PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matti Teppo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Kusimuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kusimuki has chosen National Anthem Of Japan as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Takeshi Kusimuki has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Teppo
vs
Kusimuki

185 cm
22
192 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
190 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Gilop®

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matti Teppo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Takeshi Kusimuki!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Teppo lands a nice looking body shot.

Teppo scores a takedown into full mount!
Teppo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kusimuki takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Teppo tries to control but Kusimuki wriggling away.
Teppo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee warns Kusimuki that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kusimuki is desperately trying to improve his position but Teppo has a good base and remains in mount.
Teppo fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Teppo is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kusimuki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Teppo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Teppo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Teppo breaks from Kusimuki's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Teppo lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Teppo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kusimuki is on top in guard.
Teppo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kusimuki!
Teppo putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Teppo working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Teppo looking to control but Kusimuki is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Teppo misses with a head shot.
Teppo 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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Teppo scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Kusimuki is in a horrible position here. Teppo smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Teppo goes for an armbar but Kusimuki turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kusimuki.
Teppo looking for a sweep. Not yet Teppo, not yet.

Teppo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kusimuki gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Teppo is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kusimuki is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusimuki passes Teppo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Kusimuki is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Teppo reverses the position - he's now on top in Kusimuki's guard.
Teppo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kusimuki is keeping the position for now.
Teppo content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kusimuki keeping moving, preventing Teppo from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Teppo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Teppo throws a strike but Kusimuki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Teppo wants to sweep but no luck.
Kusimuki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Kusimuki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kusimuki wants to control from the top but Teppo keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kusimuki tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Teppo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A shot to the body from Teppo misses
and Kusimuki counters with a nice uppercut.
Teppo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kusimuki uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Teppo.
Teppo works over Kusimuki's head and body with a nice combination.

Kusimuki clinches up with Teppo and pushes him back against the cage.
Kusimuki has Teppo pressed against the cage, preventing Teppo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kusimuki tries to work over Teppo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Teppo's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Teppo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kusimuki walks away with a smile on his face. Teppo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Kusimuki misses with an uppercut.
Kusimuki looks to score with a jab to the body but Teppo is just out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Teppo.
Kusimuki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Teppo manages to avoid it.
Kusimuki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Teppo misses with a head kick.
Kusimuki moves to clinch but Teppo breaks away
and Teppo counters with a good, hard body kick but Kusimuki shrugs it off.
Nice shot lands for Teppo.
Teppo shoots in looking for a takedown but Kusimuki manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Teppo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matti Teppo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kusimuki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Teppo looks to score with a jab to the body but Kusimuki is just out of range.
Teppo shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kusimuki eats them both and turns towards Teppo to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kusimuki swinging wildly here.
Kusimuki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Kusimuki on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Teppo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kusimuki misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Teppo.
Kusimuki scores with a jab.
Kusimuki takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kusimuki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kusimuki throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Teppo stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kusimuki tries to clinch but Teppo moves out of range.
Teppo misses with an uppercut.
Teppo lands a nice shot to the body.
Teppo lands a jab to Kusimuki's midsection.
Teppo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki closes the distance but Teppo moves to the side
and Teppo makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kusimuki really felt that one!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Teppo's corner calls for a 1-2. Teppo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Takeshi Kusimuki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Teppo tests Kusimuki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Teppo moves forwards but Kusimuki connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Teppo takes a swing at Kusimuki's ribcage but misses.
Teppo dodges the punch combination from Kusimuki.
Teppo lands a slapping body shot.

Teppo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Matti Teppo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Teppo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kusimuki wants to get back to his feet.
Teppo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kusimuki wants to get back to full guard.
Kusimuki is not content to let Teppo control the position.
Kusimuki wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kusimuki is refusing to be controlled, as Teppo sits in half guard.
Teppo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Teppo throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Teppo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Teppo is looking to pass Kusimuki's guard but actually Kusimuki recovers to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Teppo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

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.
Kusimuki wants to get back to his feet but Teppo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Teppo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Teppo slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sloppy strikes there by Teppo.
Teppo scoring with punches and elbows.
Kusimuki is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Teppo trying to control the position but Kusimuki is working away.
Teppo looks up at the clock and then as Kusimuki takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Teppo smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matti Teppo dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Teppo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kusimuki.
Kusimuki just misses with a punch to the body.
Kusimuki misses with a looping left.
Kusimuki misses with a hook. Teppo ducked under it nicely.
Kusimuki has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
A solid body kick from Teppo.
Teppo looks to land a right hand but Kusimuki moved out of range.
Teppo lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Teppo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kusimuki circles away quickly and effectively.
Teppo swats away the attempt to clinch by Kusimuki.
Kusimuki lands a jab to the head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kusimuki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Teppo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Teppo lands a nice looking body shot.
Teppo lands with an overhand left.
Kusimuki ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Teppo moves away.
Teppo lands a really nice looking cross but Kusimuki seems unphased.
Kusimuki loads up on a big right hand but Teppo slips the punch.
Kusimuki moves away from the strike by Teppo.
Teppo dodges the punch combination from Kusimuki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kusimuki throws a right hand that Teppo ducks under and follows up with a left that Teppo also avoids with ease.
Teppo moves into range and connects with a jab.
Teppo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Teppo throws out a powerful jab.
Teppo closes the distance and clinches up with Kusimuki, looking for a takedown. Teppo pushes Kusimuki against the cage but Kusimuki circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Teppo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Teppo scores with a jab to the body.
Teppo lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kusimuki is looking to clinch.
Teppo misses with a looping left.
Kusimuki tries to clinch up

and Teppo counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kusimuki's guard now.
Kusimuki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Teppo wants to pass the guard but Kusimuki is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Teppo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Takeshi Kusimuki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Teppo trying to control but Kusimuki is working from the bottom.
Teppo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Teppo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Teppo stops Kusimuki from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Teppo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kusimuki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Teppo controls from within his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Teppo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Matti Teppo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Teppo trying to control but Kusimuki is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kusimuki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kusimuki bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Teppo's head backwards.
Kusimuki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

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.
Teppo throws a lazy right hand but Kusimuki sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice body kick from Teppo.
Teppo lands a nice hook to Kusimuki's body. Kusimuki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Kusimuki sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Teppo slips under a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Kusimuki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Teppo swats away the attempt to clinch by Kusimuki.
Teppo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Teppo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kusimuki circles away quickly and effectively.
A combination from Kusimuki does no damage.
Kusimuki moves out of range as Teppo strikes.
Teppo tries to land a front kick but Kusimuki steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kusimuki moves out of range of the body kick from Teppo.
Teppo lands an overhand right.
Teppo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kusimuki can do to turn this around?
Kusimuki takes a swing at Teppo's ribcage but misses.
Teppo scores with a one two! Kusimuki had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kusimuki blocks the body kick.
Kusimuki tries to clinch there but Teppo circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Teppo, as that shot connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matti Teppo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Teppo, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matti Teppo!