PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Olli Kuhta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nomi Mae (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuhta comes to the cage accompanied by Break Out. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Kuhta
vs
Mae

170 cm
24
160 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

178 cm
20
167 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olli Kuhta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nomi Mae!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mae misses with a jab, cross combination.
A slapping leg kick lands for Mae.

Mae feints and as Kuhta raises his hands in defense, Mae changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mae tries to free his leg and advance position but Kuhta is retaining full guard.

Mae drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Mae jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Kuhta looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kuhta working a defensive guard but Mae manages to pass into side control anyway.
Kuhta is looking for a sweep.

Mae goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kuhta has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Mae but great work by Kuhta.

Kuhta decides to stand back up. Kuhta steps back and let's Mae get back to his feet.
A combination from Mae does no damage.
Nomi Mae seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mae swats away the attempt to clinch by Kuhta.
Kuhta wants to clinch.
Kuhta misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kuhta is looking to clinch.
Mae fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mae tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kuhta misses the jab.
Kuhta throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Mae stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kuhta misses with a double jab.
Mae looks to land a combination but Kuhta avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Kuhta.

Mae is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kuhta's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mae prevents Kuhta from improving his position.
Kuhta is working hard here to advance position.

Mae is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kuhta sees it coming and defends easily.

Mae is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kuhta defends it well.
Mae looks gassed!
Mae wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuhta keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuhta moves into full guard.
Mae pushing down on Kuhta's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kuhta trying to hold on to Mae's head to control him but Mae postures up.
Mae wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuhta keeps working.

Mae seems to be working for a kimura but Kuhta defends the submission attempt.
Mae not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four 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.
Kuhta tries to roll over but Mae keeps him under control.
Mae stalling away here and it's allowed Kuhta to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Kuhta keeping full guard, as Mae tries to pass.

Mae drops back looking for a leg! Kuhta is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kuhta manages to kick Mae off! Mae jumps back into Kuhta's guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kuhta tries to clinch up but Mae circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nomi Mae dominated that round.
That's time! Kuhta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kuhta goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mae just misses with a punch to the body.

Kuhta takes the fight into the clinch.

Mae breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Kuhta closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Mae wants to get back to his feet.
Kuhta missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mae is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mae is breathing heavily.

Kuhta is looking for a kimura here.

Mae pushes Kuhta off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuhta tries to clinch there but Mae circles away.
Mae throws a series of strikes that have Kuhta backpedaling.
A head kick misses from Mae.
Mae throws a push kick but Kuhta slaps the foot to one side.
Mae misses with the combination.

Kuhta moves into the clinch.
Mae tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mae prevents a body shot from Kuhta.

Kuhta breaks the clinch.
Kuhta throws a series of punches but Mae moves out of range.
Kuhta is looking to clinch.

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.
Kuhta tries to clinch but Mae moves out of range.
Kuhta avoids a punch combination nicely.
A nice combination there by Mae.
Kuhta cracks Mae with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Kuhta takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mae misses with a few strikes there.
Mae swats away the attempt to clinch by Kuhta.

Kuhta pushes Mae up against the cage in a clinch.
Mae has Kuhta pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kuhta manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mae gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kuhta.
Mae has Kuhta pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Kuhta manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Olli Kuhta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nomi Mae.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuhta has had enough of the clinch but Mae keeps him there for the moment.
Kuhta wants to break free but Mae has control.
Mae tries to pull guard but Kuhta won't allow it.
Kuhta tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mae fails to pull guard.
Mae has Kuhta pressed against the cage, preventing Kuhta from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Mae fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kuhta gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mae.
Mae drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kuhta gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kuhta working aggressively here.
Kuhta gets underhooks to prevent Mae's takedown attempt.
Kuhta manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kuhta looking to slow down the pace here.

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.

Kuhta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kuhta misses with a low kick as Mae jumps back.
A jab lands there for Mae.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuhta looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuhta is looking to clinch.
Mae waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kuhta.
Mae fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A leg kick checked by Kuhta.
Mae rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kuhta moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Kuhta forces Mae back against the cage and clinches.
Mae blocks the elbow strike.
Kuhta gets underhooks to prevent Mae's takedown attempt.
Kuhta is trying to break the clinch but Mae is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olli Kuhta dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kuhta swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Mae counter with a right hand.
Kuhta tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Mae counters with a thumping low kick.
Mae looks to score with a jab to the body but Kuhta is just out of range.
Kuhta misses with a low kick as Mae jumps back.
Kuhta tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mae sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kuhta somewhat.
Mae wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mae tries to keep at a distance but Kuhta has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kuhta working hard to break the clinch.
Kuhta has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mae tries to pull guard but Kuhta holds him up against the cage and eventually Mae drops back down to his feet.

Kuhta escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mae shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mae takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kuhta moves into the clinch.
Mae drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kuhta pulls his leg out and moves away.
Olli Kuhta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nomi Mae.
Kuhta blocks a head kick by Mae.
Kuhta connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Mae dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kuhta fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kuhta tries to clinch but Mae moves away
and Mae counters with an outside leg kick.
Kuhta takes one on the button.
Kuhta misses with a head kick.
Kuhta tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mae sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kuhta somewhat.
Mae is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kuhta rather than just go for the knockout.
Mae throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kuhta's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mae scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kuhta is looking for a sweep.
Mae taking a break here but Kuhta is having none of it and regains half guard.
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. Mae connects with a nice short shot to Kuhta's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kuhta won't allow Mae to pass to mount.
Mae trying to control from half guard but Kuhta is working away.
Kuhta gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuhta keeping full guard, as Mae tries to pass.
Mae trying to control but Kuhta is working from the bottom.

Kuhta escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Mae gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mae advances to half guard.
Kuhta is pressing down on Mae's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Mae got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kuhta has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Mae has managed to get both his arms back between Kuhta's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mae passes Kuhta's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Mae passes the guard and advances to mount!
Mae landing punches.
Kuhta tries to lock up and control but Mae gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Mae.
The referee warns Kuhta that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Mae tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nomi Mae comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Mae 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nomi Mae!