - 6 - 0

190 cm
27
215
5 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomi Tsuruta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kalle Kula!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Elvis Blanc and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kula is looking to clinch but Tsuruta is avoiding it.
Decent striking displayed by Tsuruta there.
Tsuruta dips to his left and cracks Kula with an uppercut!

Tsuruta drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Tsuruta stops Kula from standing up.
Tsuruta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tsuruta is in close to Kula's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kula keeping full guard, as Tsuruta tries to pass.
Tsuruta won't allow Kula to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta cracks Kula with a solid left hand.
Tsuruta is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kula wants to get back to his feet but Tsuruta is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tsuruta with a nice head shot there.
Kula keeping moving, preventing Tsuruta from controlling successfully.
Tsuruta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tsuruta stays in close to Kula's body and controls the position.
Tsuruta content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tsuruta lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tsuruta landing with the ground and pound.
Tsuruta postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tsuruta trying to control the position from guard on top but Kula is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kula has momentary wrist control but Tsuruta slips an elbow through the middle.
Kula is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tsuruta is controlling him.
Tsuruta is looking to work some ground and pound but Kula has wrist control.
Kula wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Tsuruta manages to pass to side control.
Kula has hold of Tsuruta's hands but Tsuruta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tsuruta perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kula tries to kick Tsuruta off but Tsuruta keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tsuruta drops an elbow to the side of Kula's head.
Kula on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tsuruta connects with a nice short shot to Kula's temple.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Kula is not content to let Tsuruta control the position.
Tsuruta working over Kula with some ground and pound. Kula looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tsuruta is trying to control the action in half guard but Kula is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tsuruta trying to mount his opponent but Kula defends it.
Kula tries to kick Tsuruta off in order to stand up. Tsuruta Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Kula is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kula taking a bit of punishment here - Tsuruta scoring with strikes.
Tsuruta scores with a couple of short elbows.
Tsuruta landing strikes.
Tsuruta has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta controls the position.
Tsuruta scores with punches from side control.
Kula wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kula taking a bit of punishment here - Tsuruta scoring with strikes.
Tsuruta lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kula down.
Kula wants to get back to his feet.
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!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tsuruta grinds an elbow into Kula's temple.
Kula felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Tsuruta is working Kula over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kula taking punishment in the form of punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomi Tsuruta dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tsuruta takes one on the button.

Kula clinches up against the cage.
Tsuruta tries to score a body lock takedown but Kula shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Kula escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tsuruta lands with a good body shot.
Tsuruta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kula throws a jab when Tsuruta was well out of range.
Tsuruta changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Tsuruta lands a nice shot to the body.
Tsuruta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kula can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kula throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tsuruta counters with a straight right hand.
Kula throws an off balance right hand
and Tsuruta counters with a left to the body.
Tsuruta is looking to wear down Kula with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kula tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tsuruta was well out of range. Poor timing from Kula.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kula breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tsuruta throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tsuruta comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kula looks to clinch

and Tsuruta counters with a takedown into side control.
Tsuruta working the body and head with strikes.
Tsuruta scores with a couple of short elbows.
Tsuruta wants to control but Kula is keeping him busy.
Tsuruta looks up at the clock and then as Kula takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Tsuruta smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Tsuruta working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Tsuruta lands some shots froms side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tsuruta cracks Kula with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta working the body and head with strikes.
Kula is not content to let Tsuruta control the position.
Tsuruta working the ground and pound.
Kula is trying to buck Tsuruta off.
Tsuruta cracks Kula with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Tsuruta lands a nice forearm strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsuruta lands some shots froms side control.
Tsuruta cracks Kula with a big elbow.
Check out the look on Tsuruta's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Tsuruta in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Kula wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kula keeps working.
Tsuruta lands some shots froms side control.
Tsuruta is working Kula over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kula wants to get back to his feet.
Kula prevents Tsuruta from moving into mount.
Tsuruta scoring with punches and elbows.
Tomomi Tsuruta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tsuruta trying to control the action but Kula is working from the bottom.
Kula is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kula keeps working.
Kula pushes Tsuruta away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Tsuruta gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Tsuruta lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tsuruta cracks Kula with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Tsuruta is looking to take a break and control but Kula is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tsuruta landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tomomi Tsuruta 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. This is the final round!

No joy there for Tsuruta, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Tsuruta tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kula swivels and escapes.
Kula tries to clinch up.

Tsuruta scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kula is not content to let Tsuruta control the position.
Kula is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tsuruta scores with a couple of nice shots.
Tsuruta is looking to take a break and control but Kula is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tsuruta is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tsuruta is keen to just control but Kula is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta working Kula over with strikes.
Tsuruta lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kula is trying to stand up here but Tsuruta is controlling him well.
Kula has hold of Tsuruta's hands but Tsuruta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kula on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kula is trying to stand.
Tsuruta scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Tsuruta seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kula has hold of Tsuruta's hands but Tsuruta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tsuruta connects with a nice short shot to Kula's temple.
Tsuruta working over Kula with some ground and pound. Kula looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tsuruta seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tsuruta working the head and body with strikes.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Tsuruta looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Tsuruta.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tsuruta prevents Kula from standing back up.
Kula has hold of Tsuruta's hands but Tsuruta slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tomomi Tsuruta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tsuruta sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kula does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tsuruta looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kula is trying to stand back up but Tsuruta is controlling him
Tsuruta is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kula wants to get back to his feet.
Kalle Kula has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tsuruta controlling the pace.
Tsuruta seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kula for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A big right from Kula misses.
Kula throws a poor cross that misses

and Tsuruta counters with a takedown into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kula is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tsuruta wants to control but Kula is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tomomi Tsuruta showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tsuruta, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:26
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomomi Tsuruta!
Tomomi Tsuruta gave a mention to Shadow Realm Apparel in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).