PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cero Dohbopavich (ranked 1280 p4p, 1924 weight class) and Arsi Kuja (ranked 164 p4p, 239 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Dohbopavich
vs
Kuja

181 cm
26
197
7 - 0 - 0

150 cm
20
188
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Cero Dohbopavich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arsi Kuja!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dohbopavich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kuja counters with a slapping leg kick.
Dohbopavich displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kuja throws out the jab.
Kuja scores with a body shot.
Dohbopavich with a poor takedown
and Kuja counters with a thumping low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dohbopavich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kuja.
Dohbopavich fails with the takedown
and Kuja counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cero Dohbopavich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dohbopavich shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kuja napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dohbopavich is chipping away with strikes.
Kuja holding on.
Dohbopavich is trying to ground and pound but Kuja uses the momentary lack of control by Dohbopavich to regain half guard.
Dohbopavich is thwarting Kuja's attempts to control the position.
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. Dohbopavich connects with a nice short shot to Kuja's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dohbopavich trying to mount his opponent but Kuja defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dohbopavich sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kuja defending well though.
Dohbopavich is just content to waste time from the top position. Kuja takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kuja wants to sweep but no luck.
Dohbopavich scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kuja seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dohbopavich throws an elbow that misses. Kuja uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dohbopavich's guard. Nice move by Kuja!

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dohbopavich is looking to stand up but Kuja isn't so interested in that idea.
Kuja is looking to stand up but Dohbopavich won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dohbopavich wants to get back to his feet but Kuja is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kuja advances position into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuja wants to stand but Dohbopavich is controlling his arm.
Kuja prevents Dohbopavich from escaping the position.
Kuja tries to stand but Dohbopavich is controlling his head.
Kuja wants to stand but Dohbopavich has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dohbopavich wants to stand and escape but Kuja is having none of it.
Dohbopavich trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Kuja wants to get up but he can't break Dohbopavich's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kuja content to stall in guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dohbopavich decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Dohbopavich looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dohbopavich throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dohbopavich misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Kuja to counter with a crisp jab.
Dohbopavich fails with the takedown.
Kuja lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kuja leaves Dohbopavich with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cero Dohbopavich. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Kuja as he connects with a hook.
Dohbopavich tries for a takedown but Kuja circles away easily
letting Kuja counter with a right hand.
Kuja lands a slapping body shot.
That kick from Kuja tenderised Dohbopavich's leg. Dohbopavich is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuja lands with a nice body punch.
Dohbopavich shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kuja defends it nicely.
Kuja steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Kuja has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dohbopavich takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuja lands a nice looking body shot.
Arsi Kuja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dohbopavich has his takedown stuffed
and Kuja counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dohbopavich fails with the takedown
and Kuja counters with a leg kick.

Dohbopavich throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kuja tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dohbopavich is in Kuja's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dohbopavich with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dohbopavich throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dohbopavich trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dohbopavich chips away with some ground and pound.
Dohbopavich is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dohbopavich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kuja swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dohbopavich scoring with punches to the head and body.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dohbopavich throws a big right hand that misses.
Dohbopavich throwing strikes but missing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kuja is on top in guard.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Arsi Kuja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Dohbopavich moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Good leg kick by Kuja.
Kuja fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Dohbopavich ducks right into an uppercut from Kuja.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dohbopavich takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kuja lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dohbopavich looks for a takedown but Kuja sprawls well.
Kuja doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Kuja lets loose with a powerful body kick. Dohbopavich will feel that in the morning.
Kuja scores with a nice strike.
Kuja paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuja throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Dohbopavich counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kuja makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kuja.
Dohbopavich working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kuja utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dohbopavich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dohbopavich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dohbopavich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dohbopavich works over Kuja with some ground and pound from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dohbopavich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dohbopavich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dohbopavich postures up in Kuja's guard and throws a big left but Kuja blocks it.
Dohbopavich trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dohbopavich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Cero Dohbopavich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dohbopavich with a flurry of punches that miss.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kuja holds on and takes a little breather.
Dohbopavich working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kuja's head.
Dohbopavich will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kuja avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dohbopavich has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dohbopavich trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kuja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dohbopavich with a nice head shot there.
Dohbopavich throws an elbow that misses. Kuja uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dohbopavich's guard. Nice move by Kuja!

Dohbopavich wants to get back to his feet but Kuja is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dohbopavich has a closed guard, preventing Kuja from standing up.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Dohbopavich manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Kuja scores with a shoulder strike.
Kuja lands with a left to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kuja scores with a shot to the side of Dohbopavich's head.
Dohbopavich has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kuja is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dohbopavich is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cero Dohbopavich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kuja prevents the takedown attempt.
Cero Dohbopavich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kuja makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arsi Kuja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kuja winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arsi Kuja!
Arsi Kuja seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.