PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kossu Kutvonen (ranked 4364 p4p, 5579 weight class) and Marcus Aurelius (ranked 483 p4p, 545 weight class). Marcus Aurelius will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Kutvonen
vs
Aurelius

169 cm
18
145
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
18
173
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kossu Kutvonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Aurelius!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kutvonen throws a hook but Aurelius avoids it easily.
Kutvonen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Kutvonen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Aurelius can do anything to dispel that myth.
Aurelius works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kutvonen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aurelius is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kutvonen pushing down on Aurelius's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kutvonen prevents Aurelius from improving his position.
Kutvonen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kutvonen is thwarting Aurelius's attempts to control the position.
Kutvonen is looking to advance position but Aurelius won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelius trying to control but Kutvonen postures up.
Aurelius controlling the position for now.
Kutvonen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kutvonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Aurelius does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kutvonen stalling away here and it's allowed Aurelius to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Aurelius is trying to keep Kutvonen in close.
Aurelius is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kutvonen won't allow Aurelius to pass to mount.
Kutvonen wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kutvonen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Aurelius with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kutvonen is looking for a sweep. Aurelius is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kutvonen wants to control but Aurelius is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aurelius not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aurelius is looking to stall here but Kutvonen recovers full guard.
Aurelius pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kutvonen is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kutvonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kutvonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Aurelius trying to control the position from guard on top but Kutvonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
We've been informed that Aurelius has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Aurelius lands a right hook to the body.
Kutvonen looks to score with a jab to the body but Aurelius is just out of range.
Kutvonen throws a series of punches but Aurelius avoids them all with ease.
Kutvonen throws out a leg kick but Aurelius moves out of range and Kutvonen only half commits.
Kutvonen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Aurelius.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius scores with a nice strike.
Kutvonen ducks under a wild hook from Aurelius.
Kutvonen is looking to counter punch.
No joy there for Aurelius, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kutvonen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Aurelius!
Kutvonen wants to control for a moment but Aurelius uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Aurelius keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kutvonen is keen to just control but Aurelius is a slippery customer.
Kutvonen works his way into full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kutvonen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kossu Kutvonen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Aurelius ducks under a wild hook from Kutvonen.
Kutvonen shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Aurelius steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kutvonen.
Aurelius uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kutvonen.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Aurelius enables Kutvonen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Aurelius manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Aurelius looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aurelius utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kutvonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Aurelius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kutvonen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Aurelius can do to turn this around?
Kutvonen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kossu Kutvonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kutvonen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Aurelius controls Kutvonen momentarily but Kutvonen frees himself.
Aurelius keeping moving, preventing Kutvonen from controlling successfully.
Aurelius is trying to keep Kutvonen in close.
Aurelius is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Aurelius wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kutvonen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kutvonen looking to sit in guard and control but Aurelius gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kutvonen wants to sweep here but Aurelius controlling him for the moment.
Kutvonen has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Aurelius works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kutvonen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Aurelius.
Aurelius content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius prevents Kutvonen from improving his position.
Kutvonen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Aurelius stands and throws Kutvonen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kutvonen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.
Aurelius wants to control but Kutvonen is keeping him busy.
Aurelius in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kutvonen is being controlled here.
Kutvonen wants to control but Aurelius postures up.
Kutvonen is trying to get back to half guard.
Aurelius wants to control but Kutvonen is keeping him busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kossu Kutvonen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kutvonen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Aurelius looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Aurelius avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kutvonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Aurelius swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kutvonen is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelius is pulling down on Kutvonen's head to control his posture.
Kutvonen throws an elbow that misses. Aurelius uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kutvonen's guard. Nice move by Aurelius!

Kutvonen wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aurelius postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aurelius not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kutvonen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aurelius is one step ahead there.
Aurelius trying to control but Kutvonen is working from the bottom.
Kutvonen managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Aurelius controlling from the top position.
Aurelius passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Aurelius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kutvonen keeps working.
Aurelius content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kutvonen keeps working.
Kutvonen keeping his opponent close.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kutvonen moves out of range of the strikes.
A combination from Aurelius does no damage.
Kutvonen looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Marcus Aurelius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aurelius changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Aurelius uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kutvonen.
A cross from Aurelius lands.
Kutvonen throws a push kick but Aurelius slaps the foot to one side.
Marcus Aurelius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kutvonen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Aurelius sprawls well initially but Kutvonen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Aurelius wants to control but Kutvonen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aurelius won't allow Kutvonen to pass to mount.
Kutvonen trying to control from Aurelius's half guard. Aurelius has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kutvonen wants to control from the top but Aurelius keeps moving.
Kossu Kutvonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kutvonen content to stall in guard here.
Aurelius trying to strike off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kutvonen slips nicely into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kossu Kutvonen.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kutvonen, 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kossu Kutvonen!
Marcus Aurelius was interviewed post fight and said 'The best answer to anger is silence.'.