PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Abekula Malelei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juri Kuuharja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malelei kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Broken, beat & scarred - Metallica. Juri Kuuharja has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Abekula Malelei's chin.

Malelei
vs
Kuuharja

217 cm
23
289 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

190 cm
22
220 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Abekula Malelei!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Juri Kuuharja!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuuharja tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Malelei was well out of range. Poor timing from Kuuharja.
Malelei throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Malelei misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kuuharja.
Malelei connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

It looks like Juri Kuuharja has been cut.
Kuuharja ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Malelei moves away.
Malelei misses with a two punch combination.
Kuuharja cracks a nice hook into Malelei's ribs.

Kuuharja decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuuharja thows a huge punch but Malelei dodges it nicely.
Kuuharja not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kuuharja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malelei's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malelei is trying to stand.
Malelei wants to control but Kuuharja is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kuuharja wants to lay and pray for a moment but Malelei keeps working.
Kuuharja thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kuuharja not doing much here.
Kuuharja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Malelei's head.
Kuuharja is taking a breather. Malelei says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Kuuharja wants to work for an arm triangle but Malelei is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malelei manages to get to full guard.
Malelei keeping moving, preventing Kuuharja from controlling successfully.
Kuuharja trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kuuharja has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kuuharja throwing strikes but missing.
Kuuharja trying to control the position from guard on top but Malelei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Juri Kuuharja was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A head kick misses from Kuuharja.
Kuuharja is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A jab from Malelei does it's job there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malelei stuffs the takedown.
Malelei will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Malelei fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Malelei cracks Kuuharja with a good jab.
Kuuharja shoots in looking for a takedown but Malelei manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kuuharja's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kuuharja swings widly with a right hand
and Malelei counters with a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuuharja works over Malelei's head and body with a nice combination.
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!
Nice takedown defense from Malelei. No joy for Kuuharja on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juri Kuuharja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juri Kuuharja's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Malelei throws a hook to the side of Kuuharja's head but Kuuharja sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Juri Kuuharja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuuharja fails with a takedown attempt.
Malelei moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A jab from Kuuharja does it's job there.
Malelei throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kuuharja.

Malelei drives through with a takedown into Kuuharja's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Malelei tries to stand but Kuuharja is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuuharja is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kuuharja has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Malelei has passed into side control.
Kuuharja tries to buck Malelei off but Malelei is having none of it.
Malelei in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuuharja tries to bench press Malelei off him but Malelei keeps the position.
Kuuharja struggling a bit here.
Kuuharja is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Malelei off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuuharja is throwing shots to the body but Malelei manages to wriggle free. Kuuharja pounces on him again and ends up in Malelei's guard.
Kuuharja trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Malelei is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kuuharja is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malelei looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuuharja is one step ahead there.
Kuuharja postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuuharja stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Malelei closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Malelei lands in his opponent's guard.
Malelei wants to stand but Kuuharja has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kuuharja looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Malelei puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kuuharja moves into full guard.
Malelei wants to control from the top but Kuuharja keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Abekula Malelei will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Juri Kuuharja's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Malelei cracks Kuuharja with an open hand slap.
Malelei loads up on a big right hand but Kuuharja slips the punch.
Kuuharja stuns Malelei with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A left lands for Kuuharja.
Malelei ducks under a wild hook from Kuuharja.
Malelei lands a really nice looking cross but Kuuharja seems unphased.
Kuuharja misses with a few strikes there.
Abekula Malelei is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Malelei throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuuharja has a takedown stuffed.

Malelei closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Malelei lands in his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kuuharja wants to sweep but no luck.
Malelei wants to stand but Kuuharja is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kuuharja looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malelei is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malelei slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Kuuharja.
Malelei prevents Kuuharja from improving his position.

Malelei stands up out of the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kuuharja scores with a nice right hand.
Malelei fails to land with a series of punches.
Kuuharja fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kuuharja misses with a low kick.
Kuuharja throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A punch combination from Malelei misses.
Kuuharja throws a body punch but Malelei moves out of range.
Kuuharja throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuuharja moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Malelei fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kuuharja manages to avoid it.
Kuuharja shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Malelei pinned against the cage. Malelei gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Malelei swings for the body but Kuuharja moves out of range.
Juri Kuuharja seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Malelei throws a body punch but Kuuharja moves out of range.
Malelei takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juri Kuuharja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kuuharja has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juri Kuuharja!